What is you definition of being clean

[avisg]

After reading the "Define dependency vs. addiction" thread it made me wonder how different people define being clean ?
What are your thoughts?

[CadillacJack]

We live in a drug fueled society, like it or not. We can't turn on the TV, or read a magazine, without being bombarded by ads for drugs of every description. People use drugs constructively. Also, destructively. In my opinion, if a drug (substance) is not used in a manner that is destructive to the particular user, then there is no reason to consider oneself as not being clean. Basically, if used properly, and there is no unhealthy affinity for any given substance, by that particular user, then it OK. I started the thread in question, and frankly, am amazed at the response. Goes to show, labels are subject to a wide interpretation.

[wait2long]

IMO, being free from my doc, free from my addictive lifestyle, free from my addictive behaviors and thinking, working on core issues, aftercare, aftercare, aftercare, making every and all necessary changes for my success, life-long changes - i am in recovery. recovery is a life-long term when used in conjunction with any addiction...

[Crispy]

I consider being totally clean no alcohol, drugs, tobacco. I consider being off my DOC being sober.

[tommm70]

I also don't consider being on Sub, clean. As much as it allows normalcy, it is still an opiate. Sub is a gateway to being clean, but in the end it is still an opiate. And honestly, when I started Sub, I would have disagreed. It is only now, that I am 100% opiate free that I see that Sub was really an extension of my addiction.

IMO, to be truly clean is to be completely off of all dependant drugs.

Now that is my opinion, and I respect others that disagree.

[allaboutmary]

Clean is when I just get out of the shower !   (sorry I couldn't help myself)
I know some people consider themselves clean while on Suboxone. I personally don't, but think it's ok if others do.  I will be clean soon !   Yippeeeeeee

[duckandcover]

Easy.

To live in my own skin and my own mind without the physical or psychological need to take a mood altering pill of any kind and not have it even occur to me that I "might" want to.

I've still got a ways to go.

[Friend999]

I don't imagine the term "clean" can be changed now, but I've often wondered why we say "clean" when the opposite is "dirty".

If it is a disease, and if so, the term clean is inappropriate? If someone has cancer, we don't say they are dirty, or if cancer free, then they are clean.

Like I said, we can't change it now, but perhaps so many people would not keep their problem secret if a different, more appropriate term was used.

That said, substances like these seem to be more associated with the devil, and evil, and therefore dirty (that is NOT to say that substances for pain do not have a legitimate place in society).

Just a thought.  I guess I'm saying that if one understands what these substances do, then one would never call someone not clean, dirty. I personally would never consider any of the people on this site before getting clean to be dirty.

Friend999

[flmagi]

For me, Being clean is not useing my drug of choice and not thinking about it anymore. Also not useing any substance to alter who Iam or to numb myself.

[kim715]

Being clean for me isn't really about the drugs being out of my system,they were out of my system plenty of time when I couldn't find any,but they were always at the forefront of my thought process until I did.Now most days they don't enter my mind.Recently I've been having some medical problems and even turned them down.Yesterday I had alot of stress over a family matter and it was the first real time in almost 2 months that I wanted to feel that numb feeling.I wanted to feel high so bad it scared the H*** out of me ,but instead of picking up the phone and hunting some down,I jumped on here and begged for someone to talk some sense into me.I reached for a reality check instead of a vicodin.The reality check felt alot better and lasted alot longer then the vicodin would have and it was guilt free.I feel clean because I believe I have learned some new coping skills.The drugs are out of my system but the thought of the drugs is no longer the first thing on my mind every morning and eventhough I did think about them yesterday I reached out for help from the people here and not the phone to call the dealer.

[fedup4now]

For me being clean means a lot more than just not having drugs or alcohol in my system.  It is being able to look in the mirror and feel good about myself, to be able to be honest with others and to myself.  For me it is a way of life that I desperately want - one that is not controlled by the drugs, and all my decisions are not based on maintaining the using lifestyle.  
I am not one of those who believes you can never use any pain med - if you do , it is a relapse - well some pain is to much to handle - pain management, short term after surgery etc., monitered closely - to me is not a relapse.  I'm sure it will scare the hell out of me - but I would still count myself clean.

[s10sittnondubs]

lol at least its all well placed and in good humor right lol;-)

[SableZen]

Now why oh why didn't I become addicted to sex instead of a silly pill? If only I were so lucky. =P

...oh that's right, I don't have anyone to explore that option with... nevermind. ><

(I apologize in advance for my misunderstood humor.)

[s10sittnondubs]

I think that if you can manage whatever you do and do it without depending on it it is totally ok to do it.  I plan on getting stoned in a cpl days, its my friends birthday but I won't be drinking or doing oxy's or roxy's because I know what kind of person that would let loose, the addict in me.  So I don't do it but marijuana is the only drug I've ever had succes with.  I've not smoked for months and even a year at one point when I was 16, but pills and alcohol are totally different for me.  I'd like to smoke every now, and just might start doing that, because it doesn't bring the addict in me out.  I guess that answers both questions from both posts lol.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Being clean is not leaning on a crutch to cope with everyday life or situations.

[worried878]

I feel being clean is coping without turning to a crutch for help.....i do drink a beer or two every now and then but i dont have a problem with it so i dont feel it ruins my clean status...if i took lortabs to deal with stress...that would be "dirty"   or oxys or any narcotic i guess....Clean is a feeling from the inside too for me...facing the day or stress by myslef without chemicals

[avisg]

Mine is the same as yours corey .I did have to use when I had my gallbladder attacks and had it removed .I had hubby dole them out .The pain was way to bad to even consider abusing them. I would have been in too much pain if I had.

[corey411]

clean is my sysyem being clear of any opiates...my DOC...unless I am someday in pain and need it for that purpose and I am able to control it or get someone else to portion out only what I need..but I am in control of the drug. I had a painful root canal last week and my dentist said to just call his cell phone or office if I needed anything for pain. I had pain but not enough to need pain meds...I would not have concidered that clean time had I called him..it would have been relapse bc I let the drug fool me and tried to justify. Thats my spin. Corey

[s10sittnondubs]

To me being clean can vary greatly from person to person, I am not trying to put anyone down at all or say that there sobriety isn't what it is, but until the person quits everything that they can associate with drug use or abuse of medication illicit or prescription then your not "clean".  I know plenty of people who can succesfully use or use other drugs and not become dependent on them, but I am not one of them.  I think you have to draw the line yourself.  

[sadinmichigan]

clean.is...not turning to drugs/alcohol when things get rough. Especially your drug of choice..some people are addicted to things like sex, self mutilation ets...clean is different to all.