Can a former addict ever go back to using recreationally?

[thatusefulidiot]

Hey,
Im turning 21 in a few weeks and coming into a trust fund.  This is quite a bit of money and I fear that I will end up quitting my methadone maintainence program and get back into using oxys and other opioids heavily.  Does anyone out there think I can go back to using maybe once or twice a week but not get a full blown habit going again?  I know this question may sound stupid, Im just wondering though because some people claim that after they get their addiction under controll they can use once in awhile and be ok.  As all addicts do, I crave that high so bad.  It's like an old friend I havn't seen in months..

[SOCAL742]

I think that must be part of the recovery process. I just didnt learn very fast I guess. I usually think I am a bright person. For some reason I was like an animal that kept bumping my head into the wall a thousand times. I cant tell you how many times I quit and still had in my head that I can still do it every now and then. The difference this time and all the others is I now know that I cant. Took me long enough!!!

[worried878]

yep...but maybe someone else will read and learn...i thought i could use responsibly and i could not...and i am a mature adult and know better....the answer is NO  NO NO  NO  NO  NO

[SOCAL742]

Im gonna guess because they didnt get the answer they were looking for. So they are off to ask others until they get one yes that rules out our 100 no's

[mr.lucky66]

why do people pose these kind of questions and never check back ? Of course you can't use recreationaly. The methadone you take may help keep you out of trouble but it keeps the cravings going.

[cattalina]

I've been in your shoes before, not with the trust fund unfortunately :) but with thinking I can get high "recreationally".  In 2004 I had about 6 months of clean time thanks to my local county jail and a halfway house.  Everything had gone so well for me, I had a job a new apartment and I didn't really feel like an actual addict anymore.  I had money since I was working and decided that I deserved a bad of dope on the weekends after busting my butt all week at work.  So I did.  It took me 3 years of hell and beyond to get clean again...  There is no such thing as recreational use for an addict.  If we could, the term addict wouldn't exist.  Try using the money for something useful - give some to charity, invest some, buy a new car... but don't use!!

[cathy5841]

absolutely unequivocally not.  it will not happen.  for you or any other person that has ever been addicted to any substance.  but, i do have a favor to ask.  once you have tried it, please come back here and post your story.  it just may help someone else.  

[FlyFisher100]

The other thing that I wanted to say is I'm not a trust fund baby but a self made person who has been very blessed and live very well.  I could buy any drug in any amount I want at any time.

I have chosen not to.  

Join me.

[FlyFisher100]

I should have read your story before answering above.

Let me relate a story.

I had a friend in the military who had a sister, and when she was very young, got her arm bit off by a bear at a city zoo.  They sued and were awarded around $250,000.00.  It was put into trust and when she turn 18 and with fund growth had almost 1 million.  

At some point she had developed a very bad cocaine habit and it took her and her boyfriend 6 months to snort through it, buy new cars, crash them and buy new ones as well as taking trips to the more drug liberal countries around the world.

At the end of the 6 mos. they didn't have a pot to **** in...

You wanna go there too?

[FlyFisher100]

Short answer... Nope.

[Suda]

Dear Useful,

I can only tell you my experience.  I was raised surrounded by trust fund babies.  They were my best friends.  I have only one former addict who is a trust fund baby.  

The reason I only have one best friend that is a former addict is that all the others (SIX ALL GONE!) died!  Yeah, it's great to have disposable income, but it's not so great when one drug is too many and a thousand isn't enough and a person who feels the need can feed the need of a thousand - or even a ton more.    

The horror of it all is that I keep thinking that if only they hadn't had enough money to purchase too damn many of their drugs of choice they would still be here with me.

The only reason I still have one of my oldest best friends is that she, well, her family, put her in a total of 5 rehabs and quite a lot of other medical interventions to try to get her some help.

The 5th rehab finally took and she is as beautiful and as fabulously funny as she was before she took a turn down that twisted road.

Good Luck to You.  But, please spend some of that money trying to save yourself.  I don't know you but I do know you must have so many people who will miss you.

Again, Good Luck!

Suda

[puranx]

I did it for 10 years without ever having a real problem, guess what it finally caught me even after all the time. The answer is no, never, not gonna happen. You can never have them again.

[worried878]

The answer is NO...u will never be able to be able to use recreationslly...no one i know after being and addict has been able to...u r really preparing for relapse mentally right now as mentioned above...keep this thinking up and it wont be long...NO   NO   NO!...u can not////u r playing wih fire and u will get burned every time

[EmilyPost]

LOL!

LovePat, you so need your own SHOW!

We'll call it; Simple Answers to Simple Questions!

[lovepat906]

NO. This has been another edition of simple answers to simple questions....

[avisg]

can an alcoholic have an occasional cocktail ?? we both know the answer to this :)

[EmilyPost]

If you are a Christian, you know the answer.

Think God or Christ wants you to go back to "recreational use?"

If this was me, I'd come clean with SOMEONE and get that money protected ASAP. As in untouchable. You haven't had enough aftercare if you are asking this question.

I'll pray for you. I am worried FOR you and I don't even know you. I see the pathway you are proposing and it's not a Godly Path.

I hope you can stll hear over the Screaming Voice of Addiction.

Your money will be gone in a blink.

Love and healing;
Emily

[Ghilly]

So many people in this world are suffering and wanting for just the basics that they need for even a meager existence, never mind a comfortable life, because of a lack of money.  You are coming into a trust fund that I assume will mean that you are set for quite a while, if not for life, PLEASE don't waste the money AND your life chasing after a high you will never find.  Instead use the money to buy yourself a good life, full of positive things.  As wannabefree suggested, double up on your aftercare program NOW, and do whatever you have to do to stop thinking about getting high.  You are going to have something that most of us only dream of.  Don't waste it on something that can only have a negative outcome.  Please stay strong and stay positive.  You can do it, you just have to program yourself to want to.  

Ghilly

[Mikeinthesouth]

how fast can you say bye bye trust fund?

[johnnykelly]

The good thing is that you are on Methadone.The oxycontin wont be able to give you a eorphoric high as the purpose of methadone,or one of the purposes is to block the effects of opiates.THe othwer plus is they give you urine tests.Brother report to your methadone dr.these feelings,as psychotherapy is part of the methasdone maintenance program.Unless you are getting street methadone. I am 49 and have received a inheritance of 100gs I was addicted to crack cocaine, percocets and alcohol,to the amount of time it took me to spend it was 2yrs.Even with the investment strategies,if your an active drug addict,you can spend every cent.There is no safe way,except.Use some of that MONEY TO GO TO INPATIENT TREATMENT,IF you dont youll end-up a BIG_LOSER CRYING A BROKE. GO TO TREATMENT you cant say you dont have the MONEY john

[extrmeski]

I just have one thing to say, the biggest liers in the world are ourselves when it comes to drugs.  Think about it, we lie to to others, and most of all we lie to ourselves.  Addicts will do and say anyting to justify, gt money, drugs whatever.  I've lived it not only with myself but also with my ex-g/f.  Just think long and hard and be totally honest with yourself!

[jennyca]

This is so scary but I know someone who came into a lot of money at your age when his parents passed away. I imagine that is the main reason he started the pills in the first place. But Oh my, if you could see him now. Seriously he is homeless. He has alienated all his friends because he has started to steal from them. (the money he got is long gone....and he had quite a bit). People that knew him before all this have run into him and are shocked.

I am really worried for you. I want you to take this money and put in some kind of investment that you can't touch or something. I remember when I first started taking the pills I met a girl who was a former oxy addict. She told me that the thought of Oxy's made her sick. I remember thinking..."If I could just stop for a few months I could go back to recreational use". I think after a while even being high *****. And now that I am stuck....I hate them.

Just think about how many smart, wise, funny, caring people write on this board. They have family's, kids, and jobs that they love or need. This drug is powerful enough for all of this to still be secondary to our addiction.

There are so many people who have blown through every last penny to get there fix. You have been given this gift of a trust fund that you can use to do great things. Start your own business, Travel to Europe, go to any restaurant you want. In fact, money is the thing that stresses people out the most and you would never ever forgive yourself if you slipped up and spent all that money. Please just except that you will miss it. Sorry, I just see you have this great opportunity. Good luck.

[addictedme]

So how much is your trust fund and will you get one regularly cause lets say the 1st one is a zillion dollars,,you"ll need another one when the 1st is gone and it will be gone. You maybe can use once you become a "former addict" but I dont know any "former" addicts. Worrying about leaving a meth program to use makes me think that your not doing anything to not use street drugs other then useing meth.which is still a drug thats supposed to be used along with aftercare. Take everyones advice and you"ll have a chance to do something constructive with your money rather then buying your dealer a new home. gl

[GoingToMakeIt]

The answer is OMG NO! What do you think recreational use is? That is a form of addiction. Using drugs other than the intended use is addictive behavior.
I highly encourage you to join NA or AA and get some counseling before you see the trust fund. Also look into amino acids and vitamins and supplements. Our body's chemistry gets out of whack and we need mega doses for a while to get the nutrition we need.

[joann1975]

I agree with everything above said and I want to throw in when I began using waaaayyyy back the 1st time for medical reasons....then realized I liked it...then did it recreationally on occassion....then more...then more.... then would go a long time w/o any.... then some more...more...along time w/none..etc.... then BOOM one day I was full blown addict before I even knew it! Yes, I have legit true pain issues. Due to my addiction I just have to work around those issues.

I hope you have come back to read these responses and really take them to heart and don't even try it! Frankly....I would love to hear you post and respond and say... I read these and I am thinking (insert your thoughts here)

JoAnn