Suboxone and NA meetings

[tired_of_oxy]

I recently decided to go on suboxone after another unsuccessful ct detox and want to do it right, use it as just a tool in my recovery. I started NA meetings recently and I really want to continue going, in fact I want to go tonight because although sub is great for keeping the physical wds at bay it does nothing for the mental cravings and I'm craving a lot today. But does being on suboxone mean that I won't be welcome? What can I expect? Should I say that I'm on suboxone? If your on suboxone and attend meetings could you please share what your experience has been.

I hope I'm welcome to the meetings but I guess if I'm not I'll have to find another way to do aftercare like an addictions counsellor or something. My goal is to use sub just long enough to really work on the issues that led me to self medicate to begin with and gain coping skills and other tools to be better equipped when I decide to taper off of sub. Thing is I really like meetings so I hope I can continue going and feel comfortable there and be welcome. Any advice for me??

[nolongerbound]

Here's my opinion on sponsorship- get someone who you feel comfortable with.  The cool thing about it is you can always change sponsors! It took me a few to find someone who I could open up to.  You're not getting married, and most sponsors are cool with you finding someone who you're more compatible with.  I made the unwise decision of picking someone at first who I thought was "cool" and did not base my opinion at all on how well they worked a program.  They say find someone who has what you want. What I wanted was a stable person with a working knowledge of the 12 steps, and who practiced the principles underlying them in everyday life.  You can always get a temporary sponsor, who can be someone you can call just to talk to, while looking for a more permanent sponsor.  You may find that the temp sponsor will make a good long term sponsor, you may not, and that's fine.  I'd find someone ASAP and then change if you don't feel you're compatible.  I needed someone who would call me on my **** and keep me accountable, not just a nice person, and it took me a few times to find someone like that. I wish you the best of luck (although I don't really believe in luck or coincidences anymore - something I learned in the program) - pray about it and your higher power will always see you through.

[nolongerbound]

There's an IP (informational pamphlet) that got released by NA World last year regarding stuff like suboxone. You can find it in the literature at most meetings.  NA as a whole doesn't take an opinion on suboxone.  That being said, many individuals do.  At my homegroup there is a guy who just picked up 20 years clean (he's never been an opiate addict) who vehemently opposes suboxone, and I have seen him run out a number of people by presenting his opinion as fact - he stopped an entire meeting while I was sharing and got out of his chair and got in my face and told me to come back when I was clean.  It was the most f'd up thing I have EVER seen in a meeting.  You are dead on when you say you can tell who really works the program.  If someone is judging the quality of your recovery, then they are not practicing the principles of the program.  I've got 2 years clean, one of them on suboxone.  Had I not taken the suboxone, I promise you I wouldn't have stuck around long enough to hear the real message, that an addict, any addict, can stop using, lose the desire to use, and find a new way of life. I'd have gotten high and would probably be dead. I've been to hundreds of meetings, and i'd say 99% of people don't give a damn if you're on suboxone or not.  The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using, not to actually do it, so even they believe you are getting high, you still have just as much of a right to be there as anyone else.  My sponsor always tells me that no one can tell you when you are clean - only you know when you are clean.  Don't let anyone prevent you from recovering.  Opinions are like assholes.....Good luck in the meetings, keep the focus on yourself and not on others' opinions, and you'll do fine.  Don't use no matter what!

[Ballgame]

I'm going to post in here even after that nice message I got from you.

There is no need to share you're on sub with NA meeting. And the craving are the biggest struggle with staying clean.  I'm not sure they ever fully go away, just get smaller over time. So the meeting will be good for that. I don't want to call it a skill but coping with cravings is important.  
Good luck

[Bumpy_Road]

Im really suprised to hear Suboxone is not helping with your cravings. It helped me tremendously.  However, please be sure to follow your doctors advice. Dont abuse the subs and taper, taper, taper. I found that sub withdrawl when not tapered was far worse than any hydro or oxy withdrawl. Be careful and good luck to you. Agree with the other poster, do what works for you.

[gnarly_1]

HI....I dont think you will have any problems with N/A meetings the only requirements out here is the desire to quite...they do ask people that are still using nit to speek but listen
but I think your ok on sub....just feel it our and see if they even mention it if not I wouldn't woorie about it ....it great your seeking help and your using the sub the way it was intended to be used keep posting fir support good luck and God bless,,,,,Gnarly  

[New2This2010]

Well again this is my opinion, but I wouldn't worry much about the length of clean time, but how well they work their program and how sound they are in recovery. You will see people with 20yrs clean that sit up there and judge which is not really "working the program" if you think about it considering its a spiritual based program, and people with like 6 mo clean that are really on top of their stuff ya know. You will be able to deciper the ones that talk the talk from the ones who walk the walk trust me. Also do not let anyone rush you through your steps. I have seen people rush through all 12 steps, chair meetings and then relapse cause they rushed it. I have heard the 4th step is the hardest and the one to be done most through. If it takes you 3mo to do it so be it, just take your time and do it as YOU feel comfortable not what they deem an appropiate time. Again best wishes

[tired_of_oxy]

Newtothis, Wow, I can't believe that poor lady ended up being talked into going off her meds and suffered needlessly because a few people in NA made the bad choice to play doctor. That was really irresponsible and I hope the lady you talked about found her way back into recovery. You guys have helped me to see that I should not worry so much about what other people think about my decision. After reading the respones I think your right. This is best kept between me and my doctor and not something for people with no medical training to judge. That being said I'll just take a wait and see approach but for now I think until I feel it out I'll keep it to myself.

Actually I'm going to a meeting tonight, the one where I met the lady last week who I can really relate with. I'm looking forward to it and hope to start working the steps soon. I guess that means I should get a sponsor. The lady I met has a year clean. Should I look for someone further along in recovery to be my sponsor? There's another woman I really like who lost her son in a snowmobile accident last year. She managed to stay clean through it and I really look up to her. I can't recall how much clean time she said she has but I know it was a long time. I think though I should just keep going to meetings and wait a little bit before I decide who to ask. I'm still new to NA so I should probably take more time before making such an important decision right?

[groundhog_day]

the only requirement for NA membership is a desire to get clean - Tradition 3. Not to be clean, but to want to get clean. Here in australia ppl on methadone and sub are welcomed and strongly encouraged to attend meetings as they reduce. Once they are off maintenance, they are welcome to share and chair meetings etc.

I also second what New to this said - NA is made of a big mix of people of all sorts of personality types and degrees of psychological wellness etc. And many have varied opinions on all sorts of c rap. When it comes to medical stuff, including medically prescribed sub, anti d's, other mental health medications etc., it is for the individual and their health care provider to decide on and manage, so long as the health provider knows the addiction history.

I am a very firm believer that the doors of NA need to be wide enough to welcome those still using and on maintenance - if we could all get clean without na, we would not need it would we? I spent many many months going to na then getting stoned after a meeting, but I did get clean because of those meetings.

my 2 cents :-)

[New2This2010]

Hey sorry to post again but I just wanted to add that right now I am on a taper plan to get off Hydro's as I am preg and the Dr will not give me Suboxone because I guess its not deemed safe or something for pregnancy. Anyway after I have this baby I am going to be put on Suboxone asap as my Dr already told me this. I plan on taking my Suboxone and going to meetings as well and I am going to tell them up front I take it and if they give me any crap I will go seek recovery else where such as therapy/counseling or somewhere where I am welcome. So the moral of my story is if the Suboxone is working for you and keeping you off the Oxy's then stay with it and do what's best for you and not what other people think you should do!

[New2This2010]

Ok, here is what I think, do what works for YOU. Don't get me wrong meetings are great but you have to be careful there are a lot of people in there that think they are doctors and try to give medical advice and end up screwing people up worse. For example I went to NA meetings and there was this WONDERFUL lady in there and she had Bipolar and was getting clean so she was just on her Bipolar meds and attending meetings and doing great. Well some people in those meetings told her that if she was "working her program right God would take care of her and she wouldn't need those Bipolar meds" so what does she do? She stops taking them and shortly thereafter she relapsed horribley. I was SO mad I stopped going to those meetings I was outraged. Who were THEY to tell her that, that is between her and her therapist. So anyway people are going to have their opinions in there and you have to pick and choose what you take to heart. I see NOTHING wrong with taking the Suboxone and going to meetings. Its not like you are popping Oxy's  and sitting up in there. Suboxone is a tool used to TREAT addiction so therefore in my opinion you are in recovery! Again I am not downing meetings by any means, just be careful what advice you get and don't act unless you talk to a Dr first. A REAL Dr. lol! Take care and best wishes!

[tired_of_oxy]

Thank you so much for replying and for your support. I cannot say enough how much the support means to me. IBK and Vicky I will def take the advice and get a therapist. I hadn't really thought about it but it makes sense. Some things are better worked out one on one. Jess I will feel it out tonight and see if I should say something. I went to a new meeting recently and met a lady who is recovering from a very heavy opiate addiction. She and I talked a lot after the last meeting and the hope she gave me was amazing. There's something about meeting a recovering oxy addict in real life that is so inspiring. I have so much self doubt, bad I know) but talking to this woman helped me to start believing in myself. I think I'll ask her about it and see what she advises. I think I can trust her to keep it to herself if she tells me to keep it quiet.

Thanks again for your help, having the support here has helped me immensely. I will update and let you know how it goes at the meeting. I hope it goes ok because I really like those meetings. Today I'm going to find out how to get in touch with an addictions therapist and make an appointment. I imagine I might have to see a few to find one I feel comfortable with? Hopefully I luck out and get the right one on the first try, that would be nice.

[kickinhydro]

Hi, I'm from a small town & only have AA meetings here but I've been on subs for 10 months now & I'm starting to reduce my dose now, (sorry kinda got off the point a bit) I've gone to the meetings since b4 I started sub but from day 1 I told everyone I was on it, they still have welcomed me & now I'm one of the regulars & even chair the meeting sometimes. It may be different with NA I don't know. I know every place is different so best of luck to you weather you decide to tell them or not, mabye go & feel it out first b4 u make a decison to tell it or not. Let us know how it turns out for you. It sounds like you will do great on the sub program. Again best of luck to you
Jess

[IBKleen]

I agree with Vicki about the therapy. That is the place where you can get to the root of the issues and meetings will help you continue on your journey. At all of the meetings that I attend, anyone using a maintenance drug is asked not to speak but to listen. I don't know what it is like in your area. I have to suggest that you go to a few meetings, sit and listen and find the one that best suits you. That will be your home group. Then you can find that one person that you think you can relate to and you feel will help you--a woman of course. Ask to talk with her after the meeting and once outside, explain your situation. She may decide to sponsor you while on Suboxone and if not, ask her if she can help you to find someone. Don't be afraid, they are people just like you and me and will be happy to help.

Let us know how you make out.

[vicki595]

Okay...you sure are on the right track!  I think the only way to get to the deep issues is with a therapist. The meetings are great,too,so try to find a sponsor right away. I'm thinking the Sub use may not be a sticky thing at NA. Just go to a few meetings and listen;feel it out.  IBK and ANG would know more about the meetings...send one of them a message if they don't see this post. I've gone to AA and all I said was that I'm a big fat addict!

I'm really proud of you for going after this. I'd rather see you on Sub,too!

[tired_of_oxy]

Thanks for replying Vicki,

I am doing this under a doctors care but the only requirement is that I attend his office once a week to be drug tested and pick up my prescription. I get a weeks supply at a time. There is no requirement to attend meetings or anything, it's up to the patient to decide if they want aftercare. I think it should be mandatory but as of now it's not.

I don't know about other people but for me sub just takes care of the physical wds. It does NOTHING for the mental aspect which I think is a good thing. How could I address the worst part of the addiction for me (mental) if suboxone did work to control the mental cravings. On sub I *feel* stone cold sober except no physical wds. I've heard many other people say the same thing. Methadone on the other hand does take care of the mental cravings but it's a full agonist just like oxy etc so no wonder it does. Being a partial agonist sub does not affect the receptors like the full agonists which is no doubt why I still crave. I know it's still an opiate but at this point my choice is sub or oxy and I'll take the lesser of the evils - for now. Like I said, my intention is to use sub as a tool in recovery. Hoping it will give me the time I need to work on the issues that led me to self medicate to begin with and get well enough into recovery to learn the skills I'll need to cope once I go off sub. It will also allow me to build a network of supportive people to help me. I really want to do this right which is why I reallywant to continue meetings. Still trying to decide if I should say something or keep it to myself.

[vicki595]

Well...usually,when you go on Sub there's an entire protocol involved with out patient treatment,therapy etc...So,it makes me think you're doing this on your own. That's not exactly a good idea. Most don't feel urgent cravings but I'm not an expert...The thing is,you really should have one to one therapy to make the Sub program as effective as possible. Meetings are a great start and they're all different. I don't know for sure if it's wise to state your Sub use. It's still an opiate...

Let's hear what others have to say and good luck!