addict or not?

[someonesmom]

Would someone please tell me if taking 5 or 6 xanax once every few weeks to the point of passing out is an addiction or "recreational usage"? Is there such a thing as recreational use? My 20 yr old has been on suboxone for 4 months and has been clean except for these binges. I'm not justifying anything. I am just confused.
I got him to go to an NA meeting but he says that's not "him"
I don't want to brainwash him into thinking he's an addict, but how can he not be?
If it's not Oxy's then it's xanax. Either one is no good and if he's binging and doing xanax to the extreme then he's addicted.  Or is an addict someone who need drugs or pills everyday?

[someonesmom]

Thank you and gizzy32 for helping. Good idea. I will show him that I've bookmarked this webpage and maybe take him to a meeting in a different town. Yes the crowd was rough!  I felt comfortable...but maybe he didn't b/c it was mostly an older crowd.
My cousin suggested AA too. I will think about it. But first I want him to be able to identify himself with pill addicts...not be able to say he's not an alcoholic so the program doesn't apply to him.....
I wish you both the best that life has to offer. Stay strong.

[wannabefree330]

If he's willing to keep an open mind about this, AA helped me more than NA.  Where I live NA seemed to be a 'rough' crowd on the surface.  I felt more welcome and invited at AA.  It is after all the learned behaviors and coping stragies we need to work on and not necessarily the chemical of choice.  Show him this site, encourage him to read and maybe ask some questions here as well.  As you said, if he's not ready he just isn't.  But at least he'll know where he can go when he finally is ready.

[gizzy32]

i did that too when i used. it seemed when i hit a bottom i tried to clean up only to relapse over and over. all i can suggest to you is do not enable him whatsoever, and if you must, give him tough love although it may be hard. it sounds like he is not to deep in yet so something should be done now to ensure he dosen't throw his life away. good luck, i hope he pulls it together. he does need some type of aftercare and he does want to get clean, i hope he makes the right choice

[someonesmom]

Thank you for responding so quickly. The answer is yes, everytime he gets caught.
He really did just switch his drug of choice didn't he? I think the NA meetings would be beneficial if only to teach him about impulses, compulsions, etc.
I know NA can only help if he wants to go and follow the program but the info is getting to him and perhaps he will use the tools he learns later when he faces the truth...or at least know where to go to get help.

[gizzy32]

100 % not. an addict does not have to use drugs everyday, some do and some go on binges. if he is taking that many and passing out that is far beyond recreational obviously. i do believe N/A is a great program, but it's not for everyone. if he was using oxy's before, he has now switched addictions which is not healthy. has he shown you any signs at all he wants to be clean?