Re: TOTAL ABSTINENCE

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: :Toatal abstinence is total abstinence as far as I can see.Doesn't it say in the preamble about substituting one drug for another?I have no personal experience of anti-deppressants but even the medical proffession say methadone is a substitute!!!I have the desire to stop using drugs and not the desire to not be@sick@ by substituting one drug for another.i have done a methadone reduction programme before I came to NA and that's what it was Areduction TO ZERO...not a maintainance programme to justify my using... THIS RECENT EMAIL IS SHARED HERE TO REACH MORE PEOPLE... : : Subject: Re: : : Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 03:05:20 -0400 : : From: Bo Sewell <bo@bosewell.com> : : To: geneinrecovery@netscape.net : : This matter is coming to a head. We never crossed over from being a program : : of total abstinence. If someone who has to take pharmaceuticals gets : : something out of NA, that is fine. If they want to be some kind of group : : officer of official, forget it. They should do a program for themselves. I : : mean it, something serious that would take care of their needs. If we allow : : this, we fail our definition. It is not a decision, it is deeply embedded in : : our program. We are addicts who want to live free from active addiction - in : : any form. And that damn sure includes phamaceuticals. Anti-psychotics are : : dangerous for a person to get off of by themselves. Anti-depressants may : : stabilize a person and coming off them may trigger some hellish reaction. : : So, the problem is best dealt with be telling someone the TRUTH from the : : beginning. We are a program of total abstiences and if you want to join us, : : fine. Get totally abstinent, declare your membership and pitch in to help. : : This article is not a pitch. It deals with facts of recovery and our history : : as a program in our own right. We don't use. We don't use. We really don't. : : So, leading someone into recovery associations, allowing them to mimic our : : behaviour and terminology and participate like they are clean, recoverying : : addicts is just bullshit.. In each and every case, they will be attacked for : : failing the membership requirements: their desire for recovery is not in : : evidence. And when that time comes, it can have devastating and permanently : : damaging results like suicide and convulsive death. So, don't lie to them in : : the first place. Don't let them cherish little illusions and don't let them : : take on the 'colors of recovery' because they for what ever reason are NOT : : clean addicts seeking recovery in NA. : : I hope we will be forgiven for this deliction in thought. Many members have : : come to me over this question over the years and it is not an easy one to : : handle. Tell people the truth from the beginning, they don't get : : 'illusioned' to begin with, so the traumatic effects that come later on are : : avoided by a clearer understanding of just what we are up against. If you : : are not using, just for today, you can be a member. If you are using : : anything that affects your mood or behavior, sorry but you have another : : problem. Spiritual principles will work for you but that is the strength of : : the principles, not evidence that you are a member. You are a member when : : you say you are. Also, your desire should be in evidence and you should be : : clean, even if you are going through some discomfort. Addicts can go through : : discomfort, get clean and stay clean. If you have something else wrong with : : you, it doesn't mean we don't care about you - we do care. We care enough to : : tell you the truth. Get real help for your problem. Don't saunter around our : : meetings and service structure giving people a hard time because they can't : : understand your using drugs and calling yourself a member. NA members don't : : use drugs. They really don't. We have created a safe place for ourselves and : : we want to keep it safe. We don't use. We don't extend membership rights to : : non-members. We all know, love, enjoy, spend time with and care about people : : who are not NA members. They are our bosses, our co-workers, family members, : : people we meet on the subway. Find. We treat them with dignity and respect : : and expect the same. Don't come into NA using your verbal skills and social : : abilities to try to snow us into accepting your using. It's not OK. If you : : want to joing NA, by all means do so. We are there for addicts seeking : : recovery. If you can't get clean off everything, then seek help somewhere : : else. You'll probably do just fine. : : If this sets some people howling, that's just fine. Figure it all out and : : come up with something workable. It is time we got this one straight. : : In Loving Service, : : Bo S. : : geneinrecovery@netscape.net wrote: : : > I'm writing to # of people whose opinions I value , considering the : : > Fellowships acceptance of the need for many psychotropic drugs ( I am : : > talking about anti-psychotics ect, used as prescribed )what do you think : : > of service work by someone on methadone maintence , the person in question : : > has only used methadone for 14 years , has a stable productive life , : : > wants to be active in service work , considers himself clean for 14 years : : > , but is dismayed by the general rejection within the fellowship . at : : > least as regards him doing service .he reached out to me , now i'm : : > reaching out to you , has NAWS an" official" opinion ? what is their : : > position vis-a-vis methadone maintence and service work @ world level , : : > any help , opinions , ideas ect would be appreciated. ILS : : > : : >

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