What to Expect In Treatment »   Have You Been Told That By Using Suboxone You Are Not Truly In Recovery?

No matter how vast the definition of addiction recovery is, there are people out there that think they know the true guidelines. It is these people that won't think twice about telling you that since you are still taking a mood altering drug that you are not in recovery.

When you attend a meeting outside of your Suboxone treatment circle be prepared to get some not so positive feedback about your Suboxone treatment. There are people who truly believe that abstinence from any and all substances is the only definition of addiction recovery. This is just not true.

What you need to consider is that the Suboxone is part of your recovery program. You are taking prescribed medication in the exact manner in which it is prescribed. You are using this prescribed medication as a tool in your recovery program. If you had any other type of medical problem, you would take available medication to help you overcome that problem and become well again...what's the difference?

Have any of you experienced this type of reaction? If so, how did you handle it?

I don't attend NA or AA meetings. I'm in therapy, and I participate somewhat on the Smart Recovery forums. I also blog and read a lot of self-help stuff and so far that's working for me. I have heard that you can't participate in NA meetings if you are taking suboxone. I went to NA for about a year when I was a teenager, and there were people at certain meetings that said I wasn't "clean" because I took antidepressant medication. It made me angry. I stopped going after about a year.

This is from the NA website:

Members on drug replacement programs such as methadone are encouraged to attend NA meetings. But, this raises the question: "Does NA have the right to limit members participation in meetings?" We believe so. While some groups choose to allow such members to share, it is also a common practice for NA groups to encourage these members (or any other addict who is still using), to participate only by listening and by talking with members after the meeting or during the break. This is not meant to alienate or embarrass; this is meant only to preserve an atmosphere of recovery in our meetings.
Our Fifth Tradition defines our groups' purpose: to carry the message that any addict can stop using and find a new way to live. We carry that message at our recovery meetings, where those who have some experience with NA recovery can share about it, and those who need to hear about NA recovery can listen. When an individual under the influence of a drug attempts to speak on recovery in Narcotics Anonymous, it is our experience that a mixed, or confused message may be given to a newcomer (or any member, for that matter) For this reason, many groups believe it is inappropriate for these members to share at meetings of Narcotics Anonymous.

It may be argued that a group's autonomy, as described in our Fourth Tradition, allows them to decide who may share at their meetings. However, while this is true, we believe that group autonomy does not justify allowing someone who is using to lead a meeting, be a speaker, or serve as a trusted servant. Group autonomy stands only until it affects other groups or NA as a whole. We believe it affects other groups and NA as a whole when we allow members who are not clean to be a speaker, chair a meeting, or be a trusted servant for NA.

Many groups have developed guidelines to ensure that an atmosphere of recovery is
maintained in their meetings. The following points are usually included:

Suggesting that those who have used any drug within the last twenty-four hours refrain from sharing, but encouraging them to get together with members during the break or after the meeting.
Abiding by our fellowship's suggested clean time requirements for service positions.
Seeking meeting leaders, chairpersons, or speakers who help further our primary purpose of carrying the message to the addict who still suffers.
We make a distinction between drugs used by drug replacement programs and other prescribed drugs because such drugs are prescribed specifically as addiction treatment. Our program approaches recovery from addiction through abstinence, cautioning against the substitution of one drug for another. That's our program; it's what we offer the addict who still suffers. However, we have absolutely no opinion on methadone maintenance or any other program aimed at treating addiction. Our only purpose in addressing drug replacement and its use by our members is to define abstinence for ourselves.
Our fellowship must be mindful of what kind of message we are carrying if a still-using addict leads a meeting, or becomes a trusted servant. We believe that under these circumstances we would not be carrying the Narcotics Anonymous message of recovery. Permissiveness in this area is not consistent with our traditions. We believe our position on this issue reinforces our recovery, protects our meetings, and supports addicts in striving for total abstinence.

I guess this is why I'm such a huge supporter of Suboxone affiliated meetings. Usually the doctor that you go to for the Suboxone is affiliated with some sort of recovery program...hopefully. I think it is crucial for someone on a Suboxone treatment program to have somewhere to go where they can share, with complete honesty, about their recovery and also identify with others that are doing the same.

I feel the same way. I know for myself getting on line, posting on my blog, commenting on others blogs and stuff like that has been my main source of support. The meetings were very helpful to me in the beginning but I've kind of steered away from them for a while now.

<p>Well said, Ted.</p>

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<p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS">I am an alcoholic, but I sponsor a recovery class every week at a methadone clinic.  I started the group for some of the very reasons discussed in this topic.  Recovery is about regaining your life, health, and happiness... it's a process not a state.  If you are taking steps to get your life back under control then you are in recovery, regardless if it means cold turkey or medically assisted.  I mean if you want to get down to "real" cold turkey and clean sober then tell everyone to put away the caffeine, nicotine, allergy medicine and yes the antidepressants too!  Let me tell you, it aint gonna happen!</font></strong></p>
<p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS">The key to making a medically assisted recovery work is maintaining progress.  And no, by this I don't mean a set timeline where you taper off suboxone or methadone (not ruling it out either), but having goals and a definitive program to track progress.  12 step programs are great for this but so are just generic recovery groups.  Hey who said you can't take the best of both and form you own.  That's exactly what we did at our clinic.  What I am saying here is that its your recovery, if you're waiting around for NA or AA to hand out diplomas don't hold your breath.   Want a support group?  Form your own!</font></strong></p>
<p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS">Want advice or looking for suggestions I say ask people.  Ask for Carol at <a href="http://www.methadonesupport.org/">http://www.methadonesupport.org/</a> she's a good friend and a smart lady...  ask Erin, or ask an old alky like myself.  </font></strong></p>
<p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS">There's plenty of people going every week to meetings that are more like in a rut than actually in recovery, if you want recovery you gotta make it happen yourself.  12 step meetings, suboxone, methadone, Scientology, or mad porcupine therapy... who cares as long as it improves your life and gets you out of the destructive pattern that was killing you and your family.  Once you're back up on your feet, then its time for you to decide what paths of recovery you will travel.  Good luck!</font></strong></p>
<p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS">The Discovering Alcoholic</font></strong></p>
<p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS"><a href="http://www.discoveringalcoholic.com">www.discoveringalcoholic.com</a></font></strong></p>

NA and AA talk about unconditional love in there meetings. I beleive they are good things but not for everyone. I want to live my life without resorting to illegal drugs and as someone else said - I have had enough judgement and ill informed advice that I really don't need to hang my head in shame at a 12 step meeting. I had no idea there were any other types of meetings for people on sub or 'done. Does anyone know if there are any in Australia?

I surely can't speak for anyone else but the NA/AA meetings where I live all but shun us Suboxone users but will hit us up during break or after the meeting for our suboxone! I can't be in an environment like that. I been on maintenance for 6 years now and have IMO re-learned how to live my life. I never heard the phrase "NA Nazis" before but if the shoe fits... (apparently there is a wholesale shoe factory/outlet in my neck of the woods!)
so what about coffee in the meetings, huh? Xanthine=stimulant but I guess that because it's socially acceptable than it's OK right? I hope Suboxone is accepted like that someday.
You should see this page if you are discouraged by your local NA/AA slaves..er..Servants.-
http://orange-papers.org/

My boyfriend did NOT understand why I started taking suboxone when quitting a 30 bag a day habbit... Well it has saved my life. I HAVE a life now. I have been on suboxone for 8+ months. After disputing it with my mother(boyfriend+mom), she expressed how nice it is that I have this help after watching me fail so many times in detoxes and trying on my own. I'm not taking suboxone to get high, I'm taking it for a medical problem.
My boyfriend used to use heroin also, not as much, but was an addict and he quit without suboxone. So he was rubbing it in my face for the longest time, saying i'm weak and not really clean.
Anyways, in the long run, after having this discussion with my mom, and me getting very frustrated with him, he realized how he quit using opiates(heroin), he smoked crack heavily for over a year until the cravings went away.
Since FINALLY getting this thru to him, he is MUCH more understanding... he wishes he had something like suboxone to take when he was quitting, crack was the wrong way to go.
In the long run, were both clean. I have 8 months, he's got a lot longer than me, but we have age difference.
Don't let anyone get you down! I'm sure I speak for a majority when I say that after taking suboxone and quitting opiates, we have control over our lives again, and can begin to heal the damage done, identifying triggers etc. What's important is that we ourselves feel positive and that we are moving forward.