Wondering what others thoughts are..

[cakeladie]

I think if your a drug addict or on a lot of meds you should not drink, but that is my point of view. You see to many people mix drugs with alcohol and the outcome is never good

[spondiferous]

I have never met a drug addict who can successfully drink. Ever. I have only ever seen two outcomes: 1. it's a gateway that leads them back to drugs; or 2. they experience cross-addiction, and become addicted to alcohol as well.

This is just what I have noticed. The thing about addiction is that everyone feels differently about it. Some people are of the 'once an addict, always an addict' mentality, some people believe there are different degrees of addiction, some people believe it is okay to quit drugs and still drink (or quit drinking and still do drugs). At the end of the day, it comes down to what kind of effect it has on one's life and the lives of those around them, and what they are prepared to sacrifice (or not).

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

I have no idea whether they should or shouldn't but visit any British town centre and you will see that many do, with very sad results.

But whether they would be even worse without liquor I cannot say.

[SillyKitty]

When I was in outpatient rehab (IOP Dual Diagnosis), no one could do anything because of the risk of cross addiction. Addicts tend towards addictions. I've actually been thru the program twice, and when I introduced myself as an alcoholic, the T said, " Tell the truth. You're the poster child for cross addiction. This is why none of you should think it's okay to lean on something else."

[emwell]

I haven't read all the replies yet, but I'd say why risk it?
If you have a few drinks it can be way easier to say yes if offered drugs.

Now I will go read all the other replies. and maybe vote

I think it would probably depend on the person. In general, they are probably unrelated matters. Each illegal drug is different from the next and alcohol is different in it's own right. So, in theory, it could be completely fine. One could be addicted to hard drugs and not happen to enjoy drinking. In that case, I'd say it wouldn't pose any problem. However, some former addicts might have a very addictive personality overall and be very driven to drink to extreme excess. Obviously, this would be bad. Also, drinking could be heavily included in their memories of using drugs. For some, triggering those memories might be triggering for them to go back to drugs. So, I'd say it's probably variable. Then again, I am not an addict, so I cannot really say.

[LifeGetsBetter]

NO! period!

Uh...hello....alcohol is a drug!

noun

1. a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body.

Even in NA they say alcohol is a drug....so the answer is NO!

[FNMM]

Definitely not! You either end up replacing the drug addiction with a newly found alcohol addiction or you end up being addicted to both. I think the best thing for a drug addict is to find a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle. Since a lot of drug addicts already may have an affinity to being addicted to things in general, it may be important to seek therapy for addictions in general. A lot of the time drug addicts end up replacing their addictions with things that aren't even unhealthy to begin with, like working out or pushing themselves in their careers but making it an unhealthy addiction.

Conclusion is- it'd probably be best to stray away from alcohol if you're just getting rid of a drug addiction.

god, where did all these haters come from?

on the comment that alcohol is a drug... yes... so is nicotine, so is caffeine, so are psych meds... why are you so quick to judge and to assume you have the answer for somebody else? a lot of things are drugs, that does not automatically make them wrong.

i know addicts who drink without relapsing on their drug of choice or becoming addicted to alcohol.

it is this type of arrogance that makes me avoid places like 12 step meetings...

[Mygrandjourney]

Originally Posted by somat

god, where did all these haters come from?

on the comment that alcohol is a drug... yes... so is nicotine, so is caffeine, so are psych meds... why are you so quick to judge and to assume you have the answer for somebody else? a lot of things are drugs, that does not automatically make them wrong.

i know addicts who drink without relapsing on their drug of choice or becoming addicted to alcohol.

it is this type of arrogance that makes me avoid places like 12 step meetings...

I will address a couple points here:
Nicotine kills more people per year than all other illicit/intoxicating drugs combined. You just don't hear about it as often. It is also the #1 "gateway" drug.
psych meds are not prescribed with the intention of getting someone "high" but for rebalancing one's brain chemistry to promote better functioning and recovery. They are prescribed in controlled doses and have been extensively tested so the primary and secondary effects (side effects/risks) are known before they are put on the market. Can some psych meds be abused? Certainly. Are they promoted as mind altering substances? No.

We all know someone who has successfully continued drinking after stopping their drug of choice. That being said this is a game of Russian Roulette. I meet with many former cocaine, meth, heroin addicts who are now struggling with addiction to alcohol. We can always find outliers who support a point such as it is safe to consume alcohol after quitting another, possibly more destructive drug. In the final analysis, alcohol is a drug and it has potential for abuse and addiction. I guess some will have to try for themselves as opposed to listening to the collected wisdom of others who have walked the path of recovery. The OP was looking for opinions and has gotten plenty. I don't necessarily see that as arrogance, whether I agree or disagree with the stated opinions.

[Angelique67]

Originally Posted by Mygrandjourney

I will address a couple points here:
Nicotine kills more people per year than all other illicit/intoxicating drugs combined. You just don't hear about it as often. It is also the #1 "gateway" drug.
psych meds are not prescribed with the intention of getting someone "high" but for rebalancing one's brain chemistry to promote better functioning and recovery. They are prescribed in controlled doses and have been extensively tested so the primary and secondary effects (side effects/risks) are known before they are put on the market. Can some psych meds be abused? Certainly. Are they promoted as mind altering substances? No.

We all know someone who has successfully continued drinking after stopping their drug of choice. That being said this is a game of Russian Roulette. I meet with many former cocaine, meth, heroin addicts who are now struggling with addiction to alcohol. We can always find outliers who support a point such as it is safe to consume alcohol after quitting another, possibly more destructive drug. In the final analysis, alcohol is a drug and it has potential for abuse and addiction. I guess some will have to try for themselves as opposed to listening to the collected wisdom of others who have walked the path of recovery. The OP was looking for opinions and has gotten plenty. I don't necessarily see that as arrogance, whether I agree or disagree with the stated opinions.

Nicotine in itself isn't very harmful. It's the tar and the thousands of other chemicals in combustible cigarettes that are dangerous.

My point was not that nicotine was not harmful but that we acknowledge that addicts can keep smoking without bringing up prior demons of the addiction that caused the psychological damage. Unless you are saying that addicts must also quit smoking when they quit their drug of choice, whether or not it has dangerous chemicals is irrelevant to the argument. Lots of things are harmful, but that was not what this thread was about.

I am also not sure how the comments on psych meds relate, either. I was merely arguing against the notion that alcohol is inherently bad since it is a drug. If this were true, than all of the other drugs I have listed, and many more, would also be off-limits. If the argument is, alcohol is a drug therefore it is bad, then it would have to also be true that psych meds are therefore bad...

I think it is arrogant to assume one has the answer for all addicts. It is also possible that the outliers are the addicts who become alcoholics--I know more drug addicts who successfully drink than addicts who have become alcoholics. Your context defines what story you will find. We are both using anecdotes as evidence, it is impossible to say which the outlier is.

OMG...are you asking to hear that it's okay for addicts to drink?

You asked us for our opinion and even requested a poll, so we gave it. It's laughable that you would then turn around and call us haters because you didn't like our answers.

A substance abuser is a substance abuser in any guise. I certainly don't know any addicts that can drink just a beer.

Maybe rephrase your questions to get the answers you rather wish to hear?

[CrazyLo]

My best friend is an addict, goes to NA meetings, but she'll have the occasional drink when she is with friends. She does not have a drinking problem.

Originally Posted by AlwaysChanging2

OMG...are you asking to hear that it's okay for addicts to drink?

You asked us for our opinion and even requested a poll, so we gave it. It's laughable that you would then turn around and call us haters because you didn't like our answers.

A substance abuser is a substance abuser in any guise. I certainly don't know any addicts that can drink just a beer.

Maybe rephrase your questions to get the answers you rather wish to hear?

then why did you thank the person who said that their friend, an addict, can drink?

i was open to any opinions on the matter, there are just different ways of expressing those opinions, and acting like there is only one answer and that that person has some sort of ultimate authority is just irritating to me.

[(JD)]

I said no. Alcohol is yet another way to "self medicate" away the poor thought process results that caused the other drug addiction---alcohol IS a drug also. And alcohol is a depressant, as in it makes you depressed.

Treat the underlying reasons for the drug seeking behavior and then one won't want nor need these drugs to have a happy productive life.

Originally Posted by (JD)

I said no. Alcohol is yet another way to "self medicate" away the poor thought process results that caused the other drug addiction---alcohol IS a drug also. And alcohol is a depressant, as in it makes you depressed.

Treat the underlying reasons for the drug seeking behavior and then one won't want nor need these drugs to have a happy productive life.

a depressant doesnt actually mean that it makes you psychologically depressant, it is called a depressant because it depresses the central nervous system (the opposite of what a stimulant does). of course, some people get depressed while drinking, but the term depressant is often misused, it does not mean that it causes depression.

[CrazyLo]

I think whether a drug addict chooses to drink or not depends on the person. Some people will relapse, others won't. But I'm also a person that doesn't believe the 12-step program is the only go-to method of recovering from any addiction. Basically, I don't think you have to stop drinking or smoking weed for the rest of your entire life...but this view is more contemporary and I choose not to argue with people about it.

[QUOTE=somat;4678445]then why did you thank the person who said that their friend, an addict, can drink?

i was open to any opinions on the matter, there are just different ways of expressing those opinions, and acting like there is only one answer and that that person has some sort of ultimate authority is just irritating to me.[/QUOTE

I stated my opinion and my experience. I'm not the one with a problem over it.

I thanked that other person for their reply and thought....and???

[Moogieotter]

I enjoy this thread. AC2 is cool.

[(JD)]

Originally Posted by somat

a depressant doesnt actually mean that it makes you psychologically depressant, it is called a depressant because it depresses the central nervous system (the opposite of what a stimulant does). of course, some people get depressed while drinking, but the term depressant is often misused, it does not mean that it causes depression.

Citation?

Here's some of mine.

Alcohol is a depressant. That means any amount you drink can make you more likely to get the blues. Drinking a lot can harm your brain and lead to depression.
When you drink too much, you’re more likely to make bad decisions or act on impulse. As a result, you could drain your bank account, lose a job, or ruin a relationship. When that happens, you're more likely to feel down, particularly if your genes are wired for depression.

Alcohol Use, Abuse, and Depression: Is There a Connection?

[Hellion]

I think it would somewhat depend on what they're addicted to and other factors. Though I think cannabis is a safer alternative to hard drugs if one is addicted to those, and alcohol if one is addicted to that. Basically cannabis wont kill you so for addicts that have a problem of relapsing a lot it may be in their best interest to have a safer addiction. Or for some it could help relieve withdrawl symptoms making it easier to stop a drug they are addicted to.

Keep in mind people who cant stop smoking are considered 'addicts' and many of them can drink without developing dependency.

[waggiedog]

To be very honest, I've tried it .................................. substuting alcohol with OTC or prescribed medication and yes, it's literally swapping one for the other and in the end you tend/can end up just doing both.

That's only my opinion though. xxxxxxxxxxxxx