Question:
think I already know what Sarge's answer is going to be but I wonder
how most feel about this.........It may sound like a silly question, and
yes I know that's what NA is for and they should be there, but I think
it's a valid area to explore being that I suppose it's **mostly** all
the same principle if you remove the substance........(I put *mostly*
because I think I can assume the *obvious* drinking of alcohol part is
different due to social areas I suppose)
I wasn't sure how to put the subject line so go easy on me with that...
I'll add that while the person did drink, clinically I suppose they did
not meet the requirements or diagnose(whatever) of an alcoholic.
Hopefully that sorta explains what I mean.
BTW: This has nothing to do with taking pokes at our famous Teddy I am
actually being serious for once(or twice)...........
Answer:
The answer to your question is Yes. Many drug addicts (who are not
alcoholics) get clean in AA and don't attend NA meetings.
To your broader question which I believe that you are alluding to, is
"Should drug addicts attend AA meetings to get clean and/or be allowed to
attend AA meetings if they are not alcoholics?" Here your answer becomes yes
and no.
Many drug addicts who are not alcoholics attend AA meetings because they
don't like NA meetings. You find this to be true of women who become
addicted to prescription drugs thanks to unknowledgeable doctors and not
street drugs.
I for one have no objection to the drug addicts who attend an AA meeting,
however keeps his/her comments confined to alcohol. I am not in favor of
those who introduce themselves as "I am so & so, an alcoholic and drug
addict". I am a firm believer in the singleness of purpose which has been at
the foundation of AA and I believe that the singleness of purpose has been
unraveling over the past several years primarily because of the ever
increasing inclusion and acceptance of a broader membership.
I spent several years associated with a local club and have had this
conversation with hard core AAers to a "drug is a drug is a drug" NAers and
drug abuse counselors who promote AA for NAers. There are issues that come
up in that, there is a big difference between the drug addict and alcoholic.
Drug addicts have to live a different life than an alcoholic to support
their habit. For one, alcoholics don't have to run an illegal gauntlet to
maintain their habit. The various drugs effect people differently than
alcohol, and the thinking is quite different. Drug addicts don't usually
have black outs.
Another argument is that in an AA meeting if the discussion stays on the
topic of alcohol, the drug addict does not hear an NA message, in spite of
those who try to maintain that a drug is a drug is a drug and the 12 steps &
12 traditions are the same. This is not the same as one alcoholic talking to
another alcoholic or one drug addict talking to another drug addict.
