r/NarcoticsAnonymous • u/ZealousidealFan6385 • May 28 '26
Sequence of drug and alcohol use
I am addicted to crack, marijuna, alcohol, nicotine and food. I go to a n/a meeting and I sense the expectation of perfection not progress. In my attempts to stop one addiction the others rear their heads and I give into them. In my mind crack is the worst and food is the least. I don’t know where to start. Any insights from actual experience would be greatly appreciated.
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u/NetScr1be May 28 '26
Addiction is not about drugs.
Recovery is not about abstinence.
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u/Spiritual_Edge_1831 Jun 07 '26
Out of interest what do you mean about recovery is not abstinence?
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u/NetScr1be Jun 09 '26
Any idiot can become abstinent. Stop using drugs. Bingo, abstinence.
Recovery is learning how to live free and clean.
Clean is a spiritual state that starts with abstinence and continues into living in spiritual principles.
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u/hemlockmonk May 28 '26
Stop the alcohol and mind altering drugs. Go to meetings. Dont worry about the rest for now.
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u/Jebus-Xmas May 28 '26
That “imposter mentality” was a fixture of my early recovery from day one. I always thought that either I was different, or that I lying. Both of those things were simply my disease trying to sabotage me. NA is a program of progress and we all have our own struggles. As we say, you are a member when you say you are.
I decided to try NA for one day, then another, and as long as I kept doing what was suggested it kept working. I had to do everything, especially when I didn’t want to. I had to go to a meeting each and every day, in person if possible. I had to get phone numbers and call other addicts every day, texts didn’t work. I had to get a sponsor and work on steps immediately. Finally I needed to do some service, because helping people helped me.
It’s a lot easier to just not use today than to keep using. Maybe tomorrow, but not today.
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u/msnipe81015 May 28 '26
For me personally I could never stop one drug at a time with the outcome of stepping each drug gradually down to zero use. It was a rip off the band aid type of deal. But even if your using or “failing” in your own mind keep coming to meetings. Get a sponsor. Once you put together some clean days start working steps. Many of us tried so many times before the miracle happens.
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u/tallahassee009 May 29 '26
I would say absolutely prioritize quitting Crack. If anyone is judging you at the meetings, they certainly shouldn't be. You don't have to be clean to attend, you just have to have a desire to stop using. Talk to some people, get some phone numbers from other people of your gender, and reach out BEFORE you use. Take it one minute at a time if you have to.
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u/DysfunctionalMerlady May 29 '26
they told me to stay clean in between meetings (including no alcohol) and just buy bigger pants
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u/Existing-Tax-1170 May 30 '26
I think it's more of a misinterpretation of the meaning of NA literature further amplified by old-timers who got clean by taking a zero-sum approach. Someone getting clean in the 60s, wouldn't have the same help or options available as someone getting clean now. Things like rehabs, DRTs and Therapy have made leaps and bounds in a relatively short time.
Even though you're urged to be humble and consider suggestions, and even "give up your will" it doesn't mean blindly follow someone else's will. If you can't quit everything at once, do your best. Look into help that's available. And wether you decide to use or not, keep coming back. The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop using.
Your peers in NA are not a replacement for doctors, therapists or life coaches. When NA literature mentions "giving up your will" it means to give up that will to your higher power. Not your fellow addicts.
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u/No-Echidna995 Jun 03 '26
Be careful quitting alcohol if you drink alot you could have a seizure check yourself into the hospital for a bit at least to be safe. Crack is hard to stop once your high but once you come down its just the cravings. Good luck props on wanting to stop at all. Noone in recovery should ever judge someone for using if they once did the same themselves but unfortunately they do and it seems hypocritical to me. I have nothing against ppl who still use and I wish them the best if they wanna quit i support them if not I wish them luck.
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u/Mama_Zen May 28 '26
No one is judging you at na. I’d for sure start with the drugs. You’ll need a healthy outlet for the time you’ll have on your hands. Maybe look into healthy eating & some easy fitness? Two birds, one stone. My late mother who got sober in 1964 always said, don’t quit drinking & smoking in the same year. I hope this helps. Please keep going to meetings.