ORTC Articles

What is anonymity?

In Twelve Step programs, anonymity means preserving the confidentiality of a person’s identity in the program. It also means that everything said in meetings will be held in strict confidence.

This principle of confidentiality is often expressed in meetings by this simple saying:

There are two exceptions to this rule:

1. Members who feel you may be in danger are allowed to respectfully discuss your situation with your sponsor.
2. If you confess an unreported crime to your sponsor, that person reserves the option to report the crime. Your sponsor cannot promise you the same legal confidentiality that you would receive from a lawyer, minister, or doctor. Depending on the situation, your sponsor may even be legally obligated to report the crime, especially if questioned by the police or in a court of law. If you confess a crime, be ready to face the consequences.

Meeting confidentiality guidelines

• Never “out” a member (break their anonymity in the program) outside of meetings.
• Never ever “out” a member to the media, press, radio, TV, or entertainment and film industries.
• Never repeat anything said at a meeting without the permission of the person who said it.

It’s not a breach of confidentiality to identify yourself to another person, or to the media, as an alcoholic. There may be times when you want to speak out about the dangers of addiction and the rights of alcoholics and drug addicts. But it is a breach to identify yourself to the media as an AA member. Individuals who do so could expose the program to considerable controversy, because the media might perpetuate the idea that that person’s individual views or experiences represent those of others or of the entire AA organization.

Why is it important to maintain anonymity in aa and other twelve Step groups?

The principle of anonymity is so fundamental to Alcoholics Anonymous that it is part of the program’s name. In society at large, there is still a great deal of stigma associated with alcoholism. Job discrimination against alcoholics is common in some industries. Anonymity helps protect all members from identification as alcoholics, and helps members focus on their similarities to others rather than differences.

Anonymity helps protect AA and its members from grandiosity. Members of AA have the right to speak for themselves, but not for other members or for the organization as a whole. When individual members make comments to the press about their AA membership, they may risk the reputation of the program or of other members.

How will friendship help you with recovery?

Friends from Twelve Step or other therapy groups can offer support and advice while you recover. They often will be able to sympathize and understand your problems, because it’s likely that they have been through a similar situation. They can join you in sober-fun environments and activities that don’t involve alcohol or other drugs.

What about friends who still use?

Let your friends know that you are in recovery and be prepared to give reasons why you no longer use alcohol or other drugs. Let them know what would happen if you continued to use: for example, “If I drink, my job will be in jeopardy.” You could ask your friends to spend time with you in ways other than drinking or using drugs.

You should also be prepared to realize that most of your friends will not understand the disease of addiction. You may want to explain what addiction is and how it has changed your life. This will help them understand why you can no longer drink or use other drugs—why using is a matter of life and death for you.

If your friends do not value your recovery and continue to pressure you to use substances, it may be best to avoid them or end these relationships. Sometimes you may associate alcohol or other drug use with a particular friend, so being with that person can threaten your recovery. Cultivating friendships with people in your recovery program and/or nonusers can be beneficial and help you to avoid relapse.

What is Narcotics Anonymous?

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a nonprofit fellowship whose primary purpose is to help people abstain from using drugs. NA got its start from Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Like AA, NA is based on the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of AA. The Twelve Steps of AA/NA have been described as a road map to abstinence—to a life free of drugs and alcohol. NA offers group meetings that put you in touch with those who share your experiences, and offers ideas about starting and maintaining a healthy, lifelong recovery.

NA is open to all drug addicts, no matter what drug or combination of drugs has been used. Membership is free and requires nothing except the desire to stop using drugs and the effort of showing up for meetings. At NA you can find a sponsor and learn more about how the NA principles can work for you.

Where can you get more information about NA?

To find out more and to locate groups in your area, contact Narcotics Anonymous World Services.

What are benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines (commonly known as sedatives and tranquilizers) are among the most frequently prescribed central nervous system (CNS) depressants in the United States today. There are many different types of benzodiazepine medica­tions. They treat a variety of psychological and physical problems, such as anxiety and sleep disorders. Due to their sedative properties, benzodiazepines have a high potential for abuse. They are especially dangerous when used in combina­tion with other drugs such as alcohol or painkillers (opiates).

Examples of commonly prescribed benzodiazepines include Xanax (alpra­ zolam), Librium (chlordiazepoxide), Valium (diazepam), and Ativan (lorazepam). One benzodiazepine that has received a great deal of media attention is Rohypnol (flunitrazepam). It is also known as “roofies” or the “date rape drug” due to its involvement in sexual assault cases.

Can benzodiazepines be abused?

Benzodiazepines, like many other prescription drugs, are abused when they are taken for nonmedical purposes. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that the abuse of benzodiazepines and other prescription drugs occurs “when they are used without a prescription, in a way other than as prescribed, or for the experience or feelings the drugs give.”

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) uses the term “sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder” to define a pattern of use that leads to signifi­cant physical, interpersonal, medical, or work problems. Sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder is rated as mild, moderate, or severe based on how many criteria are met. A person diagnosed with this disorder can also be classified as in remission, or what is commonly referred to as “in recovery.” Those with sub­ stance use disorder should receive treatment, and those who identify themselves as addicts often find the skills and support to stay sober through peer support groups like Narcotics Anonymous.

Long­term prescription use of benzodiazepines can build tolerance and even­tual physical dependence, or addiction. When abuse leads to dependence and the drug is suddenly stopped or its dosage dramatically reduced, a dangerous with­drawal can occur, resulting in seizures or other harmful consequences. It is rec­ommended that benzodiazepine users seek medical supervision to help them quit.

Addiction is considered a brain-­based disease characterized by abnormal drug­-seeking behavior that leads to impaired control over one’s drug use. Addic­tion means a person will continue using alcohol or other drugs despite the harm it does to their health, family, work or school, and relationships. An addict may ex­perience withdrawal symptoms (physical pain, fatigue, depression, trouble sleep­ ing, irritability) if they stop using, and may need to keep using just to feel normal. “Curing” addiction is not a matter of willpower or moral strength any more than is curing diabetes or cancer. Like diabetes and cancer, addiction is considered a chronic disease which is beyond one’s control and fatal if left untreated.

How does the abuse of benzodiazepines affect a co-occurring mental health disorder?

Co­occurring disorders, or dual disorders, occur when a mental health disorder, like depression or schizophrenia, is present along with addiction, alcoholism, or other substance use disorders. Screening for co­occurring disorders should be part of any good assessment or treatment plan.

Taking a non­prescribed tranquilizer or sedative to help with sleep or to re­ lieve anxiety can put a person with a co­occurring disorder at risk. For example, a patient receiving a prescribed dosage of Librium for anxiety, and who at the same time is abusing his friend’s benzodiazepines, can endanger his own mental and physical health.

A person with co­occurring disorders should be under the supervision of an addiction specialist who understands the interaction of mood­altering substance use and mental health disorders, especially in the case of any use of benzodiaze­ pines, whether prescribed or not.

Due to their high probability for abuse, benzodiazepines are rarely admin­ istered by treatment centers in the U.S. for any mental health disorder that co­occurs with a patient’s substance use disorder.

How do benzodiazepines affect the brain?

The role of brain chemistry in substance use disorders is a relatively new finding in the treatment field, but a rapidly growing body of evidence supports it.

Like all drugs, benzodiazepines affect a certain neurotransmitter in the brain. The one benzodiazepines affect is called gamma­aminobutyric acid (GABA for short). Because benzodiazepines tend to slow brain activity, the drug produces a drowsy or calming effect. When prescribed medically, a benzodiazepine can be beneficial to people with anxiety or sleep disorders.

In general, there are two categories of benzodiazepines: one is short­acting and the other is long­acting. The length of time the drug remains in the blood­ stream of an individual is what distinguishes them. Long­acting benzodiazepines used for more than six months can produce a phenomenon known as tolerance, where more of the drug is needed just to get the same effect. Tolerance is one of the signs of a substance use disorder.

Is addiction to benzodiazepines treatable?

Yes. Persons addicted to benzodiazepines should not try to stop taking them on their own. Withdrawal symptoms from these drugs can be problematic and—in the case of certain CNS depressants—life­ threatening. Persons addicted to benzodiazepines should undergo medically supervised detoxification. Inpatient or outpatient counseling can also help individuals through this withdrawal pro­ cess. Cognitive ­behavioral therapy—which focuses on modifying the patient’s thinking, expectations, and behaviors while increasing skills for coping with various life stressors—has been used successfully to help individuals adapt to discontinuing benzodiazepine use.

Addiction won’t go away like a cold or the flu. It is a chronic disease, meaning you have it all your life. However, by staying sober and getting ongoing support, recovering people can live normal, healthy, productive lives.

Web resources

There are many resources out there. The websites for the following organizations were chosen for their usefulness and user friendliness.

Center for Substance Abuse Research (CESAR)

An organization affiliated with the University of Maryland, CESAR is dedicated to addressing substance abuse by educating the public and researching preven­ tion and treatment strategies. CESAR’s website includes access to in­depth drug information.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

This government organization is dedicated to addiction research and education. Through its website you can access up­-to­-date publications about many different drugs of abuse as well as emerging trends.

What is a halfway house?

A halfway house is a temporary residence for those who have completed treatment but are not yet ready to return to their home. These people find it helpful to have daily support in restructuring their lives. Often, this includes assistance with finding a job and gradually living more independently.

Why is a halfway house a helpful next step after treatment?

After treatment, many people aren’t ready to return to independent living situations—settings where they may be exposed to the using environments or triggers that could lead to a relapse or eventual return to use.

A halfway house is often a good alternative, bridging the gap between intensive drug treatment and sober independent living. Halfway houses enhance the recovery process by helping residents

• maintain abstinence from alcohol and other drugs
• gain access to a recovery support system (programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous) and other community services such as health, mental health, legal support, and so on
• acquire and practice social and living skills such as personal hygiene and grooming, communication skills, problem solving, and so on
• engage in a program of educational/vocational training, volunteer work, and/or employment
• learn and engage in sober recreational activities
• develop healthy community ties

How can fear inhibit your recovery?

Fear is a healthy emotion that has a useful place in the lives of all human beings. Primitive humans could not have survived without fear. Experience made them afraid of dangerous or destructive things that they were powerless over, such as extreme weather or predatory animals. When used for actual purposes of self-preservation, fear gives us the caution and the discretion necessary for life. Fear prompts us, for example, to take safety precautions and to protect our families from poverty and disease.

While in active addiction, you may have used some of fear’s positive qualities, but more than likely you focused on the negative aspects: anxiety, dread, worry, uncertainty, and apprehension of a harm or evil that always seemed just around the corner. Fear of the truth may have filled you with dread and uncertainty, and anxiety accompanied your efforts to conceal your use. These negative elements of fear belong in your Step Four inventory.

Being on spiritually solid ground is key to combating fears. When you feel fearful, meditate or pray. Listen to your Higher Power. You may also want to share your fears with people who have more experience in recovery than you do, such as your sponsor, recovery coach, or recovery support group.

If you find that your fears are a real obstacle to living a full life, you may want to seek out a counselor or therapist to help you work through them. Keep in mind too that some people in recovery suffer from anxiety disorders, which are medical conditions that can be effectively treated.

FEAR stands for Face Everything And Recover.

What are the signs of sexual addiction?

People with sexual addiction often arrange their work and family schedules to accommodate their sexual desires. Much of their time is consumed by fantasies and daydreams of sexual encounters. Sex addicts generally keep their activities— which may include cybersex, viewing Internet pornography, voyeurism, masturbation, and affairs with multiple people—a secret from those around them. They may resort to lying to conceal their actions. After they engage in such activities, they often feel guilty and try to rationalize the behavior in their own mind.

Sex addicts often have the desire to quit engaging in their addictive behaviors. They frequently make plans to end their behavior but do not follow through on those plans, or they stop their behavior for only a temporary period of time. They continually dismiss the negative consequences they experience, which can include marital and work-related problems, STDs, and financial difficulties.

What are the consequences of sexual addiction?

Sexual addiction can affect many aspects of a person’s life, from work and family to health and finances. Sex addicts often arrange their schedules around their sexual activities and are frequently absent from their jobs. Some addicts sacrifice sleep in order to engage in sexual behaviors. In turn, their work performance is affected, which can lead to warnings from their supervisors or termination of employment.

Marital difficulties may result when the spouse discovers the addict’s affairs, preoccupation with pornography, or other sex-related activities. The lack of time the addict spends with the family also becomes a source of disagreement between couples. In addition, both the addict and the addict’s spouse are at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted disease if the addict has had extramarital relationships.

Financial difficulties are also not uncommon for sex addicts. Addicts spend money while having affairs to buy dinner or pay for hotel rooms. Involvement in prostitution and/or pornographic websites requiring membership fees can result in financial burdens. Unwanted pregnancies can also cause a financial, as well as emotional, strain.

Addicts may even experience legal consequences if they have been involved in voyeurism, exhibitionism, child pornography, rape, or sexual harassment.

Can a sexual addiction threaten your recovery from alcohol or other drug addiction?

Sexual addiction can lead to a relapse or eventual return to use of alcohol or other drugs. Often a sex addict will use alcohol to soothe the guilt of an affair or to bolster self-esteem after a sexual encounter.

In addition, many former active alcoholics and drug addicts used alcohol or other drugs in the past to make them feel more comfortable around the opposite sex and in sexual encounters. If you are in early recovery from alcohol or other drug addiction, it is best to focus on your recovery right now, rather than putting energy into a sexual relationship, thus avoiding possible triggers that would cause a return to use.

Web resources

There are many resources out there. The websites for the following organizations were chosen for their usefulness and user friendliness.

Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA): The SAA website includes information on sexual addiction, a self-assessment quiz, and a directory of SAA meetings.

Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH): This site contains information about cybersex, treatment for sexual addiction, and the consequences of sexual addiction. It also has a list of national organizations and other websites that address sexual addiction.

What are synthetic drugs?

The term “synthetic drugs” covers a wide range of chemicals and substances that are meant to replicate the effects of illicit drugs and skirt the law. Contrary to popular opinion, synthetic drugs are not organic or natural. In fact, they are artificial and laced with chemicals. A variety of synthetic cannabinoids have been manufactured and sold in an attempt to avoid laws that make marijuana illegal. Until state and federal laws stepped in, they were sold over the counter at convenience stores, gas stations, head shops, herbal stores, and tobacco shops throughout the country. Synthetic cannabinoids were first detected in the United States in November 2008. Today, they can be found online, sold as “herbal incense” and “plant food,” and are marketed toward young people as a “legal” high.

Synthetic drugs are commonly divided into two categories:

• Cannabinoids (known as Spice or K2) are chemical versions of synthetic marijuana that consist of lab-manufactured THC. Some consider the term “synthetic cannabis” to be misleading because the ingredients are imitations, not copies, of THC.
• Cathinones (known as bath salts) contain manmade chemical compounds that mimic the effects of cocaine, meth, or amphetamines.

Why aren’t synthetic drugs illegal?

Many synthetic drugs are illegal. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has designated the five active chemicals most frequently found in synthetic drugs as Schedule I controlled substances, making it illegal to sell, buy, or possess them. In addition, many states have implemented bans on specific formulas of synthetic marijuana and bath salts. However, drug makers can easily sidestep these regulations. Manufacturers adapt simply by replacing the chemical compound of one banned synthetic cannabinoid or cathinone with another that is not yet known to authorities. Users unaware of the bad side effects the new chemicals may cause are put at risk.

Can synthetic drugs affect co-occurring mental health disorders?

Co-occurring disorders, or dual disorders, occur when a mental health disorder, like depression or schizophrenia, is present along with addiction, alcoholism, or other substance use disorders. Screening for co-occurring disorders should be part of any good assessment or treatment plan.

Research on the effects of synthetic cannabis is only now becoming available. Initial studies focus on the role of synthetic cannabis and psychosis. It seems likely that synthetic cannabis can bring on a psychosis and in some unusual cases may trigger a chronic (long-term) psychotic disorder among vulnerable individuals (such as those with a family history of severe mental illness). Anyone taking medications for a mental health disorder should be especially careful to avoid synthetic or designer drugs sold under the guise of being a natural and safe herb.

Are synthetic drugs dangerous?

Use of synthetic marijuana and bath salts has increased dramatically in recent years, despite health warnings from the states, public health authorities, and poison control centers. One reason that synthetic drugs are extremely dangerous is that buyers don’t know what chemicals they are ingesting. Even dealers often don’t know what ingredients are in the drugs they sell. Individual products can contain a vast range of different chemicals and potencies, some of which can be 2 to 500 times stronger than THC. Similar to the adverse effects of cocaine, LSD, and methamphetamine, bath salt use is associated with increased heart rate and blood pressure, extreme paranoia, hallucinations, and violent behavior.

Poison control centers throughout the country are reporting a dramatic increase in the number of calls relating to synthetic marijuana and bath salts. Spice can raise blood pressure and cause reduced blood supply to the heart. In a few cases, it has been associated with heart attacks. Regular users may experience withdrawal and addiction symptoms. Researchers still do not know all the ways Spice may affect human health or how toxic it may be, but one public health concern is that there may be harmful metal residues in Spice mixtures. Without further analyses, it is difficult to determine whether this concern is justified.

How common is synthetic drug abuse?

Synthetic drugs are popular, especially among young people. Data from the 2011 Monitoring the Future survey of youth drug-use trends reports that 11.4 percent of twelfth graders used Spice or K2 in the prior year, making it the second most commonly used illicit drug among high school seniors. Young adults also use the drug.

Easy access and the misperception that synthetic drugs are natural and therefore harmless have likely contributed to their popularity. Another selling point is that the chemicals used in synthetic drugs are not easily detected in standard drug tests, but new drug tests have now been developed.

How does synthetic drug use affect the brain?

Synthetic drug users report experiences similar to those produced by marijuana— elevated mood, relaxation, and altered perception—and in some cases the effects are even stronger than those of marijuana. Some users report psychotic effects like extreme anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations.

So far, there have been no scientific studies of the effects of synthetic drugs on the human brain, but we do know that the cannabinoid compounds found in Spice products act on the same cell receptors as THC, the primary psychoactive component of marijuana. However, some of the compounds found in Spice bind more strongly to those receptors, which could lead to a much more powerful and unpredictable effect. Like the drugs they tend to emulate, synthetic drug use can lead to addiction.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) uses the term “substance use disorder” to define a pattern of substance use that leads to significant physical, interpersonal, medical, or work problems. Substance use disorder is further broken down into categories based on the substance and its effects (such as stimulant use disorder, cannabis use disorder, etc.). In the case of synthetic drugs, it’s often classified based on the drug/effect being replicated. Substance use dis- orders are rated as mild, moderate, or severe based on how many criteria are met. A person diagnosed with a substance use disorder can also be classified as in remission, or what is commonly referred to as “in recovery.” Those with substance use disorder should receive treatment, and those who identify themselves as ad- dicts often find the skills and support to stay sober through peer support groups like Narcotics Anonymous.

Addiction is considered a brain-based disease characterized by abnormal drug-seeking behavior that leads to impaired control over one’s drug use. Addiction means a person will continue using alcohol or other drugs despite the harm it does to their health, family, work or school, and relationships. An addict may experience withdrawal symptoms (physical pain, fatigue, depression, trouble sleeping, irritability) if he or she stops using, and may need to keep using just to feel normal. “Curing” addiction is not a matter of willpower or moral strength any more than is curing diabetes or cancer. Like diabetes and cancer, addiction is considered a chronic disease which is beyond one’s control and fatal if left untreated.

Addiction won’t go away, like a cold or the flu. It is a chronic disease, mean- ing you have it all your life. However, by staying sober and getting ongoing support, recovering people can live normal, healthy, productive lives.

Web resources

There are many resources out there. The websites for the following organizations were chosen for their usefulness and user friendliness.

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): This government organization is dedicated to addiction research and education. Through its website you can access up-to-date publications about many different drugs of abuse as well as emerging trends.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): SAMHSA is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. Its website offers information and resources about preventing and treating addiction and mental illness.

What is fetal alcohol syndrome?

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a set of mental and physical problems that can develop when a fetus is exposed to alcohol in the womb, and it is one of the leading and most preventable causes of developmental, behavioral, and learning disabilities. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) estimates that 4,000 to 12,000 babies are born each year with FAS and many thousands more with less-disabling fetal alcohol effects (FAE). Though estimates range widely, 40,000 to 375,000 babies exposed to illicit drugs through maternal use are born each year. These statistics do not include nicotine exposure, which also has negative health effects on the fetus.

What causes fetal alcohol syndrome?

Drinking during pregnancy causes FAS. Women who drink heavily (an average of five drinks per day) can have babies with withdrawal problems, abnormal reflexes, sleeping disorders, and other problems. Those who drink less (one to two drinks per day) and those who smoke during pregnancy are likely to have babies with low birth weight. The amount of damage caused by maternal alcohol use depends on the timing and amount of alcohol consumed. Studies have shown conflicting results related to effects on the fetus exposed to minimal or occasional drinking.

What effect does alcohol and other drug use have on a fetus?

Physical symptoms of FAS include growth deficiency, dysfunction of the central nervous system, and facial abnormalities. Cognitive and other effects can include developmental delays, intellectual impairment, behavior problems, and difficulty with coordination, attention, memory, learning, impulse control, problem solving, speech, and hearing. These symptoms cannot be reversed. Children with FAE display some but not all of the symptoms associated with FAS.

Personal Recovery Story

“Abstinence is the best policy because we don’t know how much damage even one drink can do.” —Sasha, mother of son with FAS

Can fathers cause fetal alcohol syndrome?

Research has shown that exposing a male rat to alcohol can alter the growth, behavior, and reproductive functions of that animal’s descendants. This is true even when the mother rat is free of alcohol and other drugs. Male rats consuming alcohol had fewer offspring than alcohol-free rats, and the offspring that did survive were smaller, experienced more behavioral and hormonal disturbances, and had lowered immunity to disease.

At least one human study notes a relationship between fathers’ drinking in the month before conception and the birth weight of their babies. In the study, “regular drinking” was defined as consuming at least two drinks per day or consuming about five drinks or more on a single occasion at least once a month. Infants whose fathers drank regularly weighed less than infants whose fathers were occasional drinkers. These results occurred regardless of the mother’s alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use during any period of the pregnancy.

Alcohol consumption is just one paternal behavior that can affect the life of a newborn. The safest policy is for both men and women to abstain from alcohol and other drugs while they are trying to conceive a child. It’s true that researchers disagree about how much alcohol a woman can safely consume at conception and during pregnancy. Even so, many women who want children choose to abstain completely. When men make the same decision, they not only create a supportive bond with their partners but also affirm their intention to bring a healthy child into the world.

Shared abstinence is one way for men and women to say, “We are going to commit to each other. We’re going to have a child. And for the child’s sake, we’ll both give up drinking.”

How can you deal with the guilt and shame of causing fetal alcohol syndrome?

Many women experience guilt and shame after the birth of a baby with FAS or FAE. In the past, you may have dealt with shame and guilt by drinking and using drugs, but this only deepens feelings of worthlessness.

Shame is an especially bad problem for people in recovery. If you have feelings of shame that you have not addressed, you are at risk for relapse. You’ve worked hard in early recovery, but to maintain your ongoing recovery, you’ll need to keep working the Twelve Steps. Step Four and Step Five are particularly helpful when dealing with issues of guilt and shame. Recovery is the process by which you will be restored to a more fulfilling life with fewer emotional hardships and freedom from addictive behavior.

Remember to work the Steps, utilize your sponsor and sober friends for support, and go to meetings. These things will help you let go of shame and guilt, and develop and maintain a healthy, happy outlook where you can enjoy the freedom and peace of sobriety.

Drunk driving and fatalities

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, almost one-third of drivers convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI) had previous DWI convictions. Many of these crashes resulted in a death. If you have been previously convicted of a DWI, there’s a good chance that you could be convicted again, and a good chance that you will be involved in a crash resulting in a fatality.

What are the legal and financial consequences of repeat DWI convictions?

Many states have enacted laws that impose harsh legal and financial consequences on drivers with previous DWI convictions. These consequences include the following:

• suspension or revocation of driver’s license
• impounding of the driver’s vehicle
• installation of an ignition interlock system that prevents the vehicle from starting if the driver’s blood alcohol level is above a predetermined limit
• an imposed alcohol assessment, which may result in a requirement to get treatment
• a mandatory minimum prison sentence or a community service sentence

How can you avoid driving while intoxicated?

Many people in early recovery relapse when they put themselves in a high-risk situation without realizing or preparing for it. That’s why it’s so important to identify dangerous situations.

If you’re not sure if a situation is high risk, talk to your sponsor or others in recovery for guidance. If you can’t avoid a high risk situation, give yourself permission to leave if it becomes threatening or uncomfortable. You don’t need to test yourself in the presence of alcohol or other drugs. You’ve taken that test before. You may have escaped without relapse before, but in the end the risk is never worth the potential outcome. Sometimes even an event or situation that seems safe can turn out to be dangerous. Before you attend any event or get into an unknown situation, give yourself permission to leave when you need too.

Make sure you have reliable transportation or a method to leave right away, if that’s what you need to do. You may not have driving privileges as a consequence of your chemical use. But you can still avoid being trapped at an event by talking to your sponsor beforehand or making sure a friend can pick you up.

Develop a relapse prevention plan to make sure you protect your ongoing recovery. This will also help protect against the harsh consequences of legal liability and lives lost that may result from driving under the influence.

Recovery Action Step

Create a relapse prevention plan by answering these questions:
1. What are some of the high risk situations you know you will encounter? 2. How will you manage these situations?
3. Which people can help you identify and prepare for these high risk situations?

Discuss your answers with your sponsor and recovery support group. They will help you create a plan to deal with these situations and negative emotions.

Web resources

MADD

MADD is a nonprofit organization with more than six hundred chapters nation wide. Its mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking. MADD’s website offers a search tool to find state-by-state laws on alcohol consumption and driving. If you are a victim of drunk driving in need of assistance, please call MADD’s toll-free help line.