[tommyperkins]

Originally Posted by mjlrn97

Frankly, I think this whole topic is a smokescreen to enable the subject of the OP to continue to live in denial........otherwise, why throw up roadblocks to something that can, and does, work for many, many people?

And just what am I denying? Also what kind of roadblocks am I throwing up? If a person wants to go to AA voluntarily the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment guarantees that person's right to do so, just as the Establishment Clause guarantees a person's right not to be coerced to go to AA.

[SRbear]

Been there done that...well been there, did not do anything. Did not get narcotics wasted immediately after we first got our pyxis machine. Few times during the understaffed, crazy day, did not remember to go back and sign it out, I always had someone watch me waste. Well, it was decided that I was taking all the drugs. Wrong. I was given a choice of saying I had a drug problem or was told that the DEA would be called and I would be facing numerous federal counts. It is a federal offence not to sign waste immediately, and I repeat, immediately. I had no problems at work, no errors, etc. Needless to say, I was forced to a 12 step progrem, and counseling meetings run by the addict that had been there the longest. At the beginning, I did not test positive, nor did I ever test postive with any randon drug screen. It was quite an education. My biggest problem was with having God involved. If we are powerless, and only God can help us, and we do not believe in God.........

[zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by mjlrn97

It makes it difficult on those who are there because they KNOW they have a problem and want help for it. Frankly, I think this whole topic is a smokescreen to enable the subject of the OP to continue to live in denial........otherwise, why throw up roadblocks to something that can, and does, work for many, many people?

Just my .02 worth.

I'm thinking, those who wind up in AA are there because they are forced into it -- forced by their DISEASE. I was there because of an unsuccessful suicide attempt and knew soon after that alcohol was the main culprit. As I said, it's worked for 18 years for me. Others are forced by the justice system, wives/husbands, girlfriends/boyfriends, employers, physical illness, whatever. Yet whatever it is that brings them, many find themselves convinced after attending meetings for a while that they do have a problem and that AA has a solution. So newcomers who come in for the "wrong" reasons are not resented, they are welcomed, because we know they have a shot at getting well.

Now of course AA doesn't work for EVERYbody, but it's a start.

[zoeboboey]

[quote=SRbear]Well, it was decided that I was taking all the drugs. Wrong.QUOTE]

Sounds like it sucked, big time. What happened after, did you get your license back or what?

[Tweety]

AA is not a religion or a demonination. However the 12 steps are very Judeo-Christian and it's lines are very blurry and I find them to be very religious IMHO> I think people should be offered alternative to forcing someone into 12-step programs.

I think the relapse of addiction is dismal regardless of the program. Don't have anything to back that up with though. But I read somewhere that one of the symptoms of recovery is relapse.

Lemonhead, with all due respect you sound a bit too bitter to be very objective. Your anger is palpable. You've been there, but you should preface that this is only your opinion. But maybe I should shut up too, sorry.

AA however, should not be forced. There should be alternatives to 12 steps offered to profressional nurses. It shouldn't be the only program offered. That's not fair.

But AA being in every corner of the world speaks volumes that it's a valid program of recovery, religious cult or not, lives are saved, people are changed.

[SRbear]

[quote=zoeboboey]

Originally Posted by SRbear

Well, it was decided that I was taking all the drugs. Wrong.QUOTE]

Sounds like it sucked, big time. What happened after, did you get your license back or what?

Never lost my license, but I could not give narcotics for 2 years, then had 2 more years of more meetings and random drug screens. The nurses I worked with then, and some I still work with now, cause I am at the same place, were great, and understanding. I hollered for them to give my patient a shot, and they hollered for me to hang an IV for them, so it worked out. They could not believe what had happened. You know, you really only have to be accused of taking narcotics.....and bam. They did not have to prove anything....at least if I had been aressted, I would have been read my rights.

[CHATSDALE]

The Whole Point Or Going To These Meetings Is One Helping The Other...i Promise You That "professionals" You Go To Are Not Any More Capable Of Helping You Than Someone Who Has Been There...i Have Spoken To Many Aa Members And Most Have Found It To Be Of Help But None Were Forced To Go...it Was A Personal Decision You Need To Make And You Have To Make It A Priority In Your Own Life..if You Feel You Are Not Getting Anything Out Of It Petition The Board To Offer An Alterative....go To A Professional If That Is Your Choice But Get Help Somewhere....we Can Not Lose Capable Nurses Nor Can We Subject Patients To At Risk Nurses

[Lemonhead]

[quote=CHATSDALE]The Whole Point Or Going To These Meetings Is One Helping The Other...i Promise You That "professionals" You Go To Are Not Any More Capable Of Helping You Than Someone Who Has Been There

Wow, that's a scary thought. I certainly hope the professionals are better equipped to help us, because the "been there, done's that" may not have the simple social skills to walk another person through some extremely traumatic events, regardless of their own experiences. I can tell another person what it was like to have cancer, but I surely am NOT equipped to treat them.
Case in point--this happened locally over 3 years ago. 26 year old man court ordered to AA following a domestic abuse charge, following several months of alcohol abuse. He was NOT ordered to anger management, nor any other type of professional counseling. He obtained the obligatory "sponsor", a man that had been a lifelong alcoholic and worked in a boat factory. The guys wife attended AA with him and one day after a meeting, went to the "sponsor" and told him that her hubby was acting irritable--the sponsor went a little off the wall--asked the kid if he'd been doing his Big Book reading assignments, his nightly prayers and phone calls...the kid said no, the sponsor said, "well, ya wouldn't be feeling this way if you'd read your book and prayed"....next day, kid rapes and strangles to death his wife in front of his 2 young children....do ya think a professionally trained, college educated mental health therapist would have told the guy to go home and read a book? So, yep, the boat maker had "been there, done that" and hardly handled the situation appropriately--on the contrary, he did nothing short of killing that young woman...
In response to the "too angry to be objective." "Anger" can propel a person to educate themselves and understand every aspect of a cause they are pursuing..ignorance does not.
To SRbear, I am so happy that you shared your story. People that have not been through the nightmare of a false allegation, cannot even fathom the horror of it. There are so many nurses that have made false admissions just to save their license. When you have a prosecutor or even board agent tell you that if you do not "admit" to a problem and enter in to a "confidential" program, you WILL face state and federal felony charges and permanent licensure records..and possibly a prison sentence..who wouldn't "admit" and jump through whatever hoops necessary to preserve your livelyhood. I'm sorry you had to go through that and hope you are getting through all of it okay. What every single nurse MUST understand, that something as "simple" as a documentation error can lead to very serious charges--and the board DOES NOT have to "prove" guilt. They simply have to show evidence.

[Lemonhead]

In addition to the religious issues:
http://pages.ivillage.com/aacrimecenter/aacrime/

[CHATSDALE]

LEMONHEAD there are horror stories concerning "professionals" and people who cannot recognize others who need support....some people with a broken leg need open reduction and some just need crutches for awhile....i work in a psyche facility and I can tell you that some professionals are absolutely useless..maybe that is what sends them to that specility is to try to understand themselves...maybe I have just seen the dregs but you can spend yourself into the poorhouse and come away just as troubled as you were before...if it will make you feel better people who abuse other people will do that no matter what...the woman was in danger no matter who would try to help her husband...why men think they can prove their love by killing is beyond my conprehension