What's the deal with asking about what individual tests are for.

[hppygr8ful]

Granted I went through this a long time ago but I don't remember ever thinking "I wonder what this test is for?" Obviously if you are in the program it's for evidence of some form of drug/ETOH use.

Also back then we couldn't check our results and were only notified for a positive result. Just asking about a result from the lab or case manager would have been seen as relapse behavior and the questioned. What are you so worried about?"

In my mind if you are practicing total abstinance you should have no worry about what a test is for as in theory it doesn't matter because you will be clean.

I was so busy doing the requirements of the program so that I could get back to work that I didn't have time to think of anything else.

Anyway just wondering

Hppy

[SpankedInPittsburgh, DNP, RN]

I think the wonderment of what's being tested at least in part springs from a well-earned sense of paranoia. I just got tested today and have drank in a couple years or drugged in a couple decades but I was still apprehensive about the test. Why? The sense of apprehension springs from a complete lack of trust I have in these programs and the punitive nature of these programs. Couple this with the fact that any myriad of substances innocently ingested could lead to a false positive that would put you in the position of proving that you didn't do something wrong. For example, at work I had some coffee with sugar free pumpkin spice flavoring. The stuff is made outta a zillion ingredients that haven't sprung from nature. So is most of the stuff in your local grocery store. Could one of these components lead to a false positive? I honestly have no idea. What if the cleaning compound used to clean the can that holds the coffee was cleaned with an alcohol based solvent? Of course this all sounds ridiculous but that is what being treated like criminals who have to prove their instance leaves the inmates of these asylums. Further I've seen folks how have had a false positive and the program immediately reacts by trying to sweat a confession outta the nurse for something they didn't do (the truth seems of little import) and suspending their ability to work leading to financial devastation. Its senseless paranoia born from a senseless and punitive program that helps few and harms many

[TNPAPnurse]

THIS.

Thank you, Spanked.

[TNPAPnurse]

I think the wonderment of what's being tested at least in part springs from a well-earned sense of paranoia. I just got tested today and have drank in a couple years or drugged in a couple decades but I was still apprehensive about the test. Why? The sense of apprehension springs from a complete lack of trust I have in these programs and the punitive nature of these programs. Couple this with the fact that any myriad of substances innocently ingested could lead to a false positive that would put you in the position of proving that you didn't do something wrong. For example, at work I had some coffee with sugar free pumpkin spice flavoring. The stuff is made outta a zillion ingredients that haven't sprung from nature. So is most of the stuff in your local grocery store. Could one of these components lead to a false positive? I honestly have no idea. What if the cleaning compound used to clean the can that holds the coffee was cleaned with an alcohol based solvent? Of course this all sounds ridiculous but that is what being treated like criminals who have to prove their instance leaves the inmates of these asylums. Further I've seen folks how have had a false positive and the program immediately reacts by trying to sweat a confession outta the nurse for something they didn't do (the truth seems of little import) and suspending their ability to work leading to financial devastation. Its senseless paranoia born from a senseless and punitive program that helps few and harms many

THIS.

Thank you, Spanked.

[TNPAPnurse]

Not naming names, but I think there's a few people who are active on the Recovery forum that have drank so much of the 12-step Kool-Aid that they can't just worry about themselves, they have to worry about everyone else. They should stop it. It's okay to have your opinions, but quit trying to make those of us who aren't happy with our situations seem somehow seem guilty.

[hppygr8ful, ASN, RN, EMT-I]

Not naming names, but I think there's a few people who are active on the Recovery forum that have drank so much of the 12-step Kool-Aid that they can't just worry about themselves, they have to worry about everyone else. They should stop it. It's okay to have your opinions, but quit trying to make those of us who aren't happy with our situations seem somehow seem guilty.

If your talking about me I have to admit I did drink the Kool-Aid!. In my own case I was a pretty out of control alcoholic stuck in my own resentment, depression and PTSD with no way to get out on my own except to do what I did which was try to off my-self. I don't push my belief on anyone except to say what worked for me, but when I asked the ER doc why I was still alive he said "God isn't through with you yet!" I did go to AA even before I went into monitoring. It was a choice that was right for me. As a peer counselor for people in these programs I have met all kinds and agree wholeheartedly that it's not for everybody - especially the person who is not a true addict but rather a recreational drinker/MJ user who got caught in the BON Net.

I actually believe that if someone has a DUI with no other evidence of addiction should only get random UDS and not be required to attend AA. AA has no dog in this fight as they don't make any money off their members. They are simply a resource.

Still on this forum not everyone tells their whole story and they don't have to but the fact remains that for every person who finds AA to be complete hogwash there is another who has been helped. However one finds serenity is thier own business. I think it's the idea that it's forced attendance that makes it such a hard pill to swallow.

As a peer counselor my only job is to help people understand that whatever landed them in monitoring has led to a place and circumstance they cannot change and they have to go along for the ride. Might as well try to gain something from the experience.

Hppy

I also discovered that when I stopped attending AA I didn't just fall into a bottle of vodka and land my butt in the gutter. So there's that

[Persephone Paige, ADN]

Well maybe YOU were up to no good, but not everyone is trying to "beat the system". My momma always said "mind your biscuits and it'll all be gravy." If someone's gonna cheat, they're gonna get caught eventually. Let that be their problem.

Seeing as how this wasn't even your thread, I think you need to take your own advice. I am a member in good standing here, only an admin can censure me.

[rn1965, ADN]

If your talking about me I have to admit I did drink the Kool-Aid!.

I, too, drank the kool-aid, and it has save my life!

In my own case I was a pretty out of control alcoholic stuck in my own resentment, depression and PTSD with no way to get out on my own except to do what I did which was try to off my-self. I don't push my belief on anyone except to say what worked for me, but when I asked the ER doc why I was still alive he said "God isn't through with you yet!" I did go to AA even before I went into monitoring. It was a choice that was right for me. As a peer counselor for people in these programs I have met all kinds and agree wholeheartedly that it's not for everybody - especially the person who is not a true addict but rather a recreational drinker/MJ user who got caught in the BON Net.

I could not agree more!

I actually believe that if someone has a DUI with no other evidence of addiction should only get random UDS and not be required to attend AA. AA has no dog in this fight as they don't make any money off their members. They are simply a resource.

Still on this forum not everyone tells their whole story and they don't have to but the fact remains that for every person who finds AA to be complete hogwash there is another who has been helped. However one finds serenity is thier own business. I think it's the idea that it's forced attendance that makes it such a hard pill to swallow.

As a peer counselor my only job is to help people understand that whatever landed them in monitoring has led to a place and circumstance they cannot change and they have to go along for the ride. Might as well try to gain something from the experience.

Hppy

I also discovered that when I stopped attending AA I didn't just fall into a bottle of vodka and land my butt in the gutter. So there's that

I do not attend as often anymore, and when I do, it is normally a "free-thinkers" meeting, because god is not m' thang. I am lucky enough to have meetings like that in my area.

I also feel for those who have been forced into these one size fits all programs. The one time DUI, while NOT on duty, or the ones who have old DUI cases from LONG before school.

I am glad to see that you are working to change the programs, or at least trying.

And, I am with Spanked, the anxiety is overwhelming. Did I just eat a poppy seed? Crap. Did I use too much sanitizer just now? Crap. The fear is real and can be consuming. The great unknown causes us to panic and worry.

RN1965