AA or NA?

[clusterfoxtrot]

I have seen a variety of posts about quitting drinking, etc. I was curious to see if any of the members are actually sober, in terms of being in recovery from drugs and/or alcohol.

For those that are, how does AS fit into the picture, in terms of recovery and working a program.

CF

 

[smokinghawk]

I am STRONGLY opposed to recreational drug use, or even alcohol use, in my own personal life. But even I, who campaigns against drug abuse, see a distinction between it and steroid use. Here's how:

1. Steroids aren't done to fulfill a physical craving for a temporary physical feeling or "fix." They're not used dose-by-dose for an at-the-moment sensation.

2. Steroid use is governed by pre-planned durations of time, amoutns of dose, and frequency of use. There is a set starting and stopping place, with all methods available to *counteract* the unwanted physical and psychological effects. Other drugs have no closed-ended stopping plcae; just use them whenever you have them, want them, need them, etc.

3. Steroid use is not correlated to social ills. It is not an industry that connects to prostitution, homicide, suicide, car accidents, family violence, poverty, gang wars, etc. Although there are reports of increased aggression on certain steroids, even that is a sensation the user is aware of, rather than being an uncontrolled impulse.

4. Steroid use does not cost 80 billion dollars to our society per year, like other street drug use does.

5. Steroid users do not contribute to assassinations and murders of DEA agents. If it's happened, it's so rare we never hear about it even. No Columbian or Detroit or L.A. shootouts.

6. Steroids are often developed according to pharmaceutical guidelines and contained in sealed, sanitary containers. They haven't been "cut" during pass-downs among distributers. consequently, we do not see the dangers of disease from needle-sharing, contamination (except in obvious cases, but the "mainstream" gear is clinical), etc.

Now, let me add the most ironic part of this at all; I have not ever used steroids. Not even once.

So lets add #7: Steroids do not carry the same indefensible stigma to non-users that street drugs usually do.


Having said that, I recognize a psychological dependency among quite a few steroid users. There are guys right here who spend THOUSANDS a year on cycles, and are never big or gross-vascular enough. Psychological addiction is very real, and in that case I could see the relevance of NA groups.