Lacey, the term "clean" in the context of drug users is derived from the way drug test results are described. You're "clean" if your test comes back negative, meaning no drugs in you. "Clean" most definitely means not using drugs at all.
Anyway, if that's the only argument, then it's one of semantics. I could have just as easily said "sober" or "dry" or "abstinint" and had it mean the same thing. I've heard many people refer to themselves as clean without having been addicted to something. Addiction is not a prerequisite for having drugs ruin/affect your life, so for someone that stops using completely despite never being addicted, they are most definitely "clean."
I think you're trying to twist the definition to justify something personal with your own use. I'm not trying to take anything away from your accomplishments - I'm very happy for you, in fact - but I refuse to accept that you are "clean" if you've only reduced your use rather than cut it out of your life completely. I don't see how anyone could honestly say to themselves that they are "clean" if they are still using at any rate.
Someone who uses but maintains a normal lifestyle is not clean, either. They are "functional/responsible drug users." "Clean" and "functional" are not the same thing. I've seen closet heroin addicts that are able to maintain a job, marriage, raise kids, and so on. Addicts. Are you telling me they are "clean" because they are living a normal life? Being able to use between probation piss tests in most certainly not being "clean" - it's being a smart or clever drug user, whichever you prefer. No offense, but I wouldn't label that as being "responsible" though. Being responsible would be following the guidelines set by your probation, which means being "clean" and not using at all.
Like I said, I'm not a fan of NA by any means. I think it's horrible, but the truth of the matter is, it works for some people, and dismissing it completely because Methadone and Suboxone are available isn't smart. Not everyone wants to go that route, so for them, NA should be an option.
My point still stands that it's much easier to get "clean" - no matter how you define the word - with Methadone or Suboxone than it is without, so for those that choose not to use those, NA could be beneficial. Even still, it won't work for everyone, but there are some people out there that NA certainly does work for.
I dont use anymore, at all. If u read between the lines in my last post carefully you will get the message that Im having a kid yo-There aint no room for dope in my life now.
I am on methadone.
I am, most definately, 100% clean.
If i had some kind of psychiatric problems, and was the same person but I needed prescribed antidepressants, and I was on those,
Would I be not "clean?"
Clean aint a drug test result. Its the fact that you are off the drugs you are addicted to and not using them.
If you disagree that a person who uses once , a few times in a year, is clean fine thats understandable,
but you absolutely cannot tell me that a person who is on suboxone or methadone, or ANY PRESCRIBED MEDICATION THAT THEY USE AS DIRECTED, aint clean.
If bein on maintenance aint clean then why does my PO know that I am on it and say to me , "So, you still clean?"
Why does the doctors, methadone and suboxone doctors ask you "So, you stayin clean?" The methadone clinic, my whole family, everybody.
If i am off heroin and not abusing drugs, stabilized on methadone and living the life that i used to live before I was a junkie, Im clean. real talk, its silly to say it only refers to a drug test result.
So, does that mean since drug tests only screen for certain drugs that if you come up clean on a piss test for the usual 5, youre "clean"? No of course not.
So , which drugs does it apply to? Is it OK to take antidepressants, psychological meds, blood pressure meds? But not MMT? It dont make no sense yo.
If you can say that your definition of clean includes not taking NOTHING, no prescribed drugs, no legal or illegal drugs, no alcohol, no cigarettes, not shit, then I will agree that I dont got the same opinion as you but it is valid.
but if you saying me, or anybody, aint clean even if we dont use but are on meth or sub, and you support the use of psychiatric medications or any other meds , and believe that IS clean to use those, then i think its a really unfair and kind of lopsided way you lookin at it.
I aint arguing about whether or not a person who uses on a rare occasion is clean, cuz I understand why you disagree and even though I completely believe that its absolutely fair to consider a person who does that "clean", I totally get why you dont.
But, to say that someone on prescribed treatment aint clean, now that is a whole nother thing that I feel like is totally unfounded unless you are saying that every single drug under the sun even if its for a blood pressure problem, must be out of your system to be clean. Cuz to allow for one drug but not another, that dont make no sense. Im curious how you feel about that cuz i cant tell exactly by your posts so i want to hear how u are lookin at this and understand it better.