Ephchap
Active Member
My son received his 3 year coin this morning, presented to him by his sponsor, at an AA meeting this morning.
I know what it's like to be living in the chaos of substance abuse, and remember hoping to hear success stories along the way. My difficult child has come so far from where we were. I never want to jinx anything by saying he's a success story, as he has a way to go, but he is definitely on the right path and is a work in progress.
My difficult child battled drug addiction (first pot and then to crack) and has a felony and several misdemeanors on his record as a just-turned 17 year old - an adult in Michigan, so it is on his permanent record. He spent 10 months in a dual-diagnostic secure inpatient facility, until his 18th birthday.
He beat the drug addiction, but as time went on, was drinking more and more alcohol. He "thought" he could handle the alcohol. Two DUI's later (one at 20 years old - under the legal limit, but zero tolerance for being underage and one at 22 for being just over the legal limit), and he lost his license.
He became a father to my precious grandson, but when he and the mother of his child split up, he fell deeper and harder with alcohol. Three years ago today, he called me while I was at work and said he needed help, and asked if I would take him to the hospital. He admitted himself into the substance abuse unit for one week, and was then transferred to the psychiatric unit for one week.
He joined a nearby Alano Club (an AA social type club where meetings and social activities are) and met his sponsor there. He's been active in the club for three years. He plays on their softball team, golfs in their outings and is even the Chair of the Saturday evening meetings. It's ironic that he is now the one signing the slips verifying people were at a meeting. He's come a long ways.
In the next month, he will be reapplying for his license and will have to go before the license appeal board. They turned him down 18 months ago, saying he was in a more intensive program before (when it was for drugs) and relapsed. The judge asked how this time he thought he'd stay sober. What that judge doesn't seem to realize, is that he truly is drug and alcohol free and is working the AA program, going to meetings throughout the week. He's a different person than he was. The judge also asked about his psychiatric evaluation and the medications he is on, and said that people who are bipolar are more likely to succumb to drugs or alcohol.
I cannot believe that statement is not illegal. I told him to ask his new attorney if they can even take that into acount. I know he has to let them know about the diagnosis because they give him a drug test, and his medications will show up on it, so his psychiatrist has to fill out a lengthy questionnaire. I can't believe they can hold that (his psychiatric diagnosis and medications) against him, when he has been seeing his psychiatrist regularly, and has been stable and substance abuse free for 3 years.
I'm hopeful that now that his psychiatrist can state he's stable and his AA group can state that he's been sober for 3 years, that they will give him a second chance. He's been without a license for 6 years, and has been working steady at the same company for over 5 years. Hopefully they will take all that into account.
Anyway, I apologize for the long post. Just wanted to let those that didn't know my son's story know that there can be light at the end of the tunnel. He's a wonderful dad to his son and has been dating someone for the last two years who is supportive in his recovery.
Happy 3 years, difficult child!
Deb
I know what it's like to be living in the chaos of substance abuse, and remember hoping to hear success stories along the way. My difficult child has come so far from where we were. I never want to jinx anything by saying he's a success story, as he has a way to go, but he is definitely on the right path and is a work in progress.
My difficult child battled drug addiction (first pot and then to crack) and has a felony and several misdemeanors on his record as a just-turned 17 year old - an adult in Michigan, so it is on his permanent record. He spent 10 months in a dual-diagnostic secure inpatient facility, until his 18th birthday.
He beat the drug addiction, but as time went on, was drinking more and more alcohol. He "thought" he could handle the alcohol. Two DUI's later (one at 20 years old - under the legal limit, but zero tolerance for being underage and one at 22 for being just over the legal limit), and he lost his license.
He became a father to my precious grandson, but when he and the mother of his child split up, he fell deeper and harder with alcohol. Three years ago today, he called me while I was at work and said he needed help, and asked if I would take him to the hospital. He admitted himself into the substance abuse unit for one week, and was then transferred to the psychiatric unit for one week.
He joined a nearby Alano Club (an AA social type club where meetings and social activities are) and met his sponsor there. He's been active in the club for three years. He plays on their softball team, golfs in their outings and is even the Chair of the Saturday evening meetings. It's ironic that he is now the one signing the slips verifying people were at a meeting. He's come a long ways.
In the next month, he will be reapplying for his license and will have to go before the license appeal board. They turned him down 18 months ago, saying he was in a more intensive program before (when it was for drugs) and relapsed. The judge asked how this time he thought he'd stay sober. What that judge doesn't seem to realize, is that he truly is drug and alcohol free and is working the AA program, going to meetings throughout the week. He's a different person than he was. The judge also asked about his psychiatric evaluation and the medications he is on, and said that people who are bipolar are more likely to succumb to drugs or alcohol.
I cannot believe that statement is not illegal. I told him to ask his new attorney if they can even take that into acount. I know he has to let them know about the diagnosis because they give him a drug test, and his medications will show up on it, so his psychiatrist has to fill out a lengthy questionnaire. I can't believe they can hold that (his psychiatric diagnosis and medications) against him, when he has been seeing his psychiatrist regularly, and has been stable and substance abuse free for 3 years.
I'm hopeful that now that his psychiatrist can state he's stable and his AA group can state that he's been sober for 3 years, that they will give him a second chance. He's been without a license for 6 years, and has been working steady at the same company for over 5 years. Hopefully they will take all that into account.
Anyway, I apologize for the long post. Just wanted to let those that didn't know my son's story know that there can be light at the end of the tunnel. He's a wonderful dad to his son and has been dating someone for the last two years who is supportive in his recovery.
Happy 3 years, difficult child!
Deb
Way To Go! I'm so happy for your whole family. DDD
