# Addict Question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 14, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addict-question/567550 "2011-01-14T02:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addict-question/567550/1 "2011-01-14T02:02:52Z")
I’m watching Celebrity rehab and a question pops up in my head: How do _you_ know when you wouldn’t relapse (not with certainty, obviously)? Someone on the show said something like ‘I want to be tested’ in the sense that they were done with drugs and wanted a chance to prove it. I’ve never been an addict, so I have no personal experience. How do you know when your safe, in the sense that you can handle yourself around temptation (as in you will resist)? Or do you ever know? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addict-question/567550/2 "2011-01-14T02:10:01Z")
I’ve been clean and sober for over 20 years. I know that today I won’t relapse. That’s because I’ve done the work I need to in order for me to stay sober today. I’m not sure about tomorrow. Given the past trend in my behavior, relapse is not likely tomorrow either, but I won’t take it for granted. I don’t resist temptation, I behave in such a way that makes relapse very, very unlikely. And that includes staying out of bars and drug cabinets unless I have a very, very valid reason to be there and a plan in place to help me deal with it if I get uncomfortable. I don’t want to be _tested_ in the way you describe. Probably not what you were looking for in an answer, but it’s how it works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addict-question/567550/3 "2011-01-14T02:11:52Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I don’t want to be _tested_ in the way you describe. > > Probably not what you were looking for in an answer, but it’s how it works for me. That makes sense - right now I’m watching Celeb Rehab and they are, pretty much, in the process of withdraw. So _their_ opinions on being tested could be part of their addiction. Thank you for sharing, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addict-question/567550/4 "2011-01-14T07:07:28Z")
I have no direct experience with addiction, but I suspect that the eminent philosopher Marsellus Wallace nailed it: > [@](#): > > That’s pride fucking with you. ---
**Author:** ![Keith\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@Keith\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith_Berry)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addict-question/567550/5 "2011-01-14T12:38:31Z")
Been off heroin and various other opiates for six years. For me personally, it just took time and learning to live without emotional crutches. The first year sober was pretty rough and I would have relapsed if I hadn’t had the support that I had from family and friends. These days, I almost never think about dope anymore, and am fairly confident that I’d turn it down if it were offered to me. It just doesn’t move me anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addict-question/567550/6 "2011-01-14T15:02:39Z")
On pills for 32 years, booze for 27 years. I agree with **QtM**. The thought of getting through the rest of my life without pills nad alcohol scares me, so I’ll get through today without them. If not today, then the next hour. If not the next hour, then the next five minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e19adc/32.png) [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lady_of_the_Lake)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/addict-question/567550/7 "2011-01-14T17:29:17Z")
> [@Meatros](#): > > Someone on the show said something like ‘I want to be tested’ in the sense that they were done with drugs and wanted a chance to prove it. They want to be tested so that they have a chance to cave. What they are saying/what they’ve decided conflicts with the tiny mantra beating ‘you could’ and ‘maybe this way’ and ‘you want’ and ‘maybe only a bit’ in the back of their mind. Deep down, that is what is convincing them to ‘test’ their resolve.