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Alkies/Druggies - 11/12/2009 11:11:08 AM
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catlady11
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I am a recovering drug addict so that explains the reason for my post. For some reason I take offense when people refer to alcoholics or drug addicts as alkies or druggies. I have seen it on some posts at CW. I believe that the posters who use those words do not mean any harm by those terms - I have the utmost respect for many of those posters.
Just curious as to how other recovering alcoholics or drug addicts feel about the terminology or perhaps I am being over sensitive. To me it is no different to referring to a woman who is permiscuious as a tramp as it is to refer to others as alkies and/or druggies.
Comments, anyone?
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/12/2009 11:48:30 AM
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manda59
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My husband was an alcoholic before being saved, and in his testimony he refers to himself as an "ex alkie", so he clearly doesn't think anything of it. Maybe you consider that to be different, though, since he is the one using the term about himself?
I have a friend who is a heroin addict, and I know that whilst he will refer to other heroin addicts as "smackheads", he doesn't like if it a non drug user uses the term about him or others.
Is it the actual words that cause you offence, or the possibly perceived air of superiority that can come with using the terms?
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/12/2009 11:53:51 AM
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catlady11
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Hi Manda. I think it's the actual term that bothers me - but it's okay if I refer to myself as a druggie or my using and non-using friends refer to each ther as druggies. Go figure.
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/12/2009 11:11:09 PM
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Ps103
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I think that it is normal to feel that way--that if I am a member of a group I can refer to that group or myself by a certain word or phrase, but if anyone outside that group uses the same word or phrase it comes across as either insulting or as having a false kind of intimacy.
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/13/2009 2:52:52 PM
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allisonbrett
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This is my thought: an alkie/druggie to me sounds like someone still active in their addiction, not someone who is in recovery. The slang terms seem to have a negative feeling to them where former or recovery .... has a sense of accomplishment. I guess it sounds more respectable.
My brother has been a recovering alcoholic/drug addict for quite some time. While he was using and drinking he was a druggie/alkie but now it seems almost demeaning to refer to him as an ex-druggie/alkie. He just seems more than an ex-anything. He's done excpetionally well. I am so proud of him.
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A work in progress so please be patient, God is still working on me. Ouch, it sure is painful!
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/13/2009 3:25:14 PM
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catlady11
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quote:
He's done excpetionally well.
Praise God for his recovery - and everyone else (including me) who is in recovery.
Even if a person is still in active addiction I feel that the term alkie/druggie used by non-users sounds so negative. We wouldn't call a homeless person a bum or a permiscuois teen a tramp.
I'm sure no harm is meant by alkie/druggie. I read a post on another thread where someone referred to a poster's husband as an alkie/druggie but I'm sure no harm was meant. Guess I was just bored yesterday when I posted.
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/13/2009 6:53:39 PM
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Elena1030
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I think as with other pejorative terms (the n word comes to mind), if we really want it to pass out of use completely, then it shouldn't be used by anyone, not even by the ones the term is labeling. I know, I know --- context does matter. But still...
I don't usually agree with her, but in this instance I do: Oprah had a panel discussion about racism (it may have been around the time of the release of the movie Crash), and she and some of the panelists agreed that if no one used the n word at all, even in affectionate teasing, then perhaps the word would die out. It's the principle of demonstrating the behavior you want to see in others.
That's the way I frame in my mind the issue with the terms alkie and druggie.
I don't use those terms, and I'm part of a ministry to men in a Christ-centered addiction recovery program, so I'm around recovering addicts quite a bit. I'd rather see them as my brothers in Christ, who are growing and healing and learning to live out the reality of the transformation that's taking place inside them.
< Message edited by Elena1030 -- 11/13/2009 6:59:58 PM >
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/15/2009 11:56:48 AM
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Saltlight_2188
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I'm a recovering addict as well, and I get where youre coming from. I usually refer to myself as a "recovering addict" or just "addict", where someone still actively using is an "active addict" or "active alcoholic" But that's just my preference.
I've heard different people refer to themselves by all kinds of names, pothead, crackhead, alkie, etc, but I don't think naming your drug of choice does much to promote unity.
The only thing I would never call myself is an "ex-addict." Whether I use or not, I'm still an addict, and forgetting that will send ne on the path to relapse faster than anything else.
People tell me I'm too PC for my own good, but I believe language (especially descriptive language) should help build people up, not tear them down.
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<----Leaving my avatar up until someone recognizes her.
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/18/2009 11:58:22 AM
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catlady11
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Hi Ben. With all due respect I think you misundergood my op. I was just curious about what people thought about the terminology of the words alkie/juggie when used by people that are not substance abusers.
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/18/2009 11:59:44 AM
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catlady11
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Make that druggie not juggie
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/18/2009 1:31:14 PM
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stamper_ben
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No, I think I understood. I thought I made it clear that I don't care what they call me. I know who I am, as should all ex-users.
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Mark Twain
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/18/2009 4:10:28 PM
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catlady11
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I apologize for not understanding your previous post. If I understand it correctly it does not bother you to be referred to as an alkie/druggie although some (including me) find those terms offensive.
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/18/2009 7:41:10 PM
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Saltlight_2188
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I am reminded of one of our recovery slogans (edited for CW):
The truth will set you free, but first, it will {tick} you off!
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Lisa Lisa
Mercy triumphs over judgment
<----Leaving my avatar up until someone recognizes her.
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Alkies/Druggies - 11/18/2009 7:50:41 PM
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pink..
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I get offended by those terms too, depending on who they come from.
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/19/2009 7:54:18 AM
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stamper_ben
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quote:
ORIGINAL: catlady11
I apologize for not understanding your previous post. If I understand it correctly it does not bother you to be referred to as an alkie/druggie although some (including me) find those terms offensive.
No, the words do not bother me. But to be clear, I do not use those terms with others, so you would never hear me call someone I did not know that.
_____________________________
In 20 years from now, you’ll be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Explore. Dream. Discover
Mark Twain
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/19/2009 8:27:59 AM
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catlady11
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Thanks to Ben I finally hit 100 posts - not bad considering I've been here since 2005.
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/19/2009 11:43:32 AM
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FluffyPossum
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Then, Ben, you can help me too!
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RE: Alkies/Druggies - 11/19/2009 3:06:11 PM
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poetessfree
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quote:
ORIGINAL: stamper_ben
No, I think I understood. I thought I made it clear that I don't care what they call me. I know who I am, as should all ex-users.
Sorry Ben, Have to vehemently disagree. I am an ex-cocaine abuser. I smoked cocaine in crack form for many years. I smoked almost all known substances except Meth, thank God HE delivered me before I met that drug. I am an ex-user. That means I used to do drugs. I haven't had the urge, desire, or need to use since 1999(coke) and 2003(marijuana/tobacco). The Lord showed me in Corintians 5:17 that I am a new creature and all things have passed. Why in the world would I call myself an addict the rest of my life when I don't even use. An addict is one who uses not one who has quit. A quitter is one who has stopped. But AA/NA would have people think that they are addicts forever. That would make God out to be a liar and we know who the father of lies is. I trust God, not man so when He says, whom the Son sets free is free indeed, I believe Him. I believed that He would take away the craving, He did. I believed that He would make me new, He did. With God, all things are possible. If people speak over their selves saying that they will always be an addict. Well guess what, they will. As far as myself, I am not an addict anymore and was speaking that out loud and into the atmosphere as I prayed. That is releasing whatever faith you have to God. Deliverance is here and His name is Jesus. Believe in Him and not man and experience the complete joy and peace in being free from man's doctrines and inability to make one free. There is only ONE Who can do that. Be set free totally, today! Just believe that you can be free and let the Lord work.
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"Doctrine of Christ everywhere teaches self-denial and mortification of worldliness and sin...never makes the death of Christ a cloak to cover sin, but speaks of it as an instrument that destroys it". John Flavel
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