Neither smoking nor energy drink consumption qualifies one for dry drunk status. I don't see the connection.

Nor do I drafter.....that is why I was asking as it didn't seem to fit right in my head either??

Thanks for the reply.

I smoke and dont consider myself a dry drunk. I also dont think you can be using the steps and, having had a spiritual awakening, be continuing to maintain and grow your spiritual condition and also be a dry drunk. Either you are in one position or the other cant be both.

As an aside i dont buy into the whole addictive personality thing but thats probably a whole other discussion :)

I never was arrested for driving after smoking or for driving after drinking high caffine beverages. AA is for people who what to stop drinking alcohol. There are other step programs for other problems.

Thanks for confirming that I hadn't missed something,

I will listen to her next shares.

IMNSHO picking up a new addiction that has nothing to do with mind altering substances does not make one a dry-drunk. However;

I believe it is possible to do all the 12 steps, get the 10th step promises, claim to be recovered and then fail to stay spiritually fit by using of the Growth & Maintenance steps 10 - 12. In that situation it is just a matter of time before one returns to being a dry-drunk.

What is the daily program that keeps me spiritually fit?

"Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code".

Thanks OneInTwenty...that works for me too :)

Yes BBH, better dry than drunk :)

>>> better dry than drunk :) "

Another half-truth:

"There are no wrong ways to stay sober"

However, there are many unreliable ways to stay sober.

It's possible to work the steps and be pissed off to all hell and back ... but it passes! I wouldn't call that a dry drunk though.

There are all sorts of substances that are addictive and then there are all sorts of behaviours that seem to be like an addiction but I do not believe that people who indulge in non-mind altering substances (like caffeine and cigarettes) could be called dry drunks.

To me, a dry drunk is someone who is spiritually unwell yet not so unwell as to have actually relapsed. A bit like teetering on the edge of a cliff - unhappy with his/her lot and without the serenity essential to living a happy spiritual life.

Two things, like everybody has said, her behaviour with her energy drinks doesn't consitute being a dry drunk. A dry drunk to me is someone who is physically sober but has done nothing to deal with the isms of alcoholism, and I believe the best way to do that is through the 12 step program of AA.

But to throw in a wildcard, most of us are sometimes not aware, even with years up sober and having done the steps that we are exhibiting certain behaviour, or that we are not actually doing what we claim to do. It may well be that she IS a dry drunk, isn't actually doing the steps to the best of her ability, although she claims to and may actually think she is, and she is attaching the painful emotions that brings to her non-alcoholic beverage. We all lie to ourselves and others at times, in varying degrees - I certainly do. And who knows, she may need psych help on top of AA. I know we need to take people as they present themselves, but the longer I am in AA, the more I get ASTOUNDED at the bullshit people spin - which comes clear either through other members, or the person in question ultimately fessing up from the floor about past or present stuff. Astounded. Just sayin'.

It is undoubtedly the case that our failure to live by the principles of the 12 step programme (spiritual way of life) can leave us in that place that is called 'dry drunk'. Personally, if she is citing her daily use of energy drinks, she is has something else going on under the surface.

Did she share what action she intends to take to correct this situation? Did she say that she had decided to take her inventory to reveal what is really going on with her? Probably not - shame, what a good role model she could have been for newcomers!

You could always ask her! LOL