just my opinion here....my addict husband if he went cold turkey and kept working where he works with the same people? i wouldn't buy it. if they came out of an intense rehab and were separated from these people and started over in a new area or new job, then id give them the benefit of the doubt. if my guy ever did it on his own with the amount of lies he tells now, id have a tough time believing it, but that's just my personal experience.

its me again, actually no, its not that easy to get rid of the friends, i used to do cocaine and it was very difficult to get rid of the friends because i was too wimpy to tell them i couldn't be with them because i decided not to do it anymore,they would have been mad because i was supposed to be friends for more than that, and i was but knowing they were in the restroom doing that made my palms sweat and the temptation too great and ditching them would send a message of i was better than them and they were drug addicts....

I believe that the only way my STBX could have any change of getting clean would be to drop everything from her old life, and start new. Have to start a new, fresh life. Not easy to do at all.

the one thing i am very familiar with is those people that you are not really friends with unless you need something (drugs). AND no it is not easy because the first HARD day who are they calling those people. thats right the addict. the first time the addict gets out who are they calling? it is a force of habit a force of acceptence. it is what they know and feel comfortable with. you need to take it as it goes and see how it goes but do not be shocked if the pattern continues.

My Adict has cut all ties to non relatives involved with her using, even going to the extent of changing her cell phone number. (Her dealer lost a significant income source) She advises that she doesn't want to hear their voice, because it makes her crave. She has also advised that "Meetings" make her crave in that all she can think about is pills, and thus no longer attends meetings. She told family members that were involved with her use that the nature of their relationship would change or be discontinued. Her method seems to defy conventional wisdome, but.... today is day 75 since last hit. Every night when we lay our heads next to each other I ask, "How was today", (Our personal code for Vicodin craving), and last night I got, "I'm Alive again" for the 75th time. She had to cut off the people and things that stimulated her craving, she had to decide and do it on her own. I just support and love.

when i quit using it was weird for me not to call my "friends" i had to meet new people that i knew didnt "party" it helped that i already had friends that didnt do anything like that. i did have slip ups but i was ready to move on i seen what it did to my family growing up and i didnt want to cause them that kind of pain agian. i think that if someone is ready to leave that life style they will do anything it takes but if not its going to be a long hard road. good luck

I don't believe my ex could stay clean without changing his environment. Dry periods, yes, but too much temptation always there is a recipe for disaster in my experience.