"Ex-addict"? UPDATED

People who are actually addicts will always be addicts. If they are clean and working on the problem in a 12 step program, then the term is "in recovery." There's no such thing as an "ex-addict." This is what addicts call themselves when they're not using but not going to meetings either. An addict can be clean and still exhibit all the behavior and mood swings; the emotional state of an addict doesn't change just because the addictive substance is gone.

I'm going to disagree with the majority here.

"The Program" (12 steps... AA/NA/etc.) is O. of SEVERAL ways that people who have become physically and psychologically addicted to certain substances get and stay clean. According to their own doctorine, "once and addict, always an addict".

However, theirs is not the only way.

Millions of cancer patients (and other kinds of patients) become physically addicted (and a good number psychologically addicted). The vast majority of them get break the addiction and go on to use alcohol & even pain meds in normal 'non-addict' ways.

Many people with chronic pain (or acute pain) become addicted to painkillers. Both within and beyond 'medically supervised addiction'. Treatment worthy addiction. Who get clean (with or without the program)... and then later go on to use alcohol or pain meds in normal 'non-addict' ways. ((And there are those who don't.))

Many people become addicted to alcohol (to the point of DTs, etc.; there is absolutely no doubt as to their being physically & psychologically addicted). They get clean (with or without the program)... and then later go on to to drink or use prescriptions in normal 'non-addict' ways. ((And there are those who don't.))

Many people become addicted to street drugs. They get clean (with or without the program)... and then go on to use alcohol or prescriptions in normal 'non-addict' kinds of ways. ((And there are those who don't.))

The program is not actually "black and white" if you read the literature... the literature states that the program is for people who have tried all the OTHER ways, and failed... although most people 'in the rooms' would disagree that is IS black and white. Anyhow... the basic tenet by the people in the rooms is that "Anyone who CAN use 'normally' was never really an addict to begin with." It's a self defense mechanism. Because while there are just "heavy users" or "abusers but not addicted"... there are ALSO a large number of people who were completely and totally physically and psychologically addicted who go on at some point in their lives to use normally. Blowing those people off as "not REALLY addicts" protects themselves. It's also short sighted. The Program used to be a place of 'last resort'. Now it's the FIRST place most people go who have addiction issues. Meaning the obvious, that some people in the rooms, through other methods (aside from abstinence) can return to normal use.

But yes. Millions of people DO become addicted (for various reasons), and go on to use normally.

It's actually a large point of contention between the addiction studies departments in colleges/universities and the psych/ medical departments in colleges/universities. Most addiction studies departments (CDC programs, by and large) follow the 'once an addict, always an addict' philosophy. Psych & Med departments, however, say "sometimes, it depends on a lot of factors".

A lot of it is background. The addiction studies dept sees people who relapse and go right back to where they started. Aka, once and always. The psych and med departments see both people who relapse and go right back to where they started AS WELL as people who don't. Just because someone breaks the cycle of addictive behavior and use DOES NOT MEAN that they weren't addicts. It's kind of funny to watch the "arguments", actually. Because the addiction studies department gets all riled up saying O. thing, and the psych and med departments keep saying "You're right, sometimes, but not in all cases."

I side with the psych & med departments (big surprise, eh?). It's COMPLETELY possible for a person to go back to normal use. But just because it's possible, DOES NOT mean it's true for everyone, or even most people. So yes, I believe that a person CAN become an ex-addict.

Recovering... "ing" being the operative part of that word. Addiction is something that a person has to work to overcome and that work is on-going. "Ex" implies that the person is permanently separated from the condition.

I guess the PC thing is to say you're "in recovery" so that would make you a recovering addict. I have pretty cynical views regarding recividism rates for treatment programs so I think you're never truly an ex-addict. Life can be a struggle every day for everybody, and perhaps even more so for someone whose biggest love affair has been with a substance.

you are never an ex addict- always and addict in recovery or recovering addict I would like to think that sometimes there are ex addicts that actually managed to fully kick whatever they were on but rarely happens.

I'm guessin my response to a previous post spurred this question for you.
Maybe I didn't use the "Correct" terminology.

What I meant, more so, was that my HUsband, in his younger years. Was into a lot of drugs. You name, he has probably tried it.
He went to rehab. This was all before I even knew him.
He has a very addictive personality, and not just with substances.
I said "ex-addict" because I meant that he was addicted to several drugs in the past and he is now off of them completely.
But because of his personality He needs to be careful. He has no want to do drugs anymore. Especially now that he is a husband and father.

The only thing I have to "watch" him on is alcohol. Now he is NOT a drunk. But he's the kind of person that if there is a bottle of Whiskey in the house, if he isn't actively paying attention he can drink the whole bottle in O. night.
Now that DOES NOT happen often at all, because there barely is ever any alcohol in my home. I just know his personality so I deal accordingly. :)

There is no cure for addiction. What I mean by that is there is no solution that will make a once addicted person able to do drugs or alcohol without becoming addicted again. However, you can completely recover from alcohol and drug addiction. I have been sober for 4 yrs with the help of AA and the 12 steps. If you are worried about a loved O. there is hope for them, and they can recover as I have. I will always be an alcoholic. I can never drink like normal people. But I have found a solution, and so have many others.

Once you are clean and not using, you are in recovery. Realistically, you will always be an addict.

I personally think it depends on what the behavior is... Are you referring to someone who is addicted to a certain substance, drug, alcohol? Or are you referring to someone who has a compulsive behavior.

There are some studies that suggest young adults are prone to certain addictive compulsions because their seratonin (sp?) levels throws off their brain chemistry. As we age, the hormone levels balance and the addictive behavior (and poor thought process that comes with it) wanes.

There are other studies that say certain people are prone to developing addictive behaviors... It's just a matter of what action or substance they subject themselves to. And once they break O. behavior, do they merely fill the urge of the compulsive behavior with something else: The alcoholic who stops drinking but becomes a gambler... The girl with an eating disorder that gets addicted to exercise or cosmetic surgery. The overeater who fills the void with shopping. The smoker who turns to food instead.

Do I think former drug, alcoholic, or smokers can ever break free of their weakness? No, I don't think they can ever try it again and not relapse. And its particularly risky if they get injured and are given pain medication after overcoming an addiction. However, shopaholics do have to buy food, clothes, etc. again. People with food addictions and eating disorders have to keep eating. Recovering sexaholics still hope to have a meaningful adult intimacy.

It's all just labels. From my experience with my brothers and others that I have known who have overcome their addiction, they can never just try drugs or alcohol ever again. Whatever their biology and mindset that caused them to be addicted in the first place, will always be with them for the rest of their lives.

Once an addict, always an addict. My two alcoholic uncles know that they can't be near alcohol, even though they've been sober over 30yrs each. I have a sibling who was addicted to crack - I say "was" because she exchanged the crack for religion, then exchanged the religion for verbal abusive relationship (she loved to give as much as she got), then exchanged that for manipulation - she'll always be codependent on something, it just might not be the same thing.

To me, recovering addict is someone who no longer uses.

Plain and simple - I've smoked since I was 15 - i was an ADDICT - I quit (at 36) and now I'm a (recovering) ADDICT. Meaning I will ALWAYS be tempted to smoke, but have chosen and work everyday NOT to. It does get easier and better with every addiction, but that ghost never goes completey away. My father hasn't smoked in 25 years...and when he's stressed he'll reach for his chest (he always kept his cigarettes in the pocket of his shirt). There will always be that (albeit slim sometimes) chance that "we" could get weak and go back to it.

Once an addict always an addict. They can quit using but they will always be addicted. O. drink or drug is too much and 1 million isn't enough, after that 1st O..
Someone who stops using is called a 'recovering addict' they are never cured.

Recovering/recovered addict.

I side with Riley on this O.; it is possible to be an 'ex addict'. My husband severely injured his back. During the course of treatment he became addicted to pain medications. He went to rehab and has not used the prescription med he was addicted to since. He drinks beer. He takes other prescription pain meds on occasion if needed, although by choice he will not take the specific meds he was addicted to - just too many bad memories for him. He has never had an issue with becoming addicted again. I do not consider him a recovering addict, he is a recovered addict.

ETA - and he is not tempted to use; he has had opportunities to get the meds since rehab and has not been interested.

ETA after update: So apparantly I'm delusional. Nice set up question so you could jump on your pedestal and take pot shots at people who took the time to answer your question but didn't get the answer 'right'. I stand by my answer. I am not delusional or in denial or in a dangerous place - I have faith in my husband, faith in God, and don't need some troll on the internet to question me. You should be ashamed of yourself, but considering how self-righteous and judgemental you are I doubt that shame is in your vocabulary.