DRA Tradition Ten

IN OUR OWN WORDS:

Members share their thoughts on the Tenth Tradition

There is no such thing as a DRA Treatment Center or a DRA Mental Health Program. There’s just a network of self-governed DRA 12 Step Self-Help Groups spread around the world that hold DRA meetings in an attempt to help each other in our dual recovery. That’s what we do. We help each other.

These meds tend to work so differently on everyone that keeping away from giving advice on which ones are good and which ones are not is probably a really good idea. What might save one person’s life may make another guy climb the walls. Best to just share about how I’ve use the Steps and the tools to best manage my psychiatric disorder and leave the medication advice to the doctors.

Medications and stuff are often discussed or shared about at meetings. Face it, getting them dialed in right and getting use to the side effects can be a real hassle. Rather than telling someone they are taking to much or to little or the wrong medication, what I try to do is to remind them that they can talk honestly with their doctor about what they are experiencing. That the doctors really do want to know and maybe after the meeting I’ll talk with that person so they can figure out good ways to describe their feelings to the doctor. Lots of times people just don’t know how to put into words what sensations they are experiencing. It’s all new and it can be confusing.

I like the fact that DRA is not run by a bunch of people in lab coats or business suits. It really is powered by us–the Members who make up the Fellowship. The DRA Preamble says that there must always be a clear boundary separating the work of DRA from the work of chemical dependency and mental health professionals. To me that is really an empowering concept. I need the help of my doctor and treatment team, but DRA is my thing not theirs. It’s run by you and me. It is we who are in dual recovery who make it happen and keep it going so other new people can come and share in our growing circle of support.