Relapse? or No?

A mid-level staff member – who’s also a client - called me after hours when he heard that staff members were being given a surprise drug test. He was afraid he might not pass.

When I asked why, he said that someone at his place of employment had given him a “muscle relaxer,” but he wasn’t sure what it contained. He wasn't sure of the name of the pill he took.

It turns out the urine sample he provided was “clean,” meaning it contained no opiates, or other illicit substances. However, the larger issue is that he put his sobriety in jeopardy by taking a substance for his back pain without knowing what it contained.

Is this a relapse? A test used by many in the 12-step programs is this: if a sober person drinks a plain soda, thinking it contains alcohol, is that a relapse? And the answer, of course, is yes.

And if the same sober person innocently drinks a soda, not knowing it contains alcohol did he relapse? And the answer is no.

But our staff member who took a chance on a pill, not caring what contained, definitely put his sobriety in jeopardy. The idea that he thought he might fail the drug test indicates that he knew he was taking a substance that sober people shouldn’t use.

Did he relapse?  Hmmm...