Have you used drugs long periods of time

Hey guys, one question I have is has anyone been a lifelong drug addict, or is in recovery as well as having schitzoaffective disorder? Once I decided drugs it rapidly increased as far as use and harder drug until I found heavy opiates and I am in recovery now and sober for over a year, had a few slip ups before the year but going on runs it's been already 3 years. How the heck do I deal with being a drug addict as well as dealing with schitzoaffective disorder? Do these two illnesses tend to be paired together alot?

I've not had your experience but it's great you are committed to sobriety...I have read that slip-ups can be part of the recovery process.

I'd look into a psychiatrist that specializes in mood disorders and addiction, as well as a T.

Sorry for the late reply, but yes, Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective do go hand and hand with addictions. You're more likely to become addicted to substances such as alcohol or hard drugs, or even prescription drugs. I didn't start drinking alcohol until I was 23 (two years over the legal age), and my doctor freaked out when I told him I had some Rum and Coca Cola. He made me start a list of every time I drank and how much I drank. I've never been drunk, so I don't really thing I'm addicted to it, nor do I drink every day.

But I am glad to hear that you're doing better. As Eterea said, slip ups are part of the process. Our one family friend, who has Schizoaffectve, spent years addicted to alcohol. He's fortunate to have not had any slip ups in eight years. He had four DUI's in the span of a year or so. Not all have slip up's, but most do. We've had mods on the site that have had slip ups in addictions and have found their way back to sobriety