Saved a Relapsing Acoholic's Life this AM (12th step call)

Three weeks ago, one of the guys I began recovery with died due to acohol poisoning, his liver shut down. I hadn't seen a lot of the people in the program, some surely, I feared had relapsed. I found an od phone ist and started calling everyone. A few days, this one guy, I will call him Jeff, called me back when he was drunk. He went on and on and started slobbering about what a great person I was then I finally got the news in about "Warren" and that momentarily "sobered him up." Jeff had 9 months clean and he had shared about the fact that his liver functions were nearly gone when he had gotten sober. He admitted to relapsing (like I couldn't tel!) Then, he started talking about wanted to get clean, etc. I didn't know what to do so I called my sponsor, she asked if seemed suicidal and at that time he wasn't.

Last night, he called me and after taking awhile, I got the definite feeling that he was suicidal. In fact, he even said he was considering taking some pills and "going out." He kept saying he had a plan for him and another relapser to go into rehab together on Monday (denial) Anyway, I hung up called my sponsor, called the AA central office to do a 12th step call---that's when someone from AA with experience visits the alcoholic and tries to help him or her get help. Anyway, back and forth with some guy at AA and my sponsor and Jeff, kept getting his voice mail. Finally, around 11pm, my sponsor got through, they spoke for close to an hour, she said he was definitely suicidal, said he kept jabbering on about what a high regard he had for me and she thought the only course of action was to go done there together. She said he definitely is indicating he wants to get help. (Go into detox)

So I pick my sponsor up and we get there about 2am, I comforted him and just about had him agreeing to go but then he turned mean, he grabbed a bottle of pills and said he was going to take them, when he turned his head, my sponsor dumped most of the pills in his purse. He picked up the container and realized most of the pills were gone and lashed out at my sponsor for taking them. She said she had to use the bathroom, when she got back she told me she had called 911. It was the only resort we had.

Two really great San Mateo officers arrived, a man and a woman, we expained the situation and agreed that a 5150 was in order. Taken the subject in custody for his own protection. Of course, Jeff reacted angrily, his alcoholic mind thinking we betrayed him. he told my sponsor she was never welcome in his house, he started crying to me that he coudln't believe I would do this to him. I consoled him for awhile, then suddenly he said that he would go in vountariy, not even realizing he was already being 5150'd. The male cop said a ride was coming for him then he thoght he was going to jail. We assured him he was not.

He wanted to put on a pair of jeans so he changed and asked everyone to turn their back. Jeff is gay and he accused the male cop of trying to ook at his penis! The cop was really cool and just played along with him. "Oh yeah, I am gay, don't know how you figured me out but just don't tell my wife! (I said to my sponsor that if we were in Kansas, the cop would like beat the crap ot of Jeff for comments like that.) The cop thought that was funny too.

So while we awaited for the ride, Jeff calmed down and thanked me and my sponsor for helping him. I am just hoping he will get clean and not relapse again. My sponsor said he really does want help and myabe this is his last relapse. (Who knows?)

Right now, he is being held in the detox unit at the hospital for 72 hours, after that, we hope he goes into residential treatment as he said he wanted to do.

My sponsor said she thinks that "I" saved someone life this morning. I tis pretty awesome to think I did after only 7 months of sobriety. I keep hearing from a lot of people in the program how I am thought of as a role model. It is still so hard for me to grasp that concept.

I do have a real knack for helping people though, I would really to be a drug counselor and be able to help people 24/7. The downside is that it doesn't pay much and I would need to take a bunch of courses. The upside is I would be doing something worthwhile and it is something I coud continue doing for the rest of my life.