If you are trying to dilute without actually getting a dilute, should you be taking creatine as well as dring tons of water and vitamins?

In addition to the interlock and drug testing is there a requirement that you attend any type of drug or alcohol counseling?

What do you think would happen if you tested positive?

Yes. I went to an IOP intensive outpatient program and do weekly follow up. I have been totally clean for 7 months. I was doing awesome. Got a great job, which gave me a tremendous amount of self estem and sense of accomplishment. But Friday I was laid off, due to reduction, no fault of my own. I was destaught and slipped up. I am so scared that this is going to ruin me.

I don't know how your counselors explain lapses and don't mean to interfere. But lapses are to be expected. You reverted to an old pattern in dealing with a temporary set back. Knowledgeable alcohol treatment personnel understand this and it's not going to mean ruination.

Above 90% of treated problem drinkers lapse and generally across a shorter period than you (2 wks-30 days). In your case it was one step back after taking many steps forward. This becomes a relapse only when you give up and return to your old drinking patterns on a regular and continuing basis.

Some of your statements and designs, I fear, may lead to additional problems as opposed to avoiding the instant. If your drinking episode is confirmed by further testing you are far better off to admit it as opposed to continue to deny. If dilution is detected in urine, and that is an all too common practice, then your circumstance worsens. That alone can be a violation.

Have you been contacted about further testing yet?

Thank you so much for your input and it is not interfering at all. I have not been contacted yet, but am jumping out my chair every time the phone rings. I understand relapse and my circumstances are all my fault. It was pure stupidity. The last time I drank was seven months ago and that was a one time relapse after 6 months of sobriety, because of a stupid break up. I was honest and told my conselor and she said that she was obligated to tell my PO. They confirmed with an EtG test and a motion to revoke was filed and I went to jail and it cost me a lot of money and headache, so I am very scared to tell the truth again. With just losing my job I can not afford it. I have learned my lesson. My conselor and I categorize me as a problem drinker, not an alcoholic as I do not have a problem going long periods without drinking, but when I do I binge. I know that I simply can not ever drink again regardless, because I don't know when to stop when I do. I am a God fearing women and have been praying that if I can get past this episode, it will NEVER happen again. I know that you hear that a lot, but I am not one that routinely tries to "beat the system". I screwed up and I know it.

I have been drinking a ton of Gatorade and water and took AZO, but I am going to stop. I have heard that a dilute is just as bad, but I know that they have zero tolerance and will not be as understanding as you have stated it. It just really sucks that someone with these problems can be so "criminalized" even when you admit a set back and ask for help. I do thank you for your words of encouragement. It brought tears to my eyes and was much needed at this time of panic and shame.

BTW. I am going to go to the gym and stay on the treadmill as long as I possibly can stand it. Will that help?

Elimination is directly related to metabolic rate but more important is liver function. A good meal increases liver function by 40%. Exercise does not.

Your best friend under these circumstances is time. Each hour that passes diminishes the chance of EtG detection.

"It just really sucks that someone with these problems can be so "criminalized" even when you admit a set back and ask for help."

The lack of confidentiality between you and your therapist is a very significant obstacle to effective treatment. I can certainly understand your reluctance to impart information that would result in punishment. That is the overlap of conflicting approaches to problem drinkers, legal v medical.

Ok. Are there any foods that I should avoid or that would be more beneficial? And will exercise help at all?

Thank you

Not really, with the exception of any food that contains alcohol. Otherwise the constituents of the meal are unimportant. The key is that following a meal blood flow to the liver is heightened for up to 200 minutes.

Exercise doesn't hurt. But eating has been shown to be superior to exercise for decades*. It's easier too.

* In re to alcohol metabolism, Example, Ramchandani, 2001; Svensson et al. 1983

Oh, one more question. If the super concentrated car freshener where to have gotten sprayed into the handset of the interlock, what could it register (theoretically)?

I had to take it in yesterday to be reset and she didn't tell me what it registered, but didn't seem surprised that it could have been the car freshener.

She said that they would be sending the results to the PO and that she would get in touch with me, if she needed to. I wonder if it is possible that they can get a motion to revoke just based on that and don't need to get any further testing.

I don't know a thing about the alcohol content of auto air freshener. Some room air fresheners, such as Lysol brand, contain up to 90% ethanol. Anything above 5% must be listed on container.

Registration on interlock relates to the setting. Given your description and time line I would assume it is 0-200, meaning it registers anywhere from .001 through .20 BAC. There's no way of guessing where it might fall.

I know even less about law. But in drug testing, at large, it is always necessary to have a second confirmatory test. It would strike me that an interlock is a drug test, broadly speaking, and would require confirmation. I am not well versed in legal matters, so please consider that an observation.

Thanks so much for your time. I know that you have a million people to reply to, but I was also wondering if there are any particular vitamin supplements that increase liver function.

After heavy drinking you will have a B vitamin deficiency particularly B6 B12. B complex is helpful. Better yet, here is a sight that deals with vitamins for drinkers in recovery Here

Vitamins won't have a direct impact on liver function but indirectly will help via red blood cells.

It disturbs me that you have no access to a therapist outside the parole system and lacking confidentiality. If you will get back to me I will find some helpful resources that deal with females, hopefully within your area. Then at least you can address your problem without fear of punishment. You need some type of trustworthy support.

That would be most helpful, as I just lost my insurance due to being laid off. My primary problem is major depressive disorder which I occasionally self medicate with alcohol. I lost my insurance due to my divorce a little over a year ago and that is when I had to go off anti-depressants and turned to alcohol. Once I got a job and health coverage and returned to the antidepressants I was fine. However, once again I find myself with no health coverage.

I live in Montgomery County Texas and have been told that I could get help from Tri County. I am definitely planning on looking into this, but any additional resources would be appreciated.

First, your drinking pattern is nothing unusual, periods of sobriety followed by a lapse, loss of control once started. Second, there is a strong relationship between depression and problem drinking.

You should definitely contact the agency you mentioned in relation to antidepressants. Based on your statement that they were efficacious.

I believe it would be helpful to get in touch with Women for Sobriety (WFS). There is a group in Houston. Here

In advance, you can check the website for WFS to get a feel for what they do. here

Problem drinking among females has specific and unique problems that are often overlooked by treatment specialists and other groups. We have known this for decades but the need for specialty treatment has gone unrealized with the notable exception of WFS.

Wikipedia also has a description of WFS that is more informative than their own website. Here

Pleas keep me posted on any developments.

Ok. I was just called to go for the test. She said to report no later than 5 pm. It will have been about 72 hours. I know that you can't give me a yes or no answer, but could you tell me what you think my chances are?

At that time span all of the EtG will probably be gone. Better than 80% that you are now clean.

Someone was asleep at the switch.

Thanks so much that is very conforting. I saw a chart that you posted to someone with times. It was a graph from some studies. Could you please send me that? I am still so worried.

I found the study and graphs of detection times for the EtG. What was the cut off that they used and is that what you refer to as the 66 hour average in another thread that you mentioned for those with BAC of .1-.35. I think that the cutt-off on the test they give me is 100.

In other words. With a 100 cut off do you still think that I should be good at 72 hours?