Bismarck, North Dakota News

" Every situation is different. Every alcoholic is different. I thank God every day that my husband was able to find his way back. We know the battle is not over. We could not get through this without each other and with the help of our family and close friends. "

" Sorry, I am still not buying it. I had a brother that was an alcoholic, yes I said "had" that's because he drank himself to death, when we both lived at home with our parents there was nothing me, my other siblings or parents would say being around him 24/7 that would make him stop, of course because he didn't want to stop. His having to drink overruled our love and compassion that we gave him. I can not begin to tell you the torment that has been inflicted on our family as a result of his death thinking what more we could have done. After many years of couseling I have learned that there is nothing more we as a caring family could have done. We have been through the programs, medications, counseling with him, etc but in the end he died doing exactly what he loved.....drinking!! So please do not tell me that I don't love enough because I couldn't get him to stop. Not everyone drinks with the hopes that they are going to die because of it, yes some maybe do but not all. And by the way I was there till the very tragic end. Amen for you and your spouse that you were able to stop him and change his life around, just remember not everyone is as fortunate. "

" I am glad she is no longer driving, but this is NOT news. It's simply another case of someone who disobeyed the law, was caught, and now has to pay the consequences. And, she is not a 'girl,' she is an adult. "

" May i say first that unless you have walked in the shoes of addiction to any substance please try not to impress me with your lack of knowledge. I have seen people of all ages as young a 5 up till senior citizens being imprissioned in their bodies with the disease. it is cunning baffling and powerful to the human mind and very deceptive. I have known Nikki for most of her young life and she is no different than any other young person except that she has an allergy to booze but to condemm her is judgemental. I have seen many people who couldn't stop and were given many chances but the readyness has to come from within and it is hard when the addiction controls you. You cannot go to the Doctor and get cured like when you have cancer or heart problems. this destroys the body, mind and spirtual making of people. It shows no mercy to race creed or religion or job status. I have been sober longer than nikki has been alive but thank god that they have improved the help to people today rather than locking them up as insane people and throwing away the key. this is a very serious problem in our country and in this state and in the city of Bismarck so how about trying to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. my first black out was at 14 and i went to treatment at age 36. I lost alot of things because of my drinking and now i have alot of them back because of sobriety. I haven't had the desire to take a drink for many years but i still have the ism of the desease. It is hard for normal drinkers to understand so don't judge if you have never been there. "

" Sorry everyone but I married an alcoholic!!! Yes you can stop someone from drinking. I did!! It was the toughest thing WE ever went through but I never gave up. You want to share a life with me get it together. I believed my spouse was a better person. I was there all the way!! Not just with words but action!!!! What I was saying was no one should ever get that far at such a young age without someone who loves and cares for them stepping in. I work and have family and friends and problems of my own too,BUT ... I would do whatever it took to save someone I love. Life is about watching each others back. When your down I am going to be there to help you up because I know you would do the same for me. I'm never too busy for the ones I love they know I'm there till the end-BEST FRIENDS FOREVER!! "

" She's pretty lucky she hasn't killed anyone. Good thing she was caught before she did or she could be looking at more time. Better a drunk driving conviction than a manslaughter conviction. Hopefully now she'll get the treatment she obviously needs and whoever she may have killed is safe for now. "

" Best Friends Forever: We cannot make the people we love quit drinking. I know! Been there, done that. It has to come from within that person. We can talk til we are blue in the face, take them to therapy, let them sit in jail when they get busted, the minute they get out, it is back to the booze! Of course we still keep trying..... Just be careful that you do not become an enabler. Never loan a person money if he is borke, you know where it is going to go! "

" So now it's the family and friends fault that people have a "choice" and that is to drink? I have both friends and family that are alcoholics and also some that are recovering alcoholics.....so now the blame is on me because I can't be with them 24/7. Sorry I have a life, family of my own and problems of my own to be looking over their shoulder all of the time. I know what you are saying about being there to help and help is what I would give if they would want it but these people have to "want" the help and until they do you can drag them to as many sunday church masses, AA classes and programs that you want and come the next morning they will drink their selves silly again. I think that you had better reword or atleast clarify what you meant by having friends and family that care. I do care but I am also not fighting a loosing battle just to see them choose the bottle over my caring words. "

" To "what bitterness": I'm confused by your analogy. Your vehicle can't help it that it was made to use gas....are you saying that people are "made" to drink alcohol? That is a ridiculous analogy. People were made to drink water. Your body does not need alcohol to survive and operate. "

" When you are overtaken by an addiction you are not in any frame of mind to make choices. This young WOMAN didn't get to this point overnight. Where were her family and friends? Let me guess they didn't want to get involved. When are going to get over the "everyone is responsible for themselves" attitude. Sometimes we need to step up and take the responsibility of being a family member or friend who cares and loves. If she were my friend we wouldn't have been at the bar celebrating. We would have been getting help! "

" sorry - was referring to another article - but still driving drunk is not right either - but there was a different article on sunday or monday about a 7 month pregnant mandan woman driving drunk and getting pulled over.....again, sorry about the confusion "

" I think the point Economic Conservative is trying to make is that our treatment centers here in ND are not very effective and are using seriously outdated methods. While there are documented tried and true methods, we don't seem to use them and our approach to treatment (and I have heard this from a number of Addiction Counselors and from DHS) is that "relapse is a part of treatment". Plus our "detox" treatments use benzodiazapines which happen to keep the addiction center of the brain alive and have been removed from the successful treatment programs in most states (but not ND). With the relapse message, the individual trying rehab is being given a very counterproductive message - The message being - go ahead an relapse - it's normal. I, for one, know that relaps is NOT a part of recovery. The other item, the use of benzos sets the person up to simply go out and practice their addiction because the brain is so very powerful in its demand for the drug. I know these things from experience. I see it week in and week out. I also know from experience, that one can be without drugs and alcohol for many many years successfully - with the right help. Unfortunately our treatment and rehab methods are quite outdated and, unfortunately, our treatment and rehab centers are run by DHS - hence - DHS is outdated. "

" to just a thought
no were in the story does it say that this woman was 7 months pregent, please read the story before making a comment such as this. "

" Economic Conservative: Sorry for your loss. I have never been addicted to drinking.... I just don't like the feeling of not being in control. I have never figured out how anyone can drink until they do not even know up or down. I have
seen people walking and fall flat on their face.... I have had phone calls from relatives, come and get me, I can't make it home. It is incurable but, it is possible to STOP DRINKING!! One only has to make up their mind! I know of several people that have quit with no help other than God and their families! It is the desire to quit! Making excuses does not help and saying that the state is to blame does not help.... one has to take the steps to JUST SAY NO.... in other words: QUIT! We are all responsible for ourselves, at least we should be! 21 and in this much trouble is really sad.... I will be praying for Nikki Rahman, she needs all our prayers! "

" Man, I hope I never get busted! "

" just a thought, which bar was she at that they actually served her being 7 months pregnant - they should be held accountable also - just as they are when someone leaves their establishment and drives drunk and kills someone - they can also be held accountable for serving that customer their last drink of the nite - think about that "

" ........and she can vote too.................................. "

" Economic conservative: Please show me a state that doesn't combine incarceration with treatment for repeat DUI offenders. You sure seem to enjoy slamming the state of ND any chance you get, but the fact of the matter is that ND treats alcoholism just like every other state. There may be some programming differences, but it is basically the same. And all states incarcerate repeat DUI offenders, so I am not sure why you are so irate about that one. As far as the proven treatment methods - even the best methods have a very small success rate. You cannot force someone into treatment against thier will and expect a huge success rate. It just doesn't happen that way, no matter how good your treatment plan is. "

" call it what you want - addition or disease - I my book it is still a CHOICE! No one is sticking a gun to your head and demanding you drink. However it is against the law to drink and drive and for that she should be held accountable! There are alternatives to getting home once you have been drinking - so spare me. As for rehad - we can rehad the hell out of these people, but again it is their CHOICE if they really want to do it. Yes it may not be easy, but then who said life was easy. "

" ho ho wrote: "When is alcoholism going to stop being called a ''disease''?"

I suppose that if the American Medical Association declassified it as a disease, it would stop being called one. I suppose they could do that with any of the diseases. The disease theory of alcoholism is now generally accepted by the medical community, which recognizes that genetic, neurological and behavioral factors distinguish those with alcohol dependence from even very heavy drinkers. In fact, modern gene studies have identified markers for alcoholism just as there are genetic markers for many other diseases. Other studies show that alcoholics convert alcohol differently in their bodies and brains than non-alcoholics.

It's not anyone's fault that they are genetically and otherwise predisposed to the disease of alcoholism any more than other diseases. They are born that way. However, the choices people make to treat and to keep in remission their illnesses and diseases are their responsibility. If we can help and encourage anyone who has a disease to live a better life, it's a good thing for everyone. "

" To HoHo: It isn't alcoholism that is the disease, it's the addiction. So in that sense, yes, a smoking addiction is a disease. And part of that disease is not knowing how or when to stop. I'm not saying it's a good excuse for messing up, but the disease needs to be treated before the mistakes can be prevented again. "

" I agree with susu. Jesus is the answer. I have been sober now going on 11 years.
For the first month I did everything I could to stay sober, but until I accepted Jesus a month later, it became so easy. He's all I needed to rely on. If anybody out there that is suffering from this addiction, turn to Him. I also know that Teen Challenge is an excellent recovery program. My 11 years of sobriety have been far more fulfilling than the 20 years that I sat on a bar stool. I thank God for every fulfilling sober day!!!! "

" Ask God to take away your desire to drink, He will if you really want to quit. "

" people cannot be pushed into recovery they need to be led. If this were Your daughter you'd have a different view. I have seen people in the AA program
go through numerous tx programs before they are ready for recovery. I guess
you have to be one of us to really get it. Look at it this way Your vehicle is a
"alcohalic" it needs gas to get around it knows that it's wrong to use that gas
and wants to stop but it can't help it it was made to use gas. That car can run
fine off electricty but that is too foreign for it to grasp so it keeps on using gas
then one day that vehicle runs into a vehicle that uses electricty and seems to
be getting around fine so it gives it a try before long it is productive and with the
help of the other electic cars is doing well. the problem is that that car still has
to merge into traffic with ALOT of gas cars who think that it is a oddball and does
not give it the right of way!!! "

" When is alcoholism going to stop being called a ''disease''? These people CHOOSE to drink knowing full well that it can become addictive, like smoking. Do we call smoking a disease? The choice is theirs. When it becomes out of control they cry ''disease''. Forget them and concentrate on the real diseases like cancer, ALS, diabetes, etc. "

" Whether she sits in jail to stay sober, or whether she attends treatment to stay sober, alcohol addiction is incurable in the respect that once an alcoholic always an alcoholic and even after years of soberity, decades even, a true alcohol cannot go back to social drinking, because one drink will trigger the disease into an active stage again. A person may stop drinking but that does not mean they stop being an alcoholic. My brother calls himself a dry alcoholic, meaning he does not drink but has the disease. So locking her up is what she deserves for the bad choices she has made and danger she has put others in, and yet treatment should be part of the plan so she doesn't hit the bars in three years. Hopefully she will learn how to live without alcohol in her life. "

" Thankfully the streets of Bismarck will be safer on her 22nd birthday. "

" To Ms Rahman - Driver's License is a privledge. Driving under the influence is a choice. My elderly mother drives in the city of Bismarck - Mandan and the last thing I need is a call that you or some other selfish drunk took her life. Believe me, there is NO ONE who has the right or privledge to drive the streets my wonderful hard working mother does when they are drunk. Any drunk who is out and about driving had best be praying to God they do not kill one of my family members because they will be begging the Police to lock them up for safety... "

" Well Bill Dikant, I lost a child and her mother to a drunk driver back in 1988, so spare me your condescending rhetoric. I am curious Bill, do you really think that anyone with a true chice would continue to drive after the 4th DUI? As for you sober guy, I had my last drink in 1979, and stay active in the self help recovery community here in ND. Until moving to ND, I never even herad of having to wait 3 weeks for a CD evaluation until you could get into a treatment progran, and after watching the revolving door of DHS's addiction programs, it shows how poor it really is. But wait, we will have another fresh class of additiction specialists come December, and they will learn all about how to recover from books. Yep, that should do it. I am curious, how well does it work when the revolving door has you going through treatment 3 or 4 times a year? "

" i agree with you kevin this person is a adult, not a child or juvinelle(sp) so she should be treated like one. "

" Dear Economic Conservative, If this disease is "incurable" as per your comment why waste the time doing anything? Locking her up would be the most effective option. Treatment is always possible. But more important with regard to your comment. I am familiar with this situation and have been---for years, and you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. "

" Isn't she an adult? Not really accurate calling her a girl. "

" Make her serve all the time she gets...not a month or two! She's lucky she never killed anyone with her drunk driving! "

" Echonomic Consertive, Sure peg this Woman as an Alcoholic, as that makes for a great excuse. There is nothing in the Disease of Alcoholism to force a person to drive after achieving that state!. Wait till one of your Loved ones is Killed by one of these "HIGHWAY TERRORISTS", what be your excuse then.

Bill Dikant, Victim Advocate
Castleton, N.Y. 12033 "

" Give me a break...she's just another juvenile deliquent with a passion for drinking. She'll get over it...after three years of sobriety. "

" To Economic Conservative, The state's rehab system works fine. I sobered up in 89, and have been sober ever since. "

" Truely sad that another youth 's life is destroyed but an incurable disease. Maybe one day the rehab systems of North Dakota will wake up and join the real world in treating the disease of addiction instead of combining incarceration with unproven methods of treatment for these ill individuals.. "

" I hope some time in the slammer and some serious rehab can help this young woman to turn her life around. That's awfully young to be that deep in the throes of alcoholism. "