Well, the treatment team had little to say to me. 'On Monday, we will begin work on a discharge plan for you. Over the weekend, give some thought as to what your plan will be when you leave here.' 'OK', I mumbled. They all looked at me and smiled. I got up, looked at the intern, and said, 'Thank you.' Then I walked down the hall and got my meds.
So, by the time I saw this group again, I would be four days sober, providing I didn't get squirrelly and leave. Now, there is something called signing out AMA. Against Medical Advice. If your blood alcohol is below the legal limit of intoxication, and you don't appear to be a danger to yourself or others, they really can't hold you, especially if you entered the facility voluntarily. There is a lot of gray area here, though, especially in these litigious days. Even if you WANT to leave, you might be forced to stay up to an additional 72 hours. The people here aren't stupid. They know there is a liquor store a half mile down the road. They also know that during the first three days of detox, the alcoholic is a canny individual. The pain can become almost unbearable, so the thought of bouncing out of there is always on your mind. The last time I tried to sign out AMA after one day, they wouldn't let me. They put me on hold. I expected this. But, after 36 hours, they re-evaluated me, and I convinced them to let me go. Within thirty minutes, I had a pint of whiskey in me. I was back in that place four days later. These things are recorded in your electronic medical file. So, even if I wanted to, the chance of me getting out of here before Monday was nil. Plus, this ward was better than the psych ward, which is where I would go if I was 'sectioned'. I decided to simply stay put.
Friday morning. The weekend ahead. Nothing happens here over the weekend at all. We all just sit around, make small talk, and work through our misery. I had twenty-four hours sober. The next two days would be rough, but I had ice cream and Librium to get me through it.
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