98_https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc_Hv1xiV4Y_avoiding DOI
gpt
Hi, Mike. I'm Kathy. Appreciate you coming in today.
human
Hi, Kathy, nice to meet you.
gpt
I'm sure there's so many other places you'd rather be than here today talking with me, but, um, you're here, and, um, thank you.
human
Okay.
gpt
Um, I wanted to ask you first how you're doing physically. Um, I wanna make sure you're okay, if you feel okay. And, um, 'cause your-your safety is of, uh, most importance. So, if I could just ask you a couple of questions-
human
Sure.
gpt
-surrounding that, will that be okay?
human
Absolutely. Yeah.
gpt
-um, we-we're-- You're here probably because of your speeding ticket. That's what I gathered.
human
Yeah. I got a DUI, and I was speeding, uh, during the DUI, obviously.
gpt
Oh. Oh, okay. So, Um, around that, um, do you ever feel-- You feel bad or-or sick when you're-- Right now, is there something--
human
No, I'm fine. Yeah
gpt
Do you feel okay. Okay, good. I just wanted to make sure, um, uh, and, um, if the last time you-you drank was--
human
The night of the-the DUI is the last time I drank.
gpt
Uh-huh, yeah.
human
And then, you know, um, I guess I'm here 'cause my lawyer wants me to go through an assessment-
gpt
Sure.
human
-uh, with you, and, um, I'm really not sure what it means or anything like that, but, uh, he said I'm supposed to come here and, uh, just tell the truth, is what he told me.
gpt
Oh, okay. Well, I appreciate that.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Um, and also, if there's any-any-any information that you need from me, please, um, feel free to ask. Um, that the reason that he asked you to come in was because of the blood alcohol level was 2.8.
human
Okay.
gpt
So, um, that was legally beyond the limit that you should be driving.
human
Is it bad, or is it high or?
gpt
Well, it's-it's high, uh, you know, they--
human
Okay.
gpt
For driving.
human
Okay
gpt
And so, um, the officer at the- at the scene, um, when you blew the 2.8, he-he did-- he-- There was a- there was a problem.
human
Yeah. He was, well, freaking out. He was--
gpt
Was he freaking out? Yeah-yeah.
human
I think he was getting a little over the top a little bit, but, you know, again, whatever.
gpt
Right-right. So, um, I'll just ask you a couple of questions, um, if you don't mind about-about your drinking. And-and your-- So, um, you said the couple was two weeks ago was the last time you drank?
human
Yes.
gpt
Yeah. Okay. And, um, that night, what was it that you-you drank and, how much?
human
Uh, my friend was having a, um- a get together as it was birthday party in, uh, downtown, and, uh, you know, it's not like it's a normal thing, but, uh, I did drink too much that night. You know, I just, uh-- And I used poor judgment. I shouldn't have driven that night.
gpt
Right. Yeah. Um, I was-- Maybe, you could tell me about how much you drank.
human
Um, I don't really remember. I know, uh, I dunno, I probably had five or six drinks, I would think, something like that.
gpt
Mm-hmm. Five, six drinks, like?
human
Um, yeah, they were a little bigger than that. I don't really-- I wasn't really counting, so, I don't really know.
gpt
Oh, okay. So, I guests maybe five or six.
human
Five or six, something like that. Yeah.
gpt
Um, yeah. And-and, w-what were the drinks, were?
human
Um, absolute vodka-
gpt
Hmm.
human
-and seven off. Yeah.
gpt
Oh, okay. So, um, you said that it was pretty much just five or six. Do you-- How often do you use that? And you said it's not a-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-not a normal occasion for you to drink that much?
human
Normally I drink one or two, and that's kind of it, you know, this one I did, uh- you know, I did feel a little drunk when I was- you know, when I was drinking, I just, uh, used poor judgment. I really shouldn't have drove.
gpt
Right. Yeah. Um, so, you usually don't drink that much. Um, on an average, maybe a week, how much would you say you drink? Just--
human
Um, sometimes I drink, um, you know, maybe one or two, and then I- and then I won't drink for a while, you know. So, it's not really a-- There's not really a pattern-
gpt
Uh-huh
human
-you know, it's not really like a uh- it's not a habit, you know,
gpt
Right.
human
I-I don't know if I would consider myself alcoholic. You know, I just, uh, um, you know, again, it was poor judgment.
gpt
Right. So, it doesn't get in the way of your-
human
Oh, no.
gpt
-every day.
human
Absolutely not. Mm-mm.
gpt
Right. Oh, that's good.
human
Yeah.
gpt
So, um, looking back, Mike, uh, when was it that you started thinking that when you did use alcohol, um, most in your life?
human
Um, there was really not a time that I, uh-- I don't know. I-I don't understand the question really. I mean, it-- There really wasn't-- I don't really drink on a normal basis, so, I don't know-- [crosstalk]
gpt
So, that is- that is a complete, uh-- A question that is even applicable?
human
Yeah.
gpt
Okay.
human
Yeah.
gpt
That's fine.
human
Yeah.
gpt
That's fine. Okay. Um, so, what about the, uh- the first DUI, could you tell me a little bit about that? This was your second one?
human
Yeah.
gpt
And so, that's sort of why I was asking about it earlier in your life if that was a--
human
It seems like every time that I, uh, do drink more than a couple of drinks, I tend to get in trouble. And, the two times that I did, I got in trouble both times. [crosstalk]
gpt
It was those two times. Yeah.
human
Yeah, pretty much. I mean, it's-- It sounds strange, I know, but, uh--
gpt
It sounds like bad luck.
human
Yeah. Actually, that-that's followed me around pretty much my whole life, the bad luck thing.
gpt
Yeah.
human
But the-the-the-the-the alcohol hasn't really at all.
gpt
Oh, okay.
human
Yeah.
gpt
But just that bad luck?
human
Yeah.
gpt
Yeah. Is there alcohol with the- with-- Goes hand in hand with the bad luck or just--
human
Sure seems like it. Yeah. It sure seems like that.
gpt
Yeah. Oh, okay. So-so, what about that? The-- Is there other incidences that you could think of that seems, uh, um, alcohol was there, and then your luck just sorta took a-a turn, or it was just those two times?
human
Um, you know, I don't really, um-- I-I don't really, uh, get into a situation where I-I-I drink too much. Um, you know, again, I-I realize it's my second DUI, but,, um, uh-uh, it isn't something that, um, is like a normal everyday process for me.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
Um, you know, normally when I drink, I drink one or two drinks and then I stop. Um, so, it's not like it's, um-- You know, it's not like it's something that has become a problem in my life, you know.
gpt
Oh, good. Oh, good. And-and so, where do you usually, um, have your drinks? Is it at home or, uh, out-out for, uh- after work, social drinking?
human
Um, it's normally social.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
Yeah. It's normally social. It would be, you know, maybe in events or something like that is normally when I would, um, maybe drink more than one or two.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
I guess I should probably just call a taxi cab or something, you know. That way, I wouldn't have this problem.
gpt
Would that help?
human
Um, probably, I think that would help. I think that would be something that I should, uh- I should work on.
gpt
So, it sounds like you've already been thinking about, uh, ways to-to get around safely.
human
Yeah. Yeah, or I can just stay home probably too. If I was gonna drink, I could probably stay home, then I wouldn't get in trouble either.
gpt
You have been giving this a lot of thought.
human
Yeah, a little bit.
gpt
Yeah, good.
human
Yeah, obviously, because I just don't-- You know, I don't like getting in trouble, and I don't, uh--
gpt
Trouble's not fun.
human
Yeah.
gpt
No.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Yeah. So, tell-tell me a little bit more about, um, when you fi-- If you'd find yourself, and then that-that thought comes about maybe doing something other than getting in the- in the car, does that come and go, or-or is it something that you think you-- Next time you might do?
human
Um, oh, I'll never get in the car when I'm drinking again. That-- Yeah. I-I would never do that again.
gpt
This, it-- What-what-what was different?
human
Uh, I don't want to lose my license, you know.
gpt
Hmm.
human
I don't, uh, you know, I don't wanna lose my license.
gpt
Wow. You-you need your license-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-to get around. You need your license for work.
human
Well, and then I-I sell cars for a living too, so--
gpt
Oh.
human
-um, you know, that would be, um-- You know, I don't wanna lose my job either. You know, I think those would kind of be connected together.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
And, you know, I-- You're not gonna call my work or anything for this, are you?
gpt
No.
human
Oh, okay.
gpt
No, no. That's--
human
All right.
gpt
That would be entirely up to you, um, to-to have that.
human
Okay. I just didn't know how that worked.
gpt
Oh, no.
human
Because I think if they found out, I might, you know, be in jeopardy with my job. So--
gpt
Well, you're here. And-and-and I have you give, uh-uh, credit for that. It took a lot to come in today and, um, when, um- when somebody is actually talking safety for themselves, which I-I hear you saying, um, calling a taxi or-or staying home.
human
Yeah.
gpt
So, what does staying home look like for you? Is that something that-- You know, you-you talked about drinking at an event. Would staying home be--
human
Well, you know, the Super Bowl is coming up, and that might be an opportunity where, you know, I might-- I could see myself maybe drinking that day, you know.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
So, maybe I would just, uh-- I think I'll just have people come over to my house instead of going somewhere else, you know.
gpt
That would work for you?
human
Yeah, I think so, and probably a smarter thing to do. I don't wanna go through this again, you know.
gpt
Yeah, yeah.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Uh, so, uh, would people come and drink at your house, and then they would be fine with that?
human
I think so.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Sure.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Yeah.
gpt
So, an event at your house.
human
There you go.
gpt
Yeah, good. That sounds good. Mike, has there even been, if any, um, a time in your life when you've thought about, um, not drinking at all?
human
For my first DUI, I did, uh-- I didn't drink at all for about six months. And, um, I-I-I just didn't think that, um, I really had a problem with it, so, you know, I-I did start drinking again. But, you know, again, it wasn't uh-- You know, it was a little different last time, because I was drinking a little more last time than, you know, now. I don't really drink as-as much as I used to drink, you know, um, and, you know, after you know, I quit for six months, so I kind of knew that I didn't really have a problem.
gpt
Right. Six months. That's a long time.
human
Yeah.
gpt
What were those six months like for you?
human
Um, I know it was kind of strange. My friends didn't really hang out with me too much. Um--
gpt
Friends?
human
Yeah. You know, I, uh.
gpt
Whi-which? If you don't mind me asking, which friends were those? I don't mean to get too personal, but, the friends that normally drank with you or just your-
human
No, my friends.
gpt
-social circles. Okay.
human
Just my social circle, I guess, uh--
gpt
Wha-wha-what do you think made-made them n-not hang out with you?
human
Probably 'cause I didn't- I wasn't drinking with them, I guess. I don't really know. I mean, it seemed, uh--
gpt
Did you ask them?
human
Um, no. I really couldn't because my girlfriend really wouldn't let me hang with them. You know? I mean, it was, uh-- She said that if I, you know, kept hanging out with them guys, that she wasn't gonna be with me anymore. And I just thought that it was better for me to, you know, calm down for a little bit and, uh, maybe things would get better with us, you know.
gpt
And your girlfriend's important to you-
human
Sure.
gpt
-and that relationship was important to you.
human
Well, it was until she left, you know.
gpt
At the time it was important, yeah.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Is it-- Why'd she leave?
human
Uh, she left when I started drinking again.
gpt
Oh, after the six months.
human
After the six months, she, uh-- You know, it's kinda, I dunno, she just said that it wasn't gonna work out, and, uh, she decided not to continue with the relationship.
gpt
Oh, okay. So-so, um, you started drinking again, and then she left?
human
Uh, it was about the same time. I really don't know which came first. It was about the same time. Uh, we were getting in a lot of arguments. I just didn't quite feel myself. You know, I-I-I wasn't-- My friends weren't around. I, uh-- You know, I missed going out with them.
gpt
You felt isolated?
human
Yeah. It was kind of weird 'cause I felt like she was trying to control me, and, uh- and uh, you know, I, uh-- And she was telling me what to do all the time, and I just, uh, didn't feel right about the whole situation. So, it was pretty much, we both decided, you know, that it just wasn't the right thing to do, so.
gpt
And, so you're-you're an independent guy-
human
Sure.
gpt
-and, no one's going to tell you what to do.
human
Well, I guess. Sure. Yeah.
gpt
Yeah. So, have, uh-- So then, you started drinking again, and that was-- If you could just kind of give me a little timeframe of how long ago that was, that-that six months of complete--
human
[clear throat] Well, let's see. The first one was, uh, three years ago, and then, um, this one was a few weeks ago, so, um, it's been a few years, you know.
gpt
Absolutely. Yeah.
human
Yeah. It's been a few years
gpt
So, in-in what ways has, uh, drinking, um, sort of, uh-- What is kind of the good things about drinking since those couple of- those couple of years, and then-then maybe not so good things?
human
I don't really know that I can really compare good or bad. I just, uh-- You know, I just drink to be social, you know, I don't know that it really changes anything about me. It just, uh-- You know, I just drink to be social, you know.
gpt
Mm-hmm. And those friends that were not hanging around with you, did they come back?
human
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. As soon as my girlfriend left, I could go out with them again, you know. [laughter]
gpt
Did they not get along with your girlfriend?
human
Well, she didn't want me going out with them.
gpt
Yeah.
human
She thought that they really--
gpt
She was separate then from your other friends and-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-those relationships just didn't come together?
human
She blamed the first DUI on them. She said, you know, because I was out with them, that it was pretty much, you know, they-they made me drink too much that night.
gpt
And what do you think?
human
I think she was right on that. Yeah, absolutely.
gpt
So, you-you--
human
I mean, if they wouldn't have gave me those shots, you know, towards the end of the night, I would've been all right. You know, I could have drove, and I wouldn't have, uh- I wouldn't have hit that mailbox.
gpt
You would have been fine if they didn't- if they didn't give you those-those shots. Yeah.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Oh, so, the-the-the mailbox, where did that come in? That was the-
human
That was--
gpt
-first DUI that got you.
human
Yeah. I was on-- It was like I was a couple of blocks away from the house and I, uh, rolled up on the neighbor's lawn and I took out their mailbox.
gpt
That must have been scary.
human
I don't really remember too much of that night.
gpt
Oh, that was blackout type?
human
Uh, I don't know if I was blacked out, but I just don't remember a lot of it.
gpt
Right. Yeah.
human
I wouldn't really call it a blackout. I just don't really-
gpt
Oh, okay.
human
-remember how that happened.
gpt
I'm-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to assume that-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-it was blackout that-- Forgive me for that.
human
Yeah. Yeah. It's all right.
gpt
Um, so, that it was sort of after that that the girlfriend-- Your girlfriend, I don't know, well, her name. Um, your girlfriend decided-- The mailbox and she's--
human
Yeah, Mary-Mary, just [crosstalk] Well, after-after I got the-the-- After I hit the mailbox-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-um, I stopped drinking for, you know, like about six months, and, uh, you know, and we were trying to work things out, but it just didn't-
gpt
Yeah.
human
-it just didn't work.
gpt
Oh.
human
I think she became a little too possessive at that point.
gpt
Yeah. You felt like she was the only person that, um, you had in your life, you needed your friends and--
human
Um, I think she just wanted to control me and I was tired of being controlled.
gpt
No one likes to be controlled, uh, yeah. Yeah. Uh, and, in what ways, well, did you feel that, um, uh, at any time, did you feel controlled by your friends. You said they-they made you drink those shots. That-that sounded like maybe you felt a little controlled? But-- [crosstalk]
human
No, I was-- They just-- No, they weren't- they weren't really controlling me. They just-- They shouldn't have given me the last couple shots, 'cause you, they-they knew I was pretty, you know, uh, messed up before that. So-
gpt
Yeah.
human
-you know, that when they- when they-- You know, when they gave me the last, you know, couple shots, that kind of put me over the edge.
gpt
Right, they weren't looking out for your best interest at that point.
human
Pretty much, pretty much.
gpt
And then sent you out in your car.
human
Yeah. I mean I guess it was my decision to take the, uh- you know, the other shots, but I-I just-- I don't know. I really don't really remember too much.
gpt
It's a hindsight again.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Yeah.
human
Yeah. You can blame hindsight a little bit. I mean, that works for me. [laughter]
gpt
Hindsight? Oh, yeah, they'll-- it'll take the- it'll take the blame. Um, so, you still-- Do you still, uh, you know, you started drinking again, and then, um, the second DUI, what-- Is it the same circle of social-social circle, same friends?
human
Yeah. [crosstalk]
gpt
Same type of situation. [crosstalk]
human
I mean, they've been my friends since, you know, uh, since high school.
gpt
So, they're important to you?
human
Yeah, absolutely.
gpt
Mm-hmm. Yeah. And-and sometimes, um, people have friends who are friends, but then there's friends who would stay on in our lives and are constant. So, these would be your constant core--
human
Sure, absolutely.
gpt
Yeah, okay.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Have you ever had, um, uh, interest outside, um, the social drinking, the friends, um, like, what do you do when you're not with them?
human
Uh, well, like I'll do stuff around the house, you know, uh, cut the grass and stop, do yard work, other than that, um, I don't know.
gpt
Yeah. And any other relationship, if you don't mind me asking-- [crosstalk]
human
Uh, no, I'm single now, so, you know, I don't really, uh-- [crosstalk]
gpt
How's that going?
human
It's all right, you know, I date a little bit but, uh, you know, I just don't wanna get serious right now.
gpt
Oh what-- So, what does serious look like? Um--
human
Um, I just don't want to date someone in a regular basis. I don't really feel like I want to be in a committed relationship.
gpt
Yeah. That's all right, yeah. That's good. It sounds like you know yourself pretty well.
human
Sure, absolutely.
gpt
Okay. Right. So, um, now that we-we are looking at, um, your second DUI and, um-- Well, so now, Mike, if you don't mind me asking, what would you do differently, um-um, from here on now?
human
Well, I think I would like really think about--
gpt
Since the co- the court sent you and we have to sort of explore what would happen if you went out and did this again.
human
Yeah. Well, I mean I-I, uh- I, uh- I wouldn't drink as much, and if I- if I did, I would call, uh, a taxi or, um, you know, get some kind of a ride home, I think, 'cause, uh, you know, I just, uh-- I-I just don't wanna get in trouble, you know.
gpt
Yeah. Is there somebody that you could call?
human
Uh, I don't really think about that. I guess I would have to think about that, because if I was gonna go out and drink, I would have to think about that. Yeah.
gpt
Right.
human
I guess I could call it taxi cab or something, I don't know.
gpt
They'll come.
human
Yeah. I think that will be something.
gpt
Yeah. They'll come. As long as you got the money, they'll come and get you. Yeah.
human
Yeah. I think maybe if I take some money, I'll put it like in my wallet-
gpt
Yeah.
human
-and I'll like put it in there for emergency, and that way, I'll have money. In case I get drunk, I can just call a cab, and I'll use that money to get home.
gpt
Oh, so, when you use your-your bar money, it would be somewhere else?
human
What's that?
gpt
Your bar money would be somewhere else, not in your wallet?
human
Probably in my front pocket, I guess.
gpt
There you go. Okay, yeah. So, that, y-yeah.
human
Yeah.
gpt
That makes- that makes a lot of sense. So then you'd have your money tucked away someplace different.
human
Yeah. Well, if I put, uh- if I put it away, then I wouldn't spend it though, you know, [unintelligible 00:18:48] have it.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
There-there would be a plan that I would have to-
gpt
Sounds like a good plan.
human
-to get home. Yeah.
gpt
Yeah. So, uh, how often do you think you'll be needing that plan in the--
human
It'd probably be my wallet for a while, I would think, 'cause I-- Like I said, I don't really think I have a problem with, uh- with the drinking, you know. I just-
gpt
Right.
human
-think that, you know, it was an isolated incident.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
And-and I, uh-- You know, I just, uh--
gpt
And then-- Yeah, and then also you said if you're going to have people, uh, you're gonna be drinking for the Super Bowl. Was is it Super Bowl?
human
Yeah.
gpt
I'm sorry, I'm not a football fan but it's Super Bowl coming up, right?
human
Yeah, well, you gotta have some people over at the Super Bowl, you know.
gpt
So, you'd have them in and, um, I'm just curious about the folks who are leaving your house, would they-- Would-would you be concerned about them, there'll be a taxi. Sometimes designated drivers I--
human
I don't really hang out with people that really drink a lot though. I mean, they're-they're not like-- I wouldn't call them drunks, so, I mean, they can, you know, they can handle their-- [crosstalk]
gpt
So, it would be up to them?
human
Sure, I would think, yeah.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
Yeah.
gpt
It sounds like you have-- You've thought about this, and you're-you're willing to put some things in place, the-the wallet, um, money in the wallet and-and for the taxi-
human
Yeah.
gpt
Have folks in to-to socialize for an event, and that you still have your-your social-- Your friends and your core group and-and, uh, just be careful. What was the six months of not drinking like for you? If you were to choose to not drink.
human
You know, it was a- it was, uh- it was pretty good. I just didn't feel like I had my friends around, and-and it just-- It seemed kinda boring. I mean, I felt good physically and, uh, you know, I, uh- I was more on time to work, I was doing really good at work and so forth, um, but, you know, it just, um-- The hard part for me was I just, uh- I just didn't have any friends around. I just kinda-- I felt isolated. I just didn't- I just didn't feel comfortable, you know.
gpt
Six months is a- is a long time. There was, um-- Try to think back, were there- were there other people? Was it- was it just you?
human
Well, my-my girl- my girlfriend and I were trying to work it out. But it just seemed like we were arguing all the time, you know. It just didn't seem like-- You know what I mean? Like the not-drinking part was good, but it just didn't seem like anything else had changed.
gpt
All right.
human
You know.
gpt
So-so, if you were not to-- If you were to go with the plan of maybe not drinking, which you mentioned-
human
Yeah.
gpt
-um, uh, your girlfriend Mary is-is not a part of your life-
human
No-
gpt
-right now.
human
-and I really don't see that working out really well.
gpt
Would there be something else that would, um, sort of, uh, fill in that-- The-the friends area, do you think?
human
Well, I don't know. I mean, it's a-- I mean, my friends drink though. So, it's kinda hard to- it's kinda hard to, you know, to be with them, and then-- When I'm not drinking, 'cause it's-- I just don't feel like I fit in, you know.
gpt
But, yeah, I-I see what-what you're saying, for sure. Um, there-there's those friends that they drink but they don't drink that much, I heard you saying.
human
Yeah, they don't drink that much, but they-they seem to-- You know, like they do drink though, you know.
gpt
Mm. Sure.
human
I mean, it's just beer. You know-
gpt
Right.
human
-it's not like they're drinking whiskey or anything like that. It's--
gpt
Yeah. So--
human
You know, but, they'll drink beer, and it's just-- You know, for me, I don't know. Sometimes, uh, I don't-- You know, I have an intention to have a couple of drinks and maybe I'll have, you know, more than a couple, you know-
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
-and then I don't know what really makes a-a legal limit. So, I think I can drink what? Like two or three drinks an hour, is that what it is?
gpt
Um, it's one drink per hour.
human
One drink per hour, okay.
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
I'll have to remember that. [laughing]
gpt
Or one shot or-
human
Yeah, One shot.
gpt
-one glass of wine or one beer.
human
Okay.
gpt
Um-
human
Just one though?
gpt
Mm-hmm.
human
That's it.
gpt
Yeah. Uh, the, uh- the idea of, um, having the friends and not drinking, is that something that i-- Would be even, uh, a reality?
human
Yeah, I guess. I-I think I probably know a couple of friends that don't drink and I don't really, uh, probably--
gpt
Then, who are- who-who-who are they?
human
I'd have to really think about it. I don't really have too many good friends. You know, I have some acquaintances that don't drink but-
gpt
Would it--
human
-pretty much everyone I know like drinks.
gpt
Yeah, so wha-what would-- What do you think it would do to the relationship of you not drinking but still being with the-these folks-- These friends?
human
Yeah, I, uh--
gpt
Would-would it work out and--
human
I don't know. Just, it's weird, I-I think that, you know, kinda when I go there, you know, and-and hang with them at all, it's, uh-- You know, we- you know-
gpt
It's uncomfortable.
human
Yeah. Yeah, exactly.
gpt
What makes it uncomfortable?
human
Well, 'cause they're drinking and then- and if I'm drinking soda, they kind of mess with me a little bit.
gpt
How-- So, messing with you would be like what?
human
Well, they just mess with me until I get-- You know, until I drink a beer with them, you know. So--
gpt
Oh, and-and-- Oh, I see, yeah.
human
You know, I mean, just-
gpt
Yeah, like sort of-
human
-they're just kinda like egging me on, I don't know.
gpt
Oh, yeah, yeah.
human
You know, I really don't feel like being an outcast, you know what I mean, they're my friends, you know. I--
gpt
Right, so you make--
human
I've been with them since, you know, like high school. So, I can't.
gpt
Mm-hmm, and-
human
They mean a lot to me.
gpt
-it's [unintelligible 00:24:05]. I-I-I know that you, um- you value friendship and-and friendship is very important, uh, and, I'm just wondering how important, um, it would be for, uh, you to remain friends with them and still have your-your sobriety.
human
I guess maybe it would probably be not a bad idea to not hang with them for a little bit, I guess. You know, I mean, I-I-I-- Yeah.
gpt
And see what happens.
human
Yeah, sure. I gu- I think that would be something I could probably try.
gpt
Yeah-yeah, how important would it- would it be? Zero being not so important and 10 being pretty important that you--
human
Well, if I need to get my license back, I think it would be pretty important for me to stop hanging around with them for a while, you know.
gpt
Mm-hmm. Okay. [unintelligible 00:24:52] something you'd be willing to try. Okay.
human
Yeah, absolutely.
gpt
It sounds-- That sounds good.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Well, maybe that's something that we could talk about next time if you- if you want to.
human
Yeah, yeah.
gpt
Yeah.
human
I think that would be a good idea. Uh, is this gonna help like get my license back, like, at this-- Like, the-the plans that I've made, is that gonna really help me like--
gpt
Well, I sure-sure would, um, tell the-the people who-who need to know-
human
Okay, good.
human
-about the plans that you're striving for. Um, that I-- There would be, um, uh, someone to read this assessment-Mm.
gpt
-and then, um- and then it would be up to you mostly. The choice is-is completely yours. And, um, it sounds like to me that there's no reason why you wouldn't be able to do this. You've given it a lot of thought, and you have some plans in place, and anything else that you might come up with, uh, to help you stay out of the driver's seat when you've been drinking.
human
Um, probably just not really drink as much. I mean, if I just didn't drink, I wouldn't have to really worry about that too much either.
gpt
Then you wouldn't have to worry.
human
Yeah.
gpt
Yeah, because worry's no fun.
human
Yeah. This is true. Yeah.
gpt
All right. Well, thank you Mike. I appreciate this.
human
Okay. Thank you.
gpt
Thank you.