Drug Addiction

DesignerGal · Post by **DesignerGal** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 10:56 am

I just picked up a copy of James Frey's new book called A Million Little Pieces, (I am in the Oprah Book CLub, she picks out some good ones) and I am half way through it. This is an awesome book. Does anyone here directly affected by addicts? How do you cope? I dated an alcoholic for a few months and even attended AA and Ala-non but he was just so insatiable I had to leave him. I couldnt take it. I was only 20 years old and that relationship was EXHAUSTING! But this book is totally awesome, and Im interested to know about other stories of drug abuse and addiction. By the way, does anyone watch Intervention on A&E?

jennyswan · Post by **jennyswan** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 11:38 am

Some close family members drink a lot of alcohol and it has made my life really miserable at times. I have never known anyone to take drugs seriously although one friend of mine couldn't go to sleep without smoking two joints. I couldn't see the point. I was never a 'do it to be cool' kind of girl and hung out with a different crowd. I just cant understand why people would start with it in the first place. I'm by all means not perfect either and I think everyone has their flaws but thank God I don't have an addictive personality.

I would be interested in hearing someones story too.

SOJOURNER · Post by **SOJOURNER** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:50 pm

Caffeine is my drug of choice.

What's so bad about it is that it is legal and no one looks at you twice when you purchase a coke or a cup of coffee. But try and stop........... Whoa, Baby.......

Life is just fine until you have to stop using it and, let me tell you from first hand experience, it is no picnic to just stop. Talk about being sick!! Monster headaches day after day. Vomiting and then dry heaves. It is not a pretty sight. Yes, I am addicted.

You may say, why stop then........ Well, I've never just decided to stop. I've had to either cut way back -- like when I was pregnant or stop completely -- like for a medical test. Fasting is not fun either.

The sad part of this story is -- having kicked the habit twice (two pregnancies) the first thing I wanted after giving birth was my coffee......... No, I did not breast feed. The pull for caffeine is so strong -- and this is a legal substance. I cannot imagine the utter hell people must go through when they are on heroin, crack, meth or whatever......... or the frustration of those that try and help them.

I know the pull this has on me. Based on this, I have always been afraid of trying anything else -- cause I might like it............. and I do not need to go out of my way to make life any more difficult for myself than coping with what I like already....

Being a support person to your friend was a wonderful asset to him, but as you said, it is exhausting. We can't help others without looking out for ourselves first and with any addition, you risk being pulled into it too.

I too want to read Frey's book. It looks to be a very good read.

jennyswan · Post by **jennyswan** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:00 pm

I have a friend who was addicted to Diet Coke. She would drink litres of it until she had to stop because it was running her stomach (according to her doc).

She had a really hard time giving it up too. Awful headaches etc.

DesignerGal · Post by **DesignerGal** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:29 pm

I smoke cigarettes and I have tried to quit so many times, I will again soon. I never considered myself a heavy smoker (I generally smoke 4-9 cigs a day) but it is still tough.

As for that harsh stuff (i.e. meth), I just dont want to put anything in my body that was made in someone's basement with household cleaning chemicals.

DISGUSTING!

I think it all starts with self loathing and low self esteem anyway. At least that is what I am learning from the book.

A girl at my job was recently fired, but a couple of months before that we went out for drinks and go back to her house and she pulls out a crack pipe and starts smoking. Right there in front of me! Asks me not tell, so I let it go, and just dont go out for drinks with her anymore.

So she calls a friend of hers the other day that still works here and says she is checking herself into rehab and tells my co worker that she has been doing for a while. So when co worker tells me, I tell her about the night I went out with her. I was relieved to be able to confide in her about it later. Coworker was like you should have told me. I would have tried to convince her to go alot earlier. But Im glad she finally decided to get help and turn her life around.

Drugs are worthless. They are a waste of money and can really screw up your life and screw up the lives of those around you.

jennyswan · Post by **jennyswan** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:37 pm

There was an episode of the Opera show about this young girl about 17 who was addicted to crystal meth? (I think that's the name). Anyway the whole story was very sad and the show ended with her going into rehab. Does anyone know how she got on?

DesignerGal · Post by **DesignerGal** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:39 pm

I saw the one on Intervention, her name was Corinne. SHe was doing well in Rehab and then when the show gives you an update in the end it said she was shooting heroine again.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 6:59 pm

There are so many addictions and they all affect lives some how whether it be drugs, alcohol, nicotine, sex, gambling, etc. I'm addicted to nicotine. I have dealt with a few people addicted to gambling. I was married to an alcoholic and I suspect, drug addict. Nicest person when he was sober, but what an idiot when he was under the influence. Addictions take over lives. They make normally nice people turn to lying, stealing, violence, etc.

DesignerGal · Post by **DesignerGal** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 7:33 pm

My father and grandfather are sex addicts. My grandfather is also a recovering alcoholic. He hasnt had a drink in more than 20 years but I know you are always an alcoholic even when you arent drinking.

I check out theat Breaking Bonaduce show every now and then on VH1 and it just reiterates my opinion about how insatiable they are. Your love is never deep enough for them or strong enough or meaningful. Its like they are looking for some dramatic movie romance. Another thing I noticed when dating an alcoholic is I was never good enough. I was 5'3" and weighed 114 pounds which is pretty healthy, borderline skinny since I have very large bones, and he would constantly try to get me into the gym and tell me I need to work out and get skinnier. He replaced one addiction (drugs) with another (the gym and working out) and expected I go along with it.

That is just the only word I can use to describe living with an addict is insatiable and exhausting. I hate to sound mean but I just dont think I will ever put myself ina situation again being involved with an addict, unless of course it was my immediate family or future children.

I just dont have enough energy to make it my problem. Thats horrible I know, but I cant deal with them anymore. Im too messed up from years of sexual abuse to my sis from dad to have to deal with other people's problems, you know?

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 6:29 am

DesignerGal wrote: I smoke cigarettes and I have tried to quit so many times, I will again soon. I never considered myself a heavy smoker (I generally smoke 4-9 cigs a day) but it is still tough.

As for that harsh stuff (i.e. meth), I just dont want to put anything in my body that was made in someone's basement with household cleaning chemicals.

DISGUSTING!

I think it all starts with self loathing and low self esteem anyway. At least that is what I am learning from the book.

A girl at my job was recently fired, but a couple of months before that we went out for drinks and go back to her house and she pulls out a crack pipe and starts smoking. Right there in front of me! Asks me not tell, so I let it go, and just dont go out for drinks with her anymore.

So she calls a friend of hers the other day that still works here and says she is checking herself into rehab and tells my co worker that she has been doing for a while. So when co worker tells me, I tell her about the night I went out with her. I was relieved to be able to confide in her about it later. Coworker was like you should have told me. I would have tried to convince her to go alot earlier. But Im glad she finally decided to get help and turn her life around.

Drugs are worthless. They are a waste of money and can really screw up your life and screw up the lives of those around you.

Drugs are worthless. They are a waste of money and can really screw up your life and screw up the lives of those around you.

Amen to that.

Bez · Post by **Bez** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 6:47 am

Peg wrote: There are so many addictions and they all affect lives some how whether it be drugs, alcohol, nicotine, sex, gambling, etc. I'm addicted to nicotine. I have dealt with a few people addicted to gambling. I was married to an alcoholic and I suspect, drug addict. Nicest person when he was sober, but what an idiot when he was under the influence. Addictions take over lives. They make normally nice people turn to lying, stealing, violence, etc.

You said it for me Peg....I too am addicted to nicotine and deep down feel ashamed to have such poor self control, I've also been 'closely' involved with people who drink, take drugs. These 'substances' sadly bring out the worst in people.....sad, bad world.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:06 am

Bez wrote: You said it for me Peg....I too am addicted to nicotine and deep down feel ashamed to have such poor self control, I've also been 'closely' involved with people who drink, take drugs. These 'substances' sadly bring out the worst in people.....sad, bad world.

Not while your in it ! :-6

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:57 am

i attribute 85% of the crime i see to drugs. particularly crack.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 8:01 am

lady cop wrote: i attribute 85% of the crime i see to drugs. particularly crack.
Can you corroborate these statistics with factual documentation please ? Thank you.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 8:10 am

Nomad wrote: Can you corroborate these statistics with factual documentation please ? Thank you.yes, meet me at the jail. :p and i'll take you into booking.........

ComfortablyNumb · Post by **ComfortablyNumb** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 8:35 am

We had a friend in college who got himself addicted to heroin after his parents died. We all rallied round but it's hard because we felt so helpless. Some days he was almost 'normal' but others like a stranger. He said he felt weak and alienated from society, that heroin put him in a big glass bubble that could crack at any moment.

He died, not from an overdose but because he felt he was letting his friends down who wanted so much to help him - he committed suicide.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 8:42 am

lady cop wrote: yes, meet me at the jail. :p and i'll take you into booking.........
sure lets do that then real quick like Ill spin you around and drop you, cuff you, take your car, badge, uniform and doughnut coupons and leave you there for your peers to find you

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 8:55 am

Nomad wrote: sure lets do that then real quick like Ill spin you around and drop you, cuff you, take your car, badge, uniform and doughnut coupons and leave you there for your peers to find younot my donut coupons!!!:eek:

pantsonfire321@aol.com · Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:10 am

My friends son is an addict her husband was also an addict and drunk hes in prison at the moment doing life .Of the three sons she has all have taken drugs all have been inside, one whos 36 is doing life for murder her husband is doing life for stabbing somebody ( they were on the same wing in prison) her other son is 34 has done armed robbery is a currant crack addict and wanted on warrent her last son the yongest has just been released .They have all stolen from her but she loves them so will continue to support them - i just dont understand it - i know a mothers love and all that but i couldnt live like that .

StupidCowboyTricks · Post by **StupidCowboyTricks** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:21 am

ComfortablyNumb wrote: We had a friend in college who got himself addicted to heroin after his parents died. We all rallied round but it's hard because we felt so helpless. Some days he was almost 'normal' but others like a stranger. He said he felt weak and alienated from society, that heroin put him in a big glass bubble that could crack at any moment.

He died, not from an overdose but because he felt he was letting his friends down who wanted so much to help him - he committed suicide.
I'm sorry to hear that CN. I'm sure he is out of his pain and had the satisfaction in knowing that he had a friend/s like you......

ComfortablyNumb · Post by **ComfortablyNumb** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 4:39 pm

Thanks SCT. We all felt very guilty. Maybe we should have left him to cope in his own way, but it's very hard to see a friend going downhill and do nothing.