I feel “strange” posting this up here, but I will anyway… and the next few blog posts may continue to hit upon some questions that I have about illegal drugs.
I have a situation in my relational-network where a person I love is struggling with drug addiction.
I want desperately to understand this addiction but really have no context or personal experience (other than being in the same smoke-filled concert hall… Thanks Ben Harper for that…).
I thought I’d first attempt to understand how “all of this” plays out… how one gets started, what they first start using, and where it “typically” leads.
Google apparently doesn’t pick up anything immediately, so I thought I’d throw it out there to the community.
What is the typical pattern of drug behavior and progression of use?
Any links to information that you trust are welcome.
Thanks guys… Let’s pray for all those that struggle with this type of addiction.
[Image from Splifr]
Man. This hits CLOSE to home. I don't know if you know, but I am a recovered Drug addict. I've been completely sober for 3 years… I regularly drank, used Meth, Cocaine, Weed, and if I couldn't get that stuff, I'd do anything. Can you E-mail me your specific questions.. I would be MORE Than grateful to share with you what I know.. Personally and from my friends.
Thank you for bringing this to people's attention.
Praise God, thanks for coming forward.
Hey John
Takes guts posting this. I have been in the situation your in. My younger brother was a pretty big user and if you want to chat sometime, I'm open to it. It's been 16 years of my life, so I have a pretty good understanding of what you're dealing with.
Let me know. Cool thing about this interweb thing is you can connect with people all over.
Take it easy.
I, too, have been through addiction, had an overdose experience and am completely free from it now. it's been 11 years.
Praise God.
Word.
Don't know if this is something you would find helpful: http://www.nida.nih.gov/index.html
I don't think there is a "typical" progression. Having worked in an industry where drug use and alcohol abuse was rampant, each individual was a different case.
Email me with questions if you want and I'll answer as best I can, based on my experiences.
I totally agree on the typical part.
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That's awesome!
Wow,well, I have a number of friends involved in rehab/intake/homeless/etc. ministries.And the area that I live in has been hit hard with crystal meth.
Separate Abuse/addiction from use. The conflation of the two costs taxpayers $80 billion a year, prevent counselors from being effective, and makes PSA's that look REALLY stupid.
The "typical" drug use scenario plays out very similar to the typical alcohol use, or fast food use scenario. People try it, use it at parties or when things are crazy end of story.
A small percentage will over indulge and ruin their lives. With fast food we call these people fat or they have heart attacks. With alcohol we call them alcoholics and get them treatment. With drug users, we say all are the same and throw them in prison with rapists and murderers regardless of whether they are BenHarper fans or homeless meth addicts like my brother.
Best of luck. It is tough to see someone ruin their life. Keep them away from your family. Learned the hard way.
I appreciate you asking this…. my sister-in-law has recently become involved in drugs, and while it's just weed now, I expect that she would indulge in more if she could.
Thanks for your curiosity. I look forward to reading more insights into the various stages of drug use.
I used to be a real uptight guy before Weed. The whole legal/illegal issue doesn't really concern me. Weed is good, everything else is bad. Except for mushrooms, I have to try that soon. The bible is all aliens and drugs, really. God never wrote anything, he doesn't use pens, I'm sure. BTW, my pen is black, what color is yours?
P.S.
If you want to see a Discussion Thread of "Celebrity Rehab", here's a good link
It's the Dr. Drew Show on VH1
Celebrity Rehab
http://forums.vh1.com/vh1/board?board.id=8f962025…
I WILL WARN YOU. there are "haters" on here (ie. saying there's no such thing as an addiction, etc.). but, the "value" I think you'll find in this is the people who have "struggled" and made it—who are trying to offer words of encouragement to those Celebrities with an Addiction.
Maybe if your heart tells you, you could PM one of those posters for "advice"?!?! Just throwing it out for what it's worth.
Well, I cannot tell you from "first hand" experience (ie myself),
HOWEVER I had a VERY DEAR friend that suffered from Alcoholism for YEARS. And when I say "suffered" he LITERALLY was drinking 24+ beers a DAY! He owns his own business, he only has about 3,000 TOTAL World wide customers he can call on, he's been in the business for 15+ years, so it definitely "enabled" him to have Lot's of free time on his hands. (and still make a living—so he never hit bottom becuase of income).
The way I handled it, is I NEVER "preached" to him. (That's one thing I've read/heard)—A person addicted to ANYTHING does not "believe" they are addicted…(or obviously they'd fix it) .so "Preaching" won't work.
So, how I handled it—is whenever I was with him, I'd NEVER have a sip of beer. He'd order a pitcher, poor two glasses and "demand" I have one with him .("Demand" in a brotherly way–I've known him almost 30-years)
Finally (sadly) it took him having renal failure, where he did not use the bathroom for 2-3 days got INTENSELY sick and ended up in the E.R. in Intensive Care for over a week. to "Wake him up". Literally the Doctor sat down with him and told him
You have 2-choices. 1-You can continue to drink and "YOU WILL DIE BECAUSE OF IT" or you can quit, and you'll live a healthy life (because despite ending up in E.R. God Blessed him without any long term bodily damages).
Another thing, you gotta figure out a way—to keep your loved one AWAY FROM ANYONE that could POSSIBLY be a conduit for them to find a "source"—completely get them CUT OFF.
ALSO and this is the hard part, you're not gonna get them to help themselves until they are willing to admit they have a problem. With my friend—I treated him like "feeding a squirrel"—I let HIM broach the subject—of "I think I have a problem"–the first time, I acted "dumb" and was "why do you say that"—so I let him "think out loud" so he heard himself say the words (vs. ME telling him what I saw)—each time, he did that…I'd "GENTLY" say "yeah, I can see that, I agree"…then would try to "talk him down" by saying "Well, why don't you do this, you're drinking 24 beers a day now…why not try to go a month and only do 12-beers a day (yes, I know sounds absurd for a "rational" person–bur for him it was a challenge).
He admitted that he had to quit cold turkey or not at all..he knew himself well enough that "ramping down" would not work.
He even thought of trying to rent a cabin in the Mountains for 30-days and Isolating himself off to "withdraw"–but the Renal Failure Came first.
One thing you will find, is that there are MANY different "schools of thought".
Some say "tough love" others have different view points. *ME* and only *ME personally I don't' agree with "tough love" becuase God gave me too soft a heart for my own good. and I also believe that, someone who's addicted (and REALLY WANTS to get help)—they DESPERATELY NEED someone to lean on BAD—really BAD—I mean, if they pick you, you might have to answer the phone at 3 a.m. to go to their house and just hang out and talk to help them get their mind off their addiction. .
Have you heard of IAMSECOND? GREAT site of Christian Testimonies.
Depending on where your loved one falls (ie. have they admitted they have a problem and want help, or they failed it admit?).
Have them watch this video. Brian Welch of KOrn
http://www.iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Brian_Welch/
He gave up *EVERYTHING*—worldly riches, A "Rock Star" life, etc. All becuase of his addiction to drugs!
GOOD LUCK with your loved one…takes LOTS of patience, but I believe God will provide you the strength to Shepperd them.
@ranthony685… thanks for this bro.