by flipper 25 Replies latest jw friends
Gregor,
I am slowly resigning myself to what you say. Someone very dear to me is addicted.
I have often said that I don't "hate" anyone. But with regards to those that make and sell meth, "hate" is the only word I can use to describe my feelings toward them. I believe they may eventually undermine our society. They are taking our young ones now. Responsibility can be spread around some, but I place the bulk of it on their shoulders. They deserve to be hung, and I'd like to watch.
Watson
Meth is some scary stuff. Oklahoma was at one point one of the very worst states for meth addicts. There was actually one smart piece of legislation that came out of this state (I don't know if it started here, but it was adopted pretty early) -the removal of pseudoephedrine from general sales in stores and pharmacies. It actually made a dent in the meth production coming out of Oklahoma. However, production may be down but we still have a huge number of 'tweakers' addicted in my area.
We went to Target just last night and in the checkout line in front of us was a family of three, father mother and a young child about my daughters age. Mom and dad were tweaking pretty bad and had all the signs of addiction: super thin, horrible skin condition and meth mouth. Once upon a time I would have looked and thought of them as just plain poor, but sadly not now. I say sad because once the physical characteristics are noticeable in the parents many times the child is suffering from the effects and child services is not far behind.
Even worse for me was the conversation my six year old started out of the blue, also yesterday. We're driving home from school and she states that where she used to live in Texas she used to see shoes hanging from the wires over the streets all the time. At one time I had no idea what that meant but my wife told me that in a conversation she had at the hospital (she's a nurse at the hospital that does the surgeries on state and county prisoners) with a prison guard and a local city police officer she was told that shoes tied at the laces and thrown over telephone or electrical wires were a sign that a drug dealer was in the neighborhood. Anyway, in the conversation I had with my daughter I found out that she was trained to look for the shoes and she didn't understand why she doesn't see them between our house and her school. It pissed me off to no end that her bio parents had even involved her in their addictions. It's just one more reason I'm glad she's out of that environment.
Any drug addiction is tough to watch if you care about the person. I take b-amphetamine (prescribed for ADD) but it doesn't affect me like I have been told speed or crank does, even though I do become more efficient. If I go a few days without it I get irritable easily so I can understand the difficulty in coming off, although I think my source of irritation is the 300 different things that are in my head at once.
I'm trying to help a friend come off an alcohol/meth/coke problem right now, it's only been a week and he's here with me where I can help him, we'll see how it goes.
Getting him to see the problem is within was the first challenge, now the depression and cravings are starting to come into play. The hard part for me is having to act like a guardian to a friend, or take the lead of someone elses life when I am not satisfied with my own.
Better than burying him without even trying.
WLG
Thanks for all your responses folks ! This surely is of serious concern to all of us in our society. Especially if we know someone hooked.
GRETCHEN 956- Thanks Sherry for your post. I'm so sorry this bad evil happened to your brother. Heroin and Meth are both bad drugs for people. Hearing experiences like you related should scare some people straight.
LISA BO BEESA- I too saw my ex wife treat her children horribly. They were emotionally abused and just as messed up as she was. it truly is a very hard habit to break. I'm so glad for you that your husband broke free from it's hold on him, and recovered. Good luck to you, Peace too.
AWAKE & WATCHING- I hear what you are saying about it destroying people you cared about. Even though it destroyed my second marriage, I surely learned a lot from the experience. Now even though I've never done one drug, I can usually pick out a person doing them.
JK666- Yes I agree with you JK. I have seen people strung out on crank too. They get nervous twitches , blink at you, can't stay still , always have to be doing something constantly. Nervous all the time.
OOMPA- Sorry to hear about your uncle Oompa. He still delivered wine and beer though ? Interesting .
SIRONA- People definitely need drug counseling and rehab if they are to overcome the addictions. That is the kindest thing that can be done for a person who is addicted.
GREGOR- A drug counselor I discussed this with agreed with what you said . I was told there is a very low success rate of breaking meth addiction.
JEFF T. - It seems that crank and crack are terribly addictive. Hopefully some will read these experiences and get help if they need it !
WATSON- I'm so sorry someone close to you is addicted. It truly is an evil drug which must be eradicated. I'd also like to break the balls of all the drug suppliers !
RISING EAGLE- Wow! Hanging shoes by shoelaces over electric wires means there is a drug addict around ? Crazy that your daughter had to be around that. So glad you got her out of that environment.
WANDERLUST GUY- It's good you are helping your friend try to get clean from drugs. It's a big load for your shoulders though. But even if you have to act like a guardian, you are still being a best friend to him too, by caring enough to help him get clean. Good luck to you ! Peace out, Mr. Flipper
Yes, my son. The consequences of drug addiction are deep and horrible. But lately it's been too close to home to talk about right now. All I'll say to anyone who is reading who is addicted, don't fool yourself. You are ruining your health and relationships with everyone you care about. Own up to it before you lose everything. And then, don't try and beat it alone. You will need an extensive support group to help you past the cravings. You won't have to be past the drugs for long to start tasting how sweet real life is. Remember that, and hang on to those good memories.
I used to do a little but the little wouldn't do so the little got more and more
It's just that easy,one bad choice followed by another, soon it's a physical dependency , it's not fun anymore, it just takes and takes until you are all taken, empty inside looking out while the world goes on , no one wants me or loves me , I'm dead inside ,the only thing that numbs the pain is more of what is killing me.
That is the most dark and hopeless place, the living death that is the existence of an addict.
Been one . been a liar and thief . done unspeakable things that took parts of my soul and burned them in front of me,
Only one thing can save an addict LOVE
It's easy to hate what you don't understand , but it's hard to love all that pain away, it's really hard to forgive yourself and love yourself.
I'm recovering and things do get normal, better than normal if you learn the lesson that addiction is.
To all the fallen , may the Creator show you mercy and save you from yourself
If they are truly addicted to meth they are goners. period. Too late, bye bye.
Sorry, Gregor. I disagree.
My husband is a recovered methamphetamine user. He used for a number of years as a teen, and young adult. He slammed crystal, and was high daily. He's been sober for 17 years.
He lived a helluva life while he was addicted, in and out of jails, saw the death of a few friends from various drugs. He is a survivor. He quit cold turkey.
Edited to say, that if an addict truly wants to stop taking drugs, he will find it within themselves to do it, and get the help they need. But not until they are absolutely ready.
My husband was more than ready. He hated himself for doing the drugs, hated what the drug was doing to him, and hated that he was disappointing his family.
I hate meth, I hate the people who cook it.
My sister is now in AA and NA, and I hope she makes it, but our family is so tired of her crap. She has burnt us out on helping her. She has made it very dificult to "like" her or "love" her.
She was dealing for a while too, not meth (that I know of), and her not-boyfriend--god what a F&%ktard. She really got mixed up with bad people, and kept making bad-destructive choices, compounding her problems. Her chaos was like a life sucking black hole. She may be clean now, and I hope she is, but her underlying mental instability is just OMG! My partner hates her and her crap, but a small part of me still holds hope that she can climb out of this pitt.
I don't believe that these people can be helped until they are first ready to help themselves, and that means not making things worse.
JG NAT- I'm so sorry someone you love is suffering an addiction. I hope they see the need to get help like all people who have an addiction , before it's too late !
BLUEVICEROY- I'm glad to hear you are recovering and are healing. I feel for you that you were tormented for years. My wife and I send our unconditional love to you, my friend. Hang in there, keep up the good work !
DELILAH- I'm sorry to hear your husband went through that. I'm so glad for you and your family that you have him back whole again. To quit cold turkey took a lot of courage and willpower. Please send him My and Mrs. Flippers love, and may he, you, and your family continue to have peace.
DARK UNCLE 29- It's true your sister has to be ready to quit . The old adage, " You can lead a horse to water, etc., etc. " But I hope she gets the help she needs soon for her own welfare and for the peace of the family. My heart goes out to you friend. Peace out to you and good luck, Peace out, Mr. Flipper
lisaB and Delilah. There are exceptions to every rule and you know I wish anyone well that has overcome it. But for all intents and purposes my statement is true. Meth addiction is like jumping out of an airplane with no parachute. Once in a great while someone lands in a haystack.
