ThreadCula said:

I'm just glad she got her shit together, she was in SO MUCH PAIN over losing her kids. I mean I know she had been an actress in the past but it was pretty devastating to see how her alcoholism controlled her life. She couldn't even attend an event that lasted 2 hours, constantly evaluating how she was gonna hold it together - exausting!! Luckily she didn't break any bones when she was falling down drunk after the school incident

I watch it sometimes, but often have to turn it. It's too upsetting. I have someone very close to me who is a cocaine/crack addict. The stories I could tell you...it's very hard for family and friends of addicts to sit back and watch their loved ones self destruct. It's maddening. You just want to take them and beat the shit out of them, then hold them prisoner so they won't go out and use anymore.

dustysgirl said:

You know I was thinking recently that it must be hard to watch for anyone who's actually dealt w/ this kind of thing in their own life b/c you have something painful & real to relate it to... not that it's not real to me but I haven't LIVED it. I hear you

dustysgirl said:

dustysgirl said:

maybe you should call the show. they give a number out at the end, it's worth a try right?

Shorty said:

There's no way the addict in my life would ever go for that. I've went to some Naranon meetings and learned that every time I was helping the addict get out trouble, I was helping him get high. You have to let the addict face the music. Let them hit rock bottom, so they can (hopefully) climb out.

This is from soberrecovery.com:

"What addicts do"


My name's Jon. I'm an addict. And this is what addicts do. You cannot nor will not change my behavior. You cannot make me treat you better, let alone with any respect. All I care about, all I think about, is my needs and how to go about fufilling them. You are a tool to me, something to use. When I say I love you I am lying through my teeth, because love is impossible for someone in active addiction. I wouldn't be using if I loved myself, and since I don't, I cannot love you.

My feelings are so pushed down and numbed by my drugs that I could be considered sociopathic. I have no empathy for you or anyone else. It doesn't faze me that I hurt you, leave you hungry, lie to you, cheat on you and steal from you.

My behavior cannot and will not change until i make a decison to stop using/drinking and then follow it up with a plan of action.

And until I make that decsion, I will hurt you again and again and again.

Stop being surprised.

I am an addict. And that's what addicts do.

I cried when I first read that, because it is so painfully true.

dustysgirl said:

well...I don't think in any intervention type situation if the addicts were ever asked before hand if they'd go for it they'd say yes. It's always a sneak attack type of thing.
I totally hear what your saying but....but it's worth a try isn't it? Have they not hit bottom yet?

Shorty said:

I guess not. Some negative things have happened though. Been arrested twice, but got probation both times. At this point, probably wasted thousands of dollars on dope. House foreclosed. Car repossessed. Got another house and car. Suspended from job for absences numerous times. Never been fired. Gave car to a dope boy for about $60 worth of rock. Didn't get car back till a week later. Gave cell phone a way twice that I know of. Ended up getting it back.

When I hear that he is out, I almost wish that he would get caught in some drug house and get in serious trouble. I've seen his car a few times at known drug houses. I've written the addresses down and called the "anonymous drug tipster line," in my town and reported that they were drug houses. One of the houses did get raided recently, but my loved one was not there at the time.

He was at my house this summer, and I went out to move his car, and apparently he didn't know it, but there was a rock wrapped up in plastic on the floor of the car. While he was inside, I ran and put it in my burn pit and set it on fire. Then went in the house and told him what I found and what I did, and freaked out at him for bringing that shit onto my property. He said that he didn't know it was there. Of course not, because I'm sure he would have smoked it.

dustysgirl said:

man...that sux. sounds like a young guy? no kids, no family? Thank god for that if that's the case. Unfortunately I don't think going to jail will help either....
good luck to you and your loved one.

CalhounSq said:

THATS a reality show in the flesh...not this made up celebrity crap. Ive know people like that, VERY real.