One of my friends was a crackhead and alcoholic. She struggles with the alcohol part of it, not the crack. And even though she's clean, her mind is not always sober and she makes really stupid decisions. It's hard for me to be her friend because her choices make NO sense to me. And that's how I know she's dry drunkin' pretty hard.

dseann said:

Pinkcashmere, God bless you and keep up the good work. I, like Superman got fed up of being a loser and got myself together. We might have different reasons for shaking the dirt off our lives but the aims remains the same. A return to sanity. Addicts can get better and the more distance put between our last high makes it easier to persevere.

True dat.

dseann said:

nursev said:

I can honestly say that I have never used drugs, but I can understand why some people do. Life is hard-some need other ways to deal with it. For all those who have gotten help I know it wasn't easy and im glad u did.

Curiosity led me to drugs, not hard life. Don't believe the hype.

that too

aardvark15 said:

In the words of Rick James [img:$uid]http://i239.pho.../img:$uid]

theblueangel said:

I have many friends who are recovering addicts, from substances ranging from crack to heroin to crystal meth. Regardless of the drug, recovery is possible - not easy, but possible. And yes, once an addict, always an addict, which is why it's vital to find a 12-step recovery group (in my case, Narcotics Anonymous) and attend regularly and diligently work the 12 steps.

On July 20, 2013, I will have 5 years clean from a crystal meth and pot addiction that nearly killed me and completely ruined my life. Today I have a better, more full life than I ever could have imagined, even before I started using.

So yes, it is possible - but it requires a lot of work.

Not true.

For the record, I don't consider myself an addict. It was just a period in my life.

The thing I hate about the 12 step recovery movement is the belief that "addicts" are somehow different to the rest of the population. You hear "addicts" talking about the "normies", people who aren't addicts and don't do the things that "addicts" do. Whilst addicts can tend to be more extreme in their behaviour, most of the population of the world is sufferring because of their self centred identification with their own thoughts and beliefs. Obvious addiction is just one expression of that self centred identification. In this respect most of the worlds population are "addicts". They are addicted to their own thoughts and beliefs.

The them and "normies" talk just reminds me of the them and us talk of different cultures, nationalities and religions. It's divisive.

If people have found peace in the 12 steps then that's great.

KoolEaze said:

I wonder how so many celebrities can smoke crack occasionally and then give it up easily without any obvious signs of addiction.

George Michael for instance openly admitted that he used to smoke crack sometimes but he doesn´t seem to be addicted to it, nor did he ruin his voice or general health.

The actors Tom Hardy and Samuel Jackson used to smoke crack as well. From my understanding it did caused some problems in both of their lives though.

theblueangel said:

I have many friends who are recovering addicts, from substances ranging from crack to heroin to crystal meth. Regardless of the drug, recovery is possible - not easy, but possible. And yes, once an addict, always an addict, which is why it's vital to find a 12-step recovery group (in my case, Narcotics Anonymous) and attend regularly and diligently work the 12 steps.

On July 20, 2013, I will have 5 years clean from a crystal meth and pot addiction that nearly killed me and completely ruined my life. Today I have a better, more full life than I ever could have imagined, even before I started using.

So yes, it is possible - but it requires a lot of work.

well done

ConsciousContact said:

The thing I hate about the 12 step recovery movement is the belief that "addicts" are somehow different to the rest of the population. You hear "addicts" talking about the "normies", people who aren't addicts and don't do the things that "addicts" do. Whilst addicts can tend to be more extreme in their behaviour, most of the population of the world is sufferring because of their self centred identification with their own thoughts and beliefs. Obvious addiction is just one expression of that self centred identification. In this respect most of the worlds population are "addicts". They are addicted to their own thoughts and beliefs.

The them and "normies" talk just reminds me of the them and us talk of different cultures, nationalities and religions. It's divisive.

If people have found peace in the 12 steps then that's great.

While I respect your opinion, I can say No, most of the world’s population are not addicts. Not everyone who uses drugs becomes addicted, but substance abuse can cause problems for individuals whether they are technically addicted or not. An addict is one whose life has become totally unmanageable due to an outside integer that is literally CONTROLLING their life. A true DRUG ADICT USE TO LIVE AND LIVE TO USE. Your thoughts have a lot to do with your addiction, but beliefs, morals & values go out the window. Addiction can best be described as a compulsive continued use of a drug or substance and a complete inability to stop. An addict is a person who is controlled by a drug or substance. Yes it is divisive because there IS a difference between one who can drink socially that the one who can not start their day without a drink. Or the one who may snort a line once or twice a week than the one who is pawning the kid’s play station, what about the one who takes the prescribed dose of Zanax or the one who eats her whole 30 day prescription in 2 days. Are those the same people?

Yes, you can use the 12 steps to any facet of your life by just replace the word drug with whatever's making your life uncontrollable, be it relationships, gambling, food, sex... whatever. Yes, we are different, the drugs have COMPLETELY changed our brain chemistry to believe we are not hurting ourselves or anyone else, it’s our life and what do you have to do with it? In the NA rooms all through our usage, we told ourselves, “I can handle it.” Even if this was true in the beginning, it is not so now. The drugs handled us. Very simply, an addict is a person whose life is controlled by drugs.

PPl always talk about the saying “Once an addict, always an addict.” being held as not being true because ppl think that means actually using drugs but that’s not it. It means once you stop using it would be advisable not to use or start using any other drug or alcohol because addiction to THAT drug is likely. Then return to your original substance is probable.