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Drug problem nearly ruins life
Guest Writer
Name withheld by request
I am writing in hopes of opening your eyes about a very
real plague currently threatening many of our students. The plague I refer
to is the rising use of drugs and the resultant effect this is having
on our student body.
Unfortunately, I speak from firsthand knowledge. I formerly experimented
with a number of drugs, attended parties where drugs were present and
have seen everything from casual smokers to individuals with syringes
in their arms.
I have seen friends arrested, been frisked myself, narrowly missed GBI
drug busts and most recently learned that my best friend had to be admitted
to Windwood because of a drug addiction. Statistics from Windwood for
drug-related admissions, ER drug related deaths and Narcotics Anonymous
meetings are everyday events here in Rome.
If you think I am some over-reactive do-gooder, be assured I am not. If
you are currently using drugs, your natural inclination is to dismiss
what others say for many reasons. You may think things like "What
would they know? They haven't even tried drugs." or "It's my
body, I can do what I want." I know all the reasons. I felt the same
way until last week.
Hard facts are usually not enough to get people to change their behavior.
After all, we have all had the DARE program. Consider the number of individuals
that continue smoking cigarettes even with dire warnings on the package.
For some of us, knowledge just isn't enough. We have to push the envelope.
I have just begun to realize that I stopped playing with drugs just short
of ruining my life. A series of events happening over the past six months
led to one rather profound finale for me. I was called to an addiction
center by one of my closest friends. He had been admitted for inpatient
treatment. We had shared many parties and drug experiences. At the same
time, parts of the extended crowd of acquaintances I know and had been
hanging out with were getting arrested.
Another friend I found in a back room at a party with a syringe in his
arm. It was then I realized everyone goes to jail, gets hooked or dies.
The clincher was confronting my friend, syringe still in his arm. I said,
"Man, what the hell are you doing?" He replied, "There's
nothing wrong with this." In my mind something clicked and I realized
just how abnormal all this was.
The next weekend I received the call from my best friend from the addiction
center at the hospital. I visited with both him and his family. It was
extremely upsetting to see his parents crying. I could only envision how
my parents would react. Many of the stories my friend shared of other
residents' problems with addictions and persistent flashbacks from various
potions they had sniffed or snorted were vivid evidence of the destructive
potential of drugs. I couldn't help but envision my life being reduced
to what I saw in their situations.
Two of my other friends are planning to join the military to get away
from Rome and hopefully structure their lives and straighten themselves
out. Unfortunately, I imagine their constant use of drugs is out of control
and they have so many health problems they may not pass the entry tests
or drug testing requirements.
The problem has taken on the drama of movies for me. Fortunately, I was
not the main character, but a supporting actor. Perhaps this is why my
vantage point allowed for more observation and reflection. If you have
never received calls from friends in the hospital due to their last OD,
you might dismiss what I'm saying. I saw firsthand the heartbreak of a
family hearing their son say to a therapy group, "Hi, My name is
______, and I am an addict."
I'm leaving this article unsigned because I'm not yet ready for everyone
to identify this story with me. The contents of this article are very
real and would hurt my family a great deal. I'm not proud of my actions,
but I am doing something positive about them. The Narcotics Anonymous
handbook says that part of recovery is helping others with your problem.
I believe that in sharing my experience perhaps I can help someone avoid
addiction. It gives me a completely different high that I don't feel bad
about the next day.
No worthwhile activity carries the risk of arrest, police raids, going
to jail, being expelled from school or disappointing or hurting the people
closest to me.
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