The drug culture & I

[rat]

Since I've been here, I've considered my connection to the drug world.

First, everyone in my family is either a user or an addict. Everyone I grew up with is a user or an addict. The same with everyone I know. My girlfriend is an addict as well. I have never known anyone past the age of 18 who doesn't use drugs.

So, what are your experiences?

[Peter]

I quit using more than ten years ago and I am still surrounded by users and addicts or former users and addicts. It seems everyone I know has some form of chemical dependence....... from tobacco to crack. Alcohol to pills.

The only other people I can think of who are totally free of chemicals (I presume) are some "religious fanatic" types and it is quite debatable whether this is not in itself another form of addiction and escapism

[Ric]

Just my cousin was a drug addict. So, it was strange how I turned out.
But honestly, I didn't really choose to use.
I was given heavy Opiates by my Dr. and honestly, I didn't know what the long term effects of them were.

I got dependent, then abused then was addicted. So I didn't go the usual route with drugs.

Hell, I never even drank or used weed before I was Rx'ed opiates.

[Spiritual Seeker]

Well, contrary to peter's opinion I am not and never have been a "religious fanatic"
So you see a lot of us never get addicted. And I suppose we attract the same becasue none of my friends have ever been addicts or alkies.
I didn't drink or do drugs in high school. In college graduate school I did use one prescription with 30 pills of "black beauties" to help me stay up all night and study, but the bottle lasted two & half yrs. I didn't drink at all til my 40s and then and now only socially at dinner or parties and no more that 2 glasses. Suprise Suprise, my only child is. Go figure. My parents didn't have a problem with substances either.

[jadeite]

I've had bosses, neighbors, lovers, and friends that have used one thing or another all through my adult life. I've moved out of houses to get away from a using neighbor only to move right next door to someone who would leave stuff for me outside my door. I would leave a boyfriend who used only to marry a man (I found out after we said, "I do") who now uses throughout the day every day. I recently quit a job where my boss would regularly give me pills to start the day. I can tell you how many houses on my block are occupied by users and what they use... and I live in a very "desirable" neighborhood. Even my dog walker can get just about anything anytime. The only people I have met in my life where illegal drug use isn't the norm have been extremely religious and judgmental christians... even some of them use... just the only "community" I have been exposed to in years where the numbers of users seemed small. I have begun to wonder if this is some kind of "life challenge" for me... to say no even though no matter where I go it seems everyone else is saying yes.

[ccgirl]

My dad and all three brothers are/were alcoholics. I don't drink a drop. I just found a different drug of choice.

[formergolf99]

Originally Posted by Peter

The only other people I can think of who are totally free of chemicals (I presume) are some "religious fanatic" types and it is quite debatable whether this is not in itself another form of addiction and escapism

I find that people of 'faith' are much more happier than non-believers. They also (as a whole) make better decisions concerning their family and life. I have always admired the true dedication the 'believers' have.
With that said, I've never considered them as 'fanatics'. Sure, there are fanatics in every aspect of society...sports, drugs, work, hobbies...etc. But I would be more comfortable with a believer in a role of leadership versus a non-believer. I really have tried to live my sober life as a good Christian and live the line...'treat others as you would want to be treated'.

[woops]

"I find that people of 'faith' are much more happier than non-believers. They also (as a whole) make better decisions concerning their family and life."

I just cannot agree with you here at all, Golfie.

No way could I say that people of faith are either happier - in general - than those who have no faith. Nor could I agree that those same people make better decisions concerning family and life. In fact - perhaps - in some cases - they may make considerably worse decisions. Faith being used quite cynically for selfish ends. Also applicable generally............
I reflect on a certain card carrying so called christian who claims to be leader of the free world (what an arrogant, false - just plain daft statement!) - many of his decisions are supposedly based on his "faith" and just look at those decisions and their consequences. And on the other side - we find card carrying eastern religious people who are happy to justify acts which are just as immoral with the most dire consequences.
Sometimes religion is used as a good excuse to do just what you want................. and to blazes with the consequences - cos it's God's wishes..... So very convenient? Imagine such a simplistic God?
Hey Golfie - am not seeking to be inflammatory - just felt I had to respond......
Also - I speak from a country which does not "have" faith as it seems to be in your country - we just dont see that sort of sleeve wearing of religion as you do - so perhaps that explains a little?
In fact - the Mayfair was full of Puritans who were being excluded from our society - for people would not tolerate their single minded approach to their faith - and they indeed were the founding fathers of the US.

Take care, Golfie! Am just taking off now myself to play a tie. Money on this one - so fingers crossed....................

woops

[T1]

I have to agree with woops

[liveweyerd]

now....back to the topic.....

Considering iced tea a drug (caffeine), aspirin etc..............ummmm, no I cannot think of anyone I know who does not use some sort of drug.

But I know many who are responsible, honest people of integrity. And happy.

And I know alot who aren't.

All I really wanted to say is....let's not get this thread closed for getting off track and being inflammatory.

I do have an opionion, but it is my opinion.........live and let live?

[woops]

Of course it was the Mayflower - what on earth did I write...............
Toooooooooo embarrassed! Humble apologies.

"if you are a bible believing Christian you are either crazy, stupid, a fanatic and should be shunned and by no means in a position of leadership in any public office."

No - I dont think this is true at all. People with honestly held faith who are true to that faith (and all those implications of loving your neighbour and being tolerant and non judgemental) are held in great esteem. Not shunned at all. Quite the opposite. But so often - people who proclaim christianity - simply do not display charity toward their fellow man - and again we see signs of that all the time. Love of your fellow man will allow you to live in harmony with your neighbours all over the world. If people were true to their christian faith - we simply would not have war. Too often christian leaders (in society) become bully boys and end up hell bent on achieving their own ends - using the cover of religion - any excuse, I guess.
No - I have not had bad personal experiences of christians - far from it - and I was brought up in a Scottish Convent school - where I was very happy and diligent.
Thank you for your prayers and I of course will reciprocate.
Take care BHB
Be happy
Show it
woops

[rat]

Thanks everyone for the great reponses! To clarify, I should have mentioned that I was only speaking of recreational stuff, not penicilian or asprin or things of like nature.

I quite agree, Christianity is how you live it, not what you say. The Christians in my family all drank, but looked down on dope, as if the substance you used was more important then the behaviors that led you to using.

[Dilberto]

I have not been doing well, lately. I'm still clean- but I feel I am dangerously close to using again. Why? Because a month ago, I was working a little, "recovery" job at a local auto parts store....which I loved- only because it was so busy there, I stayed outside of my head, every day. Well, one day a local casino called me, and said they wanted to offer me a great position in their information technology(IT) department(my real background), paying about $70,000/yr. Now you have to first realize that this new offer pays over FIVE TIMES what my little, "recovery job" pays now. I was so excited that I immediately put my notice in, at the auto parts store. In fact, I even provided the store with a qualified replacement(also in recovery). Well....here is where "my head" screwed me up BIG TIME; As we all know- all casino jobs require very extensive background checks, drug tests, credit reports, etc. I passed the drug test- no problem, filled out their 30-page job application as thoroughly as I felt I could, and disclosed my arrest history, and explained any jail time. I squeezed by the credit report satisfactorily, but then ran into delays on the criminal and background check. Well, three days into work at this wonderful new job-the results finally come in....and it was NOT GOOD. In fact, I was terminated- because I failed to disclose a lousy misdemeanor,"disturbing the peace" charge I completely forgot about! What did I do? I got depressed...because I gave up a perfectly good job, and wound-up jobless now, as a result. Many people, including my own family, tells it(not getting the casino job) was a blessing-in-disguise, but I certainly did not take it thay way at all. I stopped attending meetings, I isolated myself inside my room all day, surfing porn, and sleeping-in until 3PM.....all my OLD BEHAVIORS coming back to me again. I had no motivation, or drive to recover.

Looking back at where I went wrong on this whole thing, and I realize now that this ordeal was purely the result of doing things MY WAY again. My HEAD got the best of me again, and I simply got resentful at my higher power, for that Godshot, recently. I basically neglected the will of God, and left it to myself- for resolution, but instead accomplished NOTHING for an entire month. I have no excuse for doing what I did to myself. Can anybody here relate?

-Zach

[liveweyerd]

Rat, I understand. I think I was just trying to lighten things up.

So to answer your real question, yeah I know alot of clean people. In that, I am counting social drinkers.

[GratefulGirl]

my mom is an alcoholic but everyone, including her, is in denial about it. like a few others have said - in my family alcohol was fine, anything else wasnt..so, i started drinking early..was attracted to people that drank and used..like jadeite said, it seems everywhere i turn there are drugs. when i moved to memphis, i moved right next door to a crack dealer..when i moved to another house in memphis, i moved in right next door to a drug dealer again. its everywhere - this city is absolutely saturated, even in the "nicer" areas.