The Needle and the Damage Done - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Emimily · 07-11-2008, 02:43 PM

we lost someone on friday, july 4th 2008.

my ex-boyfriend Andy died of a heroin overdose in the apartment we used to share. they found his body tuesday. we broke up in april. he relapsed the day after i left, although he'd been on the road to ruin for a while. he wasn't thirty yet. he really wanted sobriety when i met him. we moved fast, as alcoholics and addicts do. i loved him very much, as did our tribe. we will be deeply missed.

this is what happens when we don't take care of ourselves, when we aren't vigilant, when we don't live life on life's terms - we die. but for the grace of god it wasn't me, since he relapsed on beer. beer turned to bourbon turned to weed turned to crack turned to overdose.

so be grateful if you've got this 24. and send some love out to all those sick and suffering.

tommyk · 07-11-2008, 02:49 PM

Unfortunately some addicts need to die in order for the rest of us to live.

Don't let his death be meaningless, jails-institutions-death is not just a phrase.

Thanks for sharing, the next time I play that song (I'll play it tonight in fact) it will be dedicated to him.

RobbyRobot · 07-11-2008, 04:00 PM

sorry your friend Andy is gone, Emimily. i remember the friends i have lost as well. good strong message, thanks, we can never hear it too much. Peace.

tommyk · 07-11-2008, 04:41 PM

I just played & sang the song.

I caught you knockin'
at my cellar door
I love you, baby,
can I have some more
Ooh, ooh, the damage done.

I hit the city and
I lost my band
I watched the needle
take another man
Gone, gone, the damage done.

I sing the song
because I love the man
I know that some
of you don't understand
Milk-blood
to keep from running out.

I've seen the needle
and the damage done
A little part of it in everyone
But every junkie's
like a settin' sun. ... they're goin' on down.

serenityqueen · 07-11-2008, 05:21 PM

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of Andy. I'd like to thank you for sharing this tragedy with us.

We all think it will never happen to us . . . I imagine Andy thought the same thing.

Every one of us needs to remember that we all have another relapse/use in us, but no one is guaranteed another day clean . . . and alive.

Prayers to you and Andy's family,
Judy

ccgirl2 · 07-11-2008, 05:43 PM

Oh, Em, I'm so very sorry.

rickardo · 07-11-2008, 06:37 PM

I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you can understand I have gained from it. Recovering herion addict...clean 1 1/2 years...and still day by day. Thankyou for sharing, and reminding me that it could also be me.

exjunky · 07-12-2008, 05:53 AM

I'm so sorry.

windysan · 07-12-2008, 05:55 AM

sucks

bvaljalo · 07-13-2008, 01:49 AM

I'm so sorry to hear this news, Emimily.

Let us know if there's anything we can do, okay?

Thank you for the stark reminder of the fact that ...

There, but for the Grace of God, go us all.

sk8rvirgo · 07-13-2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emimily

we lost someone on friday, july 4th 2008.

my ex-boyfriend Andy died of a heroin overdose in the apartment we used to share. they found his body tuesday. we broke up in april. he relapsed the day after i left, although he'd been on the road to ruin for a while. he wasn't thirty yet. he really wanted sobriety when i met him. we moved fast, as alcoholics and addicts do. i loved him very much, as did our tribe. we will be deeply missed.

this is what happens when we don't take care of ourselves, when we aren't vigilant, when we don't live life on life's terms - we die. but for the grace of god it wasn't me, since he relapsed on beer. beer turned to bourbon turned to weed turned to crack turned to overdose.

so be grateful if you've got this 24. and send some love out to all those sick and suffering.

I am truly sorry to hear about the loss of your friend....I am speechless at the moment but wanted to reiterate your last sentence....be grateful that you've got this 24 and reach out to those who are sick and suffering. Truer words could not be spoken..

My condolonces go out to you and his family.

**margo** · 07-13-2008, 10:19 PM

My condolences to you, Emimily. I recently lost my brother Michael under similar circumstances and it hurts all the more to know that they didn't have to die, if only they had believed in themselves and not picked up. I'm sorry for your loss.

tsukiko · 07-14-2008, 05:58 AM

I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost a friend to a heroin OD and my best friend lost her brother in June, just after I'd done cold turkey. If I reeled off all the mates and people I've known died due to drug ODs or drug related incidents I'd be here a long time. Its an occupational hazard for a user, unfortunatly.

My thoughts are with you. We're the lucky ones.

07-11-2008, 02:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Emimily Silly Rabbit Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 762 Blog Entries: 6	The Needle and the Damage Done we lost someone on friday, july 4th 2008. my ex-boyfriend Andy died of a heroin overdose in the apartment we used to share. they found his body tuesday. we broke up in april. he relapsed the day after i left, although he'd been on the road to ruin for a while. he wasn't thirty yet. he really wanted sobriety when i met him. we moved fast, as alcoholics and addicts do. i loved him very much, as did our tribe. we will be deeply missed. this is what happens when we don't take care of ourselves, when we aren't vigilant, when we don't live life on life's terms - we die. but for the grace of god it wasn't me, since he relapsed on beer. beer turned to bourbon turned to weed turned to crack turned to overdose. so be grateful if you've got this 24. and send some love out to all those sick and suffering. __________________ "To take for permanent That which is only transitory Is like the delusion of a madman." -Kalu Rinpoche

07-11-2008, 02:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
tommyk www.youtube.com/teekmusic Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,158	Unfortunately some addicts need to die in order for the rest of us to live. Don't let his death be meaningless, jails-institutions-death is not just a phrase. Thanks for sharing, the next time I play that song (I'll play it tonight in fact) it will be dedicated to him. __________________ ...got God? Tough love = the truth. Don't shoot the messenger. Carry the message...!

07-11-2008, 04:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
tommyk www.youtube.com/teekmusic Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,158	I just played & sang the song. I caught you knockin' at my cellar door I love you, baby, can I have some more Ooh, ooh, the damage done. I hit the city and I lost my band I watched the needle take another man Gone, gone, the damage done. I sing the song because I love the man I know that some of you don't understand Milk-blood to keep from running out. I've seen the needle and the damage done A little part of it in everyone But every junkie's like a settin' sun. ... they're goin' on down. __________________ ...got God? Tough love = the truth. Don't shoot the messenger. Carry the message...!

07-11-2008, 05:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
serenityqueen Attitude of Gratitude Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 1,214	I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of Andy. I'd like to thank you for sharing this tragedy with us. We all think it will never happen to us . . . I imagine Andy thought the same thing. Every one of us needs to remember that we all have another relapse/use in us, but no one is guaranteed another day clean . . . and alive. Prayers to you and Andy's family, Judy __________________ *"It's Great to be the Queen!"*

07-12-2008, 05:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
exjunky Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 602	I'm so sorry. __________________ Is addiction a disease, or a choice? Who cares about semantics? If it's a disease, cure thyself. If it's a choice, make the right one.

07-11-2008, 04:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
RobbyRobot hello world Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Our little island... Posts: 355	sorry your friend Andy is gone, Emimily. i remember the friends i have lost as well. good strong message, thanks, we can never hear it too much. Peace.

07-11-2008, 05:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
ccgirl2 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: cape cod Posts: 2,313	Oh, Em, I'm so very sorry.

07-11-2008, 06:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
rickardo Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 5	I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you can understand I have gained from it. Recovering herion addict...clean 1 1/2 years...and still day by day. Thankyou for sharing, and reminding me that it could also be me.

07-12-2008, 05:55 AM	#9 (permalink)
windysan Large Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: La Posts: 3,547	sucks

07-13-2008, 01:49 AM	#10 (permalink)
bvaljalo YES WE DID!!! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: East Bay, California Posts: 1,442	I'm so sorry to hear this news, Emimily. Let us know if there's anything we can do, okay? Thank you for the stark reminder of the fact that ... There, but for the Grace of God, go us all. __________________ well across the fields and woods i'd run like a bullet from a rabbit gun back home to my bed and when mama come in from gettysburg her an' that new beau o' hers 'boy, you look like hell' was all she said ...

07-13-2008, 10:19 PM	#12 (permalink)
margo Forum Leader Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 1,747	My condolences to you, Emimily. I recently lost my brother Michael under similar circumstances and it hurts all the more to know that they didn't have to die, if only they had believed in themselves and not picked up. I'm sorry for your loss. __________________ Sometimes I go about in pity for myself, and all the while a great wind is bearing me across the sky. ~Ojibwe saying~

07-14-2008, 05:58 AM	#13 (permalink)
tsukiko In Vinculis Etiam Audax Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: London Posts: 88	I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost a friend to a heroin OD and my best friend lost her brother in June, just after I'd done cold turkey. If I reeled off all the mates and people I've known died due to drug ODs or drug related incidents I'd be here a long time. Its an occupational hazard for a user, unfortunatly. My thoughts are with you. We're the lucky ones.

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