Drug Addiction Stories & Info

Thank you for visiting this blog on drug addiction stories.

You will not be disappointed.

The drug addiction stories told on this blog are true or based on real events.  This site gives the reader the best insight and look into a drug addiction.  For too long the truth and real facts about drug addiction have been masked or hidden.  Too many people choose to avoid these truths, but we truly hope that by reading this blog you can get an insight and in turn help someone you love. These drug addiction stories are important, because they tell the stories of people experiencing the horror of a drug or alcohol addiction.

We hope you enjoy this blog, and please make comments on what you have read.

Must read drug addiction related articles:

• Top Ten Drug Addiction Myths
• David Bowie’s Cocaine Addiction
• Drug Addiction 101
• Top Ten Reasons People Use Drugs
• Top Ten Signs of Drug Addiction
  

Born in Alberta, 1982, and raised in British Columbia, Cory was, at the age of 5 able to read far in advance of his age.

However, with parents divorcing when he was 7, Cory was a troubled youth, who says that he went to around twelve schools before he was thirteen, including alternative programs. He was into drinking and drugging with his friends, and by the age of sixteen – this promising student quit school completely.

By age 19, worried family members put him into drug rehab, after an intervention, but Cory says – “I did the stint, but afterwards went back to exactly what I was doing before”.

 The turning point in Cory’s life – what might be called a spontaneous recovery, in fact was a result of many fortuitous circumstances happening at once, – enough to enable Cory to both question and then overcome the cycle of addiction that ruled his life. Not everyone is lucky enough to have everything in their favor,  at once, some will need professional, effective, and experienced help.

Having stolen money from family for drugs, he was told to get straight or he would be reported for theft to the police.

Knowing that he would be found out for the theft, Cory says that he now sees it as a cry for help – that was answered in terms that required him to take responsibility for his actions – to reconsider his drug abuse – and do something about it.

Although many children and youths flounder at that point, due to lack of effective support, Cory moved in with a family member, in a small town – where he was both offered employment as a roofer, and introduced to acting.

It was at this point that Cory decided that he was going to work out why he did drugs, to take a good look at his life. For the first time, Cory felt the satisfaction of “working hard” and being “good at something”.

see article: 

Monteith tells PARADE – a message for all – “I don’t want kids to think that it’s ok to drop out of school, get high – and that they will become famous actors too.”

In fact, for Cory there is, aside from the acting, a most important personal victory.

 He has obtained, through an alternative school – in Victoria, BC – his high school diploma.

And, in 2009, he re united with his father – after having virtually no contact with him, for over 17 years.

At some point Cory found forgiveness – of his parents and their faults.

It is often said that parents do the best that they can for their kids. It is not often that children can come to understand what this means – and totally forgive their parents for their mistakes, their failings.

Parents who do fail to love their children, and provide support, in every case will be found to have been, similarly deprived themselves.

As Cory says:  “At some point you realize that parents are human. They make the best decisions they can with the options available to them”.

It is for each and every one of us to take responsibility for our own lives, regardless of the conditions we suffered, in our family of origin.

Some people try drug rehab, do a “stint’ and fail to make a recovery. Recovery from drug addiction is not so much about giving up drugs, but about recovery from conditions that have made us feel unloved, and unlovable. It is about re-evaluating our lives – from a position of self esteem.

To a young child, abandonment issues, when a parent for whatever reason, is no longer there, can feel as bad as actual abuse from a parent who remains in the home.

As Narconon President Clarke Carr has said – in his experience -” drug addiction is most profoundly a consequence of a person lacking life skills.”

The understanding and confidence to deal with life often comes to people only after many years of reactive self abuse, and addiction.

For Cory, now a Canadian “star” – with many achievements on his record, the glitz and glamor of “stardom” holds very little attraction. Cory maintains sobriety – a balance and happiness.

see article: 

 ”I’ll go out, but I leave early, before the shenanigans. I really don’t do the Hollywood party thing”. 

“I’d rather watch sports, watch videogames, play sport, workout or sleep, to be honest”, he says.

Having a life of your own, that is hardworking and successful, that is independent of other people’s values, and what you feel that you “have to do” has been achieved by Cory.

For young people in Canada who have got themselves into drugs, and for their parents, the situation can feel overwhelming, with lack of communication, lack of understanding.

Not all drug rehab is the same, not all families have a capacity to provide that much needed help to those members who have turned to drugs, to parents who feel at a loss, unable to help their children.

Narconon is in Canada, an international alcohol and drug addiction recovery program that enables people of any age to become free of drug addiction. No matter what the history, or the type of drugs that have been abused, Narconon offers comprehensive help to enable complete addiction recovery.

see article:

The Narconon program provides thorough detox and full support – enables complete drug addiction recovery.

Graduates of the Narconon program have come to be and to realize that they are “good at something” – happy, contented and productive, in their chosen field.

Some might choose to go on and achieve a higher education,

but most importantly,

 Narconon graduates have self esteem – are completely drug and addiction free –

ready and able to start a new life – free of the chains of the past.

Former AFL player, Ben Cousins was born in Geelong, Victoria in 1978, is now aged 33. He was by any standard an outstanding football player, playing between 1996 and 2010, with 270 games to his credit.

Cousins played for West Coast 238 games, with 205 goals and then later for Richmond in the Australian Football League, with medals, awards, honors and sponsorships to match. Cousins’ father was, in his day, a star player for Geelong football team.

Cousins is currently hospitalized in a psychiatric ward, apparently suffering from paranoia, and drug induced psychosis as a result of “chasing the dragon” with meth drugs – using for several days in a row. Many drug users see meth drug addiction as the beginning of the end of the road. Meth drug is a stimulant, highly toxic to the body, and extremely addicting.

Photos of Cousins have appeared in the press, showing unmistakable signs of the physical deterioration that rapidly sets in with regular meth drug abuse.

see article: 

 This current situation is all the more disappointing because it was only late last year that Cousins became a father for the first time, claiming that this fresh, innocent young child meant all the world to him. Love for his partner, love for his child were not powerful enough to prevent Ben Cousins’ continued poly drug use and addiction.

Whatever drove Ben to use drugs in the beginning has led to public shame and humiliation. Cousins has his fans, he also has outspoken detractors. Many feel that as a top AFL player, Cousins’ had an obligation, a responsibility to be a good role model for the younger generation,

Cousins has run off from police, leaving his then girlfriend in his car, been found passed out in the street, had many issues with attempted drug rehab and missed sessions of football training. Cousins’ drug using behavior has caused him to be accused of having criminal connections.

In many ways it is easy to blame the addicted person – for immaturity, lack of backbone, lack of moral values – for appearing not to care about anything else but drug use.

To see the drug user, in a negative way is perhaps to misunderstand the nature and causes of drug addiction – which at the end of the day is a form of compulsive behavior over which an individual lacks control.

see article:  

The story of Ben Cousins is of a life that went out of control – due to abuse of drugs, and a failure of many attempts that he made to complete drug detox and rehabilitation.

 Footy identity and former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says now that he was warned three years ago that Cousins would eventually relapse when considering taking him into the Collingwood team  in the 2008 pre-season – a year after Cousins was sacked by the West Coast team for problems associated with his drug taking.

It was said of Cousins that all it would need would be some form of setback to trigger off his drug dependency again. Richmond club took him in on the basis that Cousins would make a genuine attempt to overcome his drug addiction.

see article:    

The Malthouse article is revealing in that it hints about another side of the football industry, one that causes immense pressure to top players, in terms of their commitment to the game, and to sponsorship deals. There is big money involved in AFL – it can both make and break the players.

Ultimately it is for the managers to offer mentoring and protection to players who mostly come into the game as talented kids – unprepared for the politics and pressures of what has undeniably become big business. Many blame the aggression and escapist behavior that has crept into football today on high financial stakes, and constant pressure to perform.

 Cousins has been reported as recently saying that if it hadn’t been for the football – he would have gone into drug rehab fifteen years ago. Ultimately it is for the individual to sort their priorities out – no easy thing for anyone to do who is caught up in the lifestyle, the public profile of a high pressure, yet highly rewarding career. So much easier to take the pressure – and use drugs to compensate.

For Cousins it has been a very public battle against addiction since 2007 when he was sacked by West Coast for issues relating to drug use. Five years later and it would seem that drugs have got the upper hand despite every best intention.

Mainstream drug rehabilitation does not appear to have worked for Ben Cousins, nor for many other addicts. The assumption behind traditional rehab is that addiction can never be overcome, that recovery is never complete.

As a result many people never try alternative methods for addiction recovery that offer success, believing it to be impossible, particularly for drugs such as meth.

see article:  

Meanwhile levels of drug dependency and addiction are increasing worldwide, and those addicted are dying.

There comes a time when those who say that something is impossible, need to stand aside, and get out of the way of those who are out there doing it.

It is not only sports stars and famous people who suffer from drug use and pressure, however reading about their stories can help to reassure us that we are not alone when trying to deal with our problems and getting caught up in drug use.

Taking time out for genuine alcohol and drug detox and rehabilitation at a comprehensive addiction recovery center can get you off drugs completely.

Don’t dream about drug addiction recovery – use a comprehensive program now and recover completely from your drug use and addiction.

Instead of being famous, going down in history as a world champion gold medalist, in the 100 meter sprint, Ben Johnson due to steroid abuse was instead, found to test positive for steroids at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. He was sent home from the games, and later stripped of all his previous world records and medals.

Banned from competition for two years, Johnson attempted to make a come back in 1991, but had lost form – failing to be placed in the finals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He was found, in 1993, to be using steroids again at a sporting event in Montreal, Canada, and was subsequently banned for life.

 see article:

Born in 1961, Johnson emigrated in Canada, from Jamaica, and lived in Toronto. His sprinting career peaked in the 1980′s. As a result of his successes – with him winning numerous medals for the 100 meter sprint, and relay racing – Johnson was said to be the fastest man in the world – and invested as a  member of the Order of Canada in 1987, the same year that he was named Associated Press – Athlete of the Year, earning a small fortune as a result of product promotions and endorsements.

By late 1988, he would be stripped of all honors due to testing positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.

 Johnson found some further fame in coaching the son of Muammar Gaddafi, and acted as trainer for Diego Maradona in 1997. Johnson wrote an autobiography Seoul to Soul in 2010.

He now lives with family in Ontario, and continues to work as a coach.

 Doping continues to haunt the sport of athletics, and many take the risk, hoping not to get caught. Part of the problem with doping is that it taints all sportsmen – particularly winners, with the assumption that they must, at some point be taking performance enhancing drugs, in order to be winners. In fact, many if not most of the track and field competitors in Seoul in 1988 are acknowledged to be winners without dope.

An article, written in 1988, that appears in Sports Illustrated makes it clear, that although many in sport use drugs to “enhance performance”, not all successful sportsmen do drugs, and of those that choose to take drugs such as steroids – their motivation is generally to overcome feelings of doubt, anxiety about failure.

In the article appears strong evidence that most people in sport want to keep it clean, want to win by fair means, even perhaps Ben Johnson himself, given the freedom of choice.

A source quoted in the article says that Ben’s trainers said that “he was a skinny little guy, until they beefed him up on steroids – a sponsor said to have offered a million dollars to get Johnson “fit” by Seoul.

Just before the events, in Seoul, an American trainer is reported to have been shocked by the yellow appearance of Ben’s eyes – a sign of liver dysfunction. The suggestion is that Ben was promoted, as a commodity, in priority to concerns about his health.

see article:

 Frequently, in looking at the lives of top performers, outstanding entertainers, there is a sense that they are acting under enormous pressures – drug use seems to be both a way of trying to extract a maximum performance, and a way of coping.

Young people thinking about using drugs in sport need to understand the risks, not only of putting in so much training, and time, only to get busted, but of causing harm, such as fatal heart conditions, and liver failure, caused by drug toxicity.

 see article: 

Many cases have occured of young people becoming ill, sometimes dying because of their preoccupation, and addiction to performance enhancing drugs.

Young people need to make a commitment to saying no to steroid drugs, whether for increased sports performance, or just to enhance appearance.

see article:

British rugby hooker, Terry Newton died in September 2010, after taking steroids – amphetamines, and cocaine. Although sudden death among athletes on steroids is well documents, there is also evidence to show that many steroid users go on to use addictive, illicit drugs as well as, or to withdraw from steroid use – often with unintentionally harmful results – injury and death.

see article:

Depression, lack of confidence are associated with steroid use, and with illicit drug taking. People who are or who think that they might be at risk of steroid dependence or addiction need help.

Effective help for recovery is provided by comprehensive steroid and substance abuse programs.

 Start to detox your life, gain true freedom from steroid abuse, depression and insecurity by using a comprehensive residential detox and rehab program to get back to feelings of happiness.

 When it comes to celebrity, fame and fortune, there are many types of pressure both from other people, and our own desire to meet our own expectations, put on a good performance. People with the skill can always perform well, without any need of drugs.

Performance based on drugs has little satisfaction - whether you are a star, or an ordinary person. Ordinary people can do great things – in a spirit of perseverence and courage – and a determination to do their best – without the aid of drugs.