Drugs and lying about drugs to your family is an extremely harmful action against the ones you love.

I will no longer be part of this, I want a healthy open honest relationship with the people I care about the most.

If you are doing this now please think about the ones you are affecting and the people you are supposed to care about the most.

K.M

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One shining star stands out in the crowd – hip hop rapper Snoop Dogg – singer, actor and entrepreneur who seems to thrive on weed – and promotes its use.

Snoop Dogg has been around for some time, and is one of those to succeed in getting off the street, and dealing in drugs like cocaine – a rap star yet a father, who coaches his kids in sport. An astute entrepreneur, Snoop Dogg  has founded a show biz empire worth over a hundred million, putting him up there with success stories like 50 cent, Eminem and Dr Dre.

Despite overwhelming success, Snoop Dogg is heavily into dope, living a lifestyle that promotes drug use in the form of marijuana.

 Snoop Dogg, who was born Calvin Cordozar Broadus in 1971, is said to have first used marijuana with his uncle – offered a roach at the age of 8, he was also encouraged to drink alcohol – Schlitz Malt Liquor Bull. Mary J hit the high spot for Snoop and he has been using it ever since.

One of Snoop’s recent efforts on Facebook comes out in support of presidential hopeful Ron Paul, an outspoken Republican with many years of experience.

see article: 

Ron Paul is a supporter of medical marijuana, and legalization of pot for adult use.

Snoop Dogg attracted recent publicity by getting arrested at a Texas border, being in possession of a smokeable amount of cannabis and related implements. Snoop has had many brushes with the law over the years, related to cannabis use and unruly behavior.

January 18, Snoop Dogg again is to be found in the news supporting marijuana. The news item says that the Dogg doesn’t smoke “Blue Ivy”, a new variety of brand name marijuana – named after Beyonce and J-Z’s famous new baby (apparently in absence of the parents consent or complicity). Snoop Dogg instead says that he is more into master kush, said to be a high quality hindu/skunk hybrid used as medical marijuana.

see article:

Snoop Dogg has a California exemption to use kush as medical marijuana.

With Snoop Dogg looking at a collaboration with Paris Hilton, and to play at Coachella 2012, the Dogg’s career is still at the top.

Why does someone with the world at his feet, with all the success you could want – habitually, and repeatedly – bomb himself out on dope?

The proven side effects of marijuana use, in both the short and long term, indicate that it brings lethargy, the possiblity of lung, bladder and other cancers, and destroys the equilibrium of the mind, being associated with depression, schizophrenia, mood disorders, paranoia, disruptions of sleep and heart rhythms.

see article:

On weed, Snoop Dogg said to Esquire magazine in 2008, “it makes me feel the way I need to feel”. Snoop Dogg doesn’t want to give it up.

High Times magazine voted him Stoner of the Year, in 2002, the same year that Snoop tried weed rehab – and lasted for four months, before returning to a habit said to be a hundred grams a day – a habit that Snoop Dogg is now said to have reduced by half.

 The attraction of and the addiction to weed can, in Snoop Dogg’s case be linked back to his early environment, a prevailing culture of drug use, the social use of weed and other drugs as commodities – the power to be in control of emotions, the power to earn money on the street.

The early use of marijuana can become a part of life. Without the drug people might feel unable to mentally or physically function. Consistently, with Snoop’s driven high performance, the energy of rap, life on the street brings with it high levels of anxiety, hypervigilance and hyperarousal – a world in which there is perhaps little trust and over reliance on violent means of exerting influence.

Weed essentially is a downer, that brings relief of tension. Much research confirms that we bring into our adult world, many of the patterns of behavior that we have learned to be effective, perhaps essential for our survival in our environment of origin. People move on, improve their lives, but old habits remain – to clear out the baggage from abusive earlier conditions of life we need – separation.

No matter what we achieve in life, in terms of outward success, we will never be happy or contented while the law of jungle still rules in our head.

Snoop Dogg says:

“It’s hard to say goodbye to the streets. It’s all how you do it. You can pass by and say “What’s happening?” and keep it moving, but it’s a certain element that’ll never be able to roll with you once you get to this level, because that’s the separation of it all.”

Drug use, the streets we can leave behind, but there will still be a craving,

unless we make a complete break from the mental, physical, social and cultural attitudes that

are defined by the environment of the street and the drugs.

People who have been born and raised in conditions of poverty, abuse, and endemic drug use will still have an attachment to their past – it is only natural.

To move on we need to be able to see our past from a position of separation and detachment, so that we do not bring into the present, our baggage from the past.

see article: 

If you want complete freedom from an abusive past, from related drug use, Narconon, in Canada, can bring an end to compulsive behavior and addiction, and related feelings of survivor “guilt” and depression.

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.

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.

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.

 Not for Dylan the usual rough and tumble, interaction of childhood – with a mother who was protective of him, treating him as an invalid – and a father who seemed emotionally remote – a school teacher at the local Grammar School who thought himself worthy and deserving of a better academic position.

His father taught him poetry at the age of two, and Dylan could recite Shakespeare by the age of four.

As Dylan wrote later, to a friend:   “I had come to love just the words….what mattered was the very sound of them, as I heard them for the first time on the lips of the remote and quite incomprehensible grown ups who seemed, for some reason, to be living in my world.

By the age of eight or nine he began to write his own poetry – entering the Grammar School in 1925 as a quiet and introspective lad, he wrote many articles for the school magazine.

At 16 he went to work for the South Wales Daily Post. Writing what were often scathing reviews of local plays and concerts, Dylan also spent time in the pub at night – reciting offbeat jokes, stories and obscene limericks. Dylan never wanted people to read his poems – he wanted them to hear him read them.

What Dylan’s father had given him was the gift of poetry – and it was the poetry of words, in their purest form, that Dylan had grown to love.

In 1934, Dylan moved to London and there published his first book 18 poems, it got rave reviews and in 1936, he published a second book 25 poems.

Dylan married a “mother figure”, Caitlin in 1937 and they were like “twin souls”, moving to Laugharne in Wales where, until war broke out, Dylan’s writing flourished. They were poor, but happy.

 Aside from his poetry,which was always acclaimed, Dylan had a difficult time in the real world. He attracted the patronage of a Mrs Margaret Taylor, her continued support led to the family eventually living in a boathouse in Laugharne that she purchased for them.

Having avoided conscription in the war to some extent Dylan was regarded as a draft dodger by many, a deranged ex commando once shooting up a cottage in which he was entertaining friends. His marriage was fraught with rows about possible mutual infidelity, and Dylan himself was given to drinking.

Despite the passion and fire of his poetry, Dylan became a heavy drinker. The marriage lasted, despite the drinking, and relative poverty.

 With a third child born in 1949, an offer for Dylan to visit the USA, and be paid well was one not to be missed. In February 1950, he was off to America. His irreverent, capricious drunken behavior was a trial to his sponsors – he ended up one night driving a carful of revellers into the tennis nets at a private house party.

Despite this, there was money to be made, if not all by Dylan, and he went on a further tour in 1952, and another in early1953, followed by a series of television appearances..

 By then Dylan’s father and sister had died, and his marriage was as rocky as ever.  Dylan continued to drink heavily.

In late 1953, Dylan was returned to America, to begin a fourth tour. Dylan was taken ill after complaining for weeks of exhaustion and depletion from his alcoholism and respiratory problems.

Given at first cortisone and then a high dose of morphine, by a doctor that Dylan’s agent had arranged to be responsible for Dylan’s care – Dylan died later in hospital, in the USA in the November of 1953.

 Full article :

 In a book entitled Fatal Neglect, author David Thomas comes out to say that it was greed and neglect on the part of Dylan’s American agent that led directly to Dylan’s early death. Thomas describes the American tours as “a tragic tale of how a sick poet was exploited for financial gain, and academic prestige.

 The book says that:

At the time of the fourth tour, he already had a history of blackouts, and chest problems, was using an inhaler to help with his breathing.

The book goes on to say that between Dylan’s agent  Brinnin and his assistant Liz Reitell, Dylan was literally worked to death in the lead up to the intended production of Under Milkwood, in New York, with Brinnan keeping away, busy with other interests.

Dylan had collapsed after two  Under Milkwood performances, a work that was put on stage before Dylan had actually finished writing it, and Dylan also walked out of a dinner held in honor of his birthday because he was feeling unwell.

 While an inquest put the death down to swelling of the brain due to pneumonia, and it was widely reported that Dylan had drunk himself to death – the truth lies somewhere between.

see full article:

Brinnin, two years after Dylans death received the Gold Medal for Distinguished Service to Poetry and on the 25th anniversary was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, enjoying in the end a comfortable retirement in Florida.

Dylan was that flawed genius, a brilliant poet from Wales, an alcoholic who died in New York, after drinking 18 glasses of whisky, at the age of thirty nine.

Hockey star Claude LaPointe played fifteen seasons with NHL

 Claude played for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers.

Born in 1968, LaPointe grew up in Lachine, Quebec and even as a child loved the game of hockey. He went into the QMJHL as a teenager where he got paid for playing the sport that he loved. He only ever wanted to play hockey – even refusing an offer of a scholarship with Michigan University.

LaPointe was drafted in the 12th round of the 1988 NHL draft by Quebec Nordiques and spent most of his career with the New York Islanders – until he got into trouble with depression – and drugs, specifically cocaine.

 With the New York Islanders between 1996 and 2003, LaPointe received many awards including the Bob Nylstrom award – three times – that is awarded to players who demonstrate leadership qualities, and dedication to the game. He was recognized for having played over 800 games – in fact over a thousand including playoffs and pre-season matches. Claude also scored over 100 goals and was Assistant Captain to the New York Islanders.

During the 2002-03 season, LaPointe was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, with a two year contract, and retired in 2004.

A December 2003 press announcement indicated that LaPointe had voluntarily entered the NHL treatment program for depression that he had been self medicating for, supported by NHL doctors Dave Lewis and Brian Shaw.

Flyers General Manager Bob Clarke said – whatever has been going on – LaPointe is getting the help that he needs – and we’ll be here when he comes back.

 see article: 

In about April 2004, LaPointe was given a clearance by the NHL to return to the game.

He went on to become a hockey coach and trains young hockey players – with an ability to bring Midget BB grades up to high Midget Espoir and AAA draft choices – in period of only three months. As a coach LaPointe is as outstanding as when a player on the field – saying that a key to success is understanding what each player needs to keep them improving beyond what they think they are capable of achieving.

Unlike many celebrities who hover between a life of addiction and periods “in recovery” – Claude La Ponte is today completely free of drug use – and completely recovered. His recovery and commitment to hockey is highly regarded – players that he has coached are sought after. LaPointe has a unique player focused approach that brings out the best in talented young hockey players.

In addition, Claude is now an ambassador for the “drug free life” – crediting Narconon with providing the program that got him completely free of cocaine use, his depression and addiction.

see article: 

In 2009, Claude LaPointe, as a former professional hockey player, signed up with Narconon to become a spokesman for Narconon and to join the fight against drugs.

The message that LaPointe gets across is that doing drugs and playing sport don’t mix. LaPointe speaks out against drug use to raise drug awareness in young people, assisting with the successful Narconon drug prevention campaign.

 see article:

 It was in 2009, that Narconon made a pledge to create a drug free Quebec – with a vision of drug free Canada, assisted by many dedicated people and organisations – including Claude LaPointe.

 see article: 

 Such is the stigma of drug abuse and addiction that very often people maintain secrecy and public denial about their issues. When top name celebrities and sportsmen have problems with addiction – it is often covered up.

People with depression, feelings of low self esteem, problems in life that they don’t know how to resolve, often seek out addictive drugs and find a means of escape – famous people in the public eye are certainly no exception.

Claude LaPointe was respected for his acknowledgment that he had a problem and for making a voluntary choice to go into drug rehabilitation. No matter what problems and difficulties drug use might be causing you, a willingness to accept that there is a problem, and a willingness to enter treatment will give you respect – self respect and the goodwill of other people.

 Drug use today is a widespread and worldwide problem – you are not alone. Many people from all walks of life have fallen into drug addiction as a result of using drugs to try and resolve issues in their life.

 The message that sportsmen like Claude LaPointe, and Narconon hope to bring to young people is that doing drugs is never ok – and never a solution to what might feel like overwhelming problems.

If you have a problem with drug use – including alcohol – Narconon is there, and understands what you are going through. Anyone using drugs, who makes the choice to give up their addiction will get the help and support that they need for complete alcohol and drug addiction recovery at Narconon Trois Rivieres.

You don’t have to live in Canada, or Quebec to enter the Narconon addiction recovery program at Narconon Trois Rivieres.