Drug Addiction Stories & Info

When she moved back to town I was so excited.   I had been crazy about Chelsea all through high school.  She ended up marrying a boy who was training at the Air Force base close to town, though, the summer after high school.  Now here she was, seven years later, divorced and back home. 

We ran into each other at the mall and made plans to go to the park a couple of days later.  As we walked around the lake next to the park, we caught up on each other’s lives.  I told her I had always had a crush on her.  She told me she had always liked me, too.

Chelsea and I started dating after that day at the park.  It was not long however, before I realized that Chelsea was drinking heavily.  She finally admitted it was the reason behind her divorce.  On top of the drinking, she had another secret just as serious.  Chelsea was a cutter. 

I knew Chelsea’s brother and called him.  I told him what was going on with his little sister.  He called his parents and their mother got in touch with a  local crisis center.  She explained what was going on and arrangements were made for a counselor to help us with an intervention.   Due to Chelsea’s cutting, it was assumed and then confirmed later that she had what was called a dual diagnosis with the alcoholism and some emotional problems. 

Chelsea was upset that I told her family at first.  During her treatment, though, she called me and said thank you.  The counseling helped Chelsea and her entire family went into family counseling as well so that Chelsea would have continued understanding and support. 

That was six years ago.  Today, Chelsea and I are the proud parents of a beatiful little girl who looks just like her mommy.  Chelsea has been sober all this time and has also declared victory over the issues that led to her becoming a cutter.  Chelsea is even a sponsor herself down at Alcoholics Anonymous and I completely support her need to help others just as she was helped.

My dream of marrying Chelsea came true and the only regret I have is not speaking up when I had the chance in high school.  What I do not regret is going to her familyabout her drinking and her cutting secret so that they could help Chelsea when she needed it the most.  Every time I look into my young daughter’s eyes, I know I made the right decision for Chelsea and for all of us.

I never knew that tough love was the greatest love of all until a couple of years ago. I deeply resented my parents for their divorce and the fact that my mother moved us halfway across the country to her home state. My dad was always traveling for work and she wanted to be close to family. I did not care. I was pissed.

The other girls stared at me at school. So did the boys. My brother and sister were younger than me and neither was in high school. I was a junior and I hated starting in a new school. I heard a prissy cheerleader whisper to her friends and then laugh. I turned beet red. I just knew they were talking about me.

At lunch I looked around and that same cheerleader came up to me and asked if I wanted to join her table. Thinking I had totally misunderstood earlier I said sure. She just looked at me and said “Keep dreaming”. I decided then and there that every movie ever made about rude cheerleaders was based on her.

Someone else came up and asked if I wanted to join her table. She looked a little gothic but she was nice. She invited me to a party that weekend. I started getting high and my own life did not seem so bad.

At first my mom was glad I had made friends but she smelled pot on me one night and threw a fit, forbidding me to leave the house. I was furious and snuck out anyway. I tried crack that night at the party. Sure enough, my mom was waiting for me when I got home. I was busted but good. I turned it around on her, though and told her if she had not divorced my dad and moved us to this crummy town, it never would have happened. She looked crestfallen and sent me to my room. I eventually fell asleep with tears running down my face.

The next day I heard voices outside my room. The crazy part was I could swear one of them was my dad. It was. My mom had called him and he had flown out to help her straighten me out. They united together in tough love and got me into treatment that afternoon.

My parents are still divorced and we still live a ways from my dad but I realized while in treatment that I still have two parents who love me. I have been clean for nearly two years now and I am going to college close to where my dad lives next semester. He was at my graduation, sitting right next to my mom with my brother and sister on either side of them.

Tough love. It is the greatest type of love in the world. I know because I have the parents who cared enough to use it.

It happens innocently enough; someone goes to the doctor with an ailment and the medication the doctor prescribes not only takes care of the ailment, but also produces an addiction.  There are many people who are addicted to pain killers, anti-anxiety medications, and muscle relaxers, among others.  Of course, it was not the doctor’s intent to have anyone become addicted.

Certain drugs affect the brain in a very pleasant way.  These drugs can make one feel euphoric, they can decrease inhibitions and they can just make a body feel fantastic.  Because of this, the need for the drug continues on after it is therapeutically necessary.  Many addictions begin in this way.  Most people do not seek help because of the fact that a doctor prescribed the medication to begin with.  Regardless of how someone got the drug, if there is a drug addiction, it needs to be addressed.

Prescription drug addiction is no better or no worse than any other addiction.  It needs to be handled just the same.  If possible, when you first realize you may be addicted, contact your doctor.  If you do not feel comfortable contacting your doctor, contact a rehab center.  They are experienced in handling prescription drug addiction problems.

Women are three times more likely to be prescribed sedatives and two times more likely to become addicted.  The elderly and teens are also more susceptible to prescription drug addiction.  Seniors take more drugs than any other age group so they are very likely to form addictions.  The sharpest increase in prescription drug use is within the 12 through 17 age group.

Prescription drugs should be taken only for the ailment for which it was prescribed.  When the prescription is gone, one should not seek a refill unless the condition has not improved.  In that case, see the doctor again.  It is very easy to become addicted to prescription drugs and it can happen to anyone.  No one is immune.  Prescription drug addiction affects rich and poor, young and old.  Always use prescription drugs with caution and contact your doctor if you feel any indication at all that you may be becoming addicted.  It is almost impossible to tell how many people are actually addicted to prescription medications because there are so many who will not admit to it.  It is very common, however.  Chances are at least one person you know is addicted to prescription medication.