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Question about oxys

by NJpothead, Jan 02, 2002 12:00AM
Tags: Addiction
I guess this isn't really a question.  I am 19 years old and have lived in New Jersey my whole life.  I have tried almost every drug there is, however, I tend to steer away from drug abuse.  I am working very hard to get my life in order and keep it that way.  My problem is my friends.  Just about every friend I have is currently addicted to oxycotin.  They think that because it is in a pill it is somehow less harmful than heroin!  I am crying now as I write this post because it hurts me just to think about what they are doing to themselves.  I know that addiction is a hard thing to deal with and beat, but it's even harder to be on the other side, and have to watch your friends slowly, kill themselves.  A year ago they were all bubbly, happy, ispired, and ready to live LIFE!  Now, whenever I come to visit them they are nodding out because they are "tired."  Someone, PLEASE help me.. I don't know how to deal with this.  I guess I should just walk away and save myself, but they are my dearest friends, and I love them.
Member Comments (27)

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Jan 02, 2002 12:00AM
To: njpothead
Just walk away and keep walking. As long as your friends are in their narcotic slumber, they won't much care about your absence. Drug addiction is a selfish, noncaring state of existance after all. My own niece is losing custody of her child at present due to untreated addiction to cocaine/crack. How low can one go?



I know because I'm an addict myself. There are few boundaries we won't cross in order to kill the sickness called "withdrawals". Allow your friends the opportunity to experience all of the spiral downward into Hell. Someday, God willing, they will be able to climb up out of the Black Hole and return to life. You don't have to follow them on their journey to Hell and back to prove you are their friend, do you?



J.B.

by OxyDout, Jan 02, 2002 12:00AM
To: njpothead
Ok, I am only on my 2nd week clean from oxy's, I was taking about 120-160mg a day and I was in awful shape.  I'm doing much better now but its still very hard.  I know exactly how you feel and its awful.  The only thing you can do is make sure they know that someday its gonna stop and that they are going to go broke and that withdrawal is god awful and that this will rule their lives.  Unfortunately harping on the long term effects will get you know where because the long term really aren't that bad or really even talked about therefore they can justify it by saying its a medically prescribed med. There really isn't much you can do besides stay away from it, they are on their own, they need to want to stop otherwise nothing will help.  You could send them to detox but they will start right back up once they are out.  They need to want it, not anyone else, they need to realize that being clean is where they need to be, nothing else helps much.  Just remember to stay AWAY from them, the oxy's and if you ever feel inclined to try it more then a couple of times, start finding some new friends, it sounds harsh, but thats the way it needs to be, atleast for the time being.  If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.



GWH

by skipper, Jan 03, 2002 12:00AM
To: njpothead
njpothead:

welcome to the forum friend. lets cut right to the heart of the

matter when it come to friend's and addiction: (oh oxy-contin is

very, very addictive)



rule 1:

not every addict will live through the disease of addictiong,

some will die....



rule 2

not every addict who is currently surviving addiction will ever

find recovery.



wich is worse dying from addiction or getting locked into years of addiction before death? i guess you and me will have to figure that out--or else we could just quit...just walk away...walk on to our right full destinys.



ssfr: right now i'm listening to the soundtrack from tne movie

"Song Catcher." now i'm not sure, but isn't this about your neck

of the woods? my mother in law is very familure of this type of music. i think she grew around it. anyhow she hates it because it's so "mournful." i think it's beautiful even if it is sad!!



keep an angel om you shoulder

kip

by shane, Jan 03, 2002 12:00AM
To: NJPOTHEAD
Hello, in response to your Q, J.B. and Kip were right on the money with their analogy. The only thing I would add is IF they reach out to you with a sincere desire to quit, then you can offer your help and support. Good Luck,  Shane

by zoe1, Jan 03, 2002 12:00AM
I totally relate to how njpothead is feeling.  I am very close to someone who is addicted to oxy's.  He says that he wants to quit and I believe him.  I have tried very hard to be supportive but I know that I cannot do this for him.  It is terrible to watch him go through the withdrawl process - it looks like HELL!  I am grateful that I have never had to experience that kind of pain (both physical and mental).  I believe that there is a very thin line between caring for someone and supporting them in their quest for recovery and allowing myself to be sucked into hell along with them.

by Telby, Jan 03, 2002 12:00AM
To: Zoel § all
Boy you've got that right.  Addiction is contagious, everyone who loves us addicts can get very sick without using a drug.  It is hard to watch someone you care about self destruct, but it is worse for both of you to fall apart.  I'm an addict and I have come to understand when people who love me put disance between us, I know they still love me but I can't blame them for not wanting to be around when it gets ugly.  It helps to remember that drugs are so powerful that no one can make someone take them or make them stop taking them.  Also remember there is no one who is still breathing who is a lost cause, just when you think someone is hopeless they'll turn around and surprise you. So if you back away, don' go so far that you can't come back in a hurry to give support, love, and encouragment when your friend finally looks in the mirror and dicides today is the day I am going to live.    Best of luck, Telby

by AnnieS, Jan 04, 2002 12:00AM
Hi All, I think I posted in the wrong space. to make this short, I have been clean for 64 days, made it through the holidays. My boyfriend and I have been working a good program in both NA & AA which has REALLY helped. I hope this question doesn't saound too dumb but is it possible for some one to show signs of using ( nodding, pinned eyes and slured speach) from Imotil and low dose of zanax? He has been like that since new years day and I am flipping out because I was so happy that we both made it trough the holiday. He had a bad case of diarreah which made him take the imotil, and his Dr, prescribed Zanax for sleep and anxiety. I waNT to believe him but am having a hard time buying the fact that Imotil and zanax will do that. The only time he nodded and had pinned eyes was when he was using. Some one help me. Is it possible???

by Seamstress, Jan 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: annies
I don't know about the pinned pupils but Xanax can cause nodding and slurred speech.  It's a sedative.  But you'd have to be taking an awful lot for that to occur. I would say if you're a person with no tolerance, probably 1 mg. or more at once.  Less is usually prescribed for anxiety control. Your boyfriend needs to look at non drug methods to deal with his anxiety.  Xanax is highly and very quickly addictive. And dangerous to withdraw from.  This doctor didn't do him any favors.

by fairlight123, Jan 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: annies
Hi :)



My sister takes Xanax, and when she takes it she slurs her words and acts like she's drunk.  So yes, I'd say that nodding off could be a side effect of Xanax.



From what I have read, Xanax is highly addictive.

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Jan 04, 2002 12:00AM
To: annies
A pinned iris and nodding off definately indicate opiate usage.  I tell you this a an experienced IV morphine and heroine addict. It would be nice to get a urine sample from him and have it analysed, but that may be difficult! I've taken both Xanax and Lomotil and have not experienced the above reactions to them.  Keep an eye on things....something ain't right!



J.B.

by NJpothead, Jan 05, 2002 12:00AM
Thanks for your feedback guys, it really gets me through, ya know.  Get this though.  Now one of my friends whose hooked on this stuff is talking about heroin.  I told him when he first tried oxys that eventually he'll build a tolerance and have to move on to something stronger, and he said no way, but now he's thinking of trying that s###!

by AnnieS, Jan 06, 2002 12:00AM
To: njpothead
I know your pain watching someone you love lose that spark of life. That's the pain of addiction and watching it. I come from both sides and I will tell you that oxys are the most addictive drug I have taken and the withdrawal is AWFUL. You can offer advice when asked but they won't stop because you want them to. They will only seek help when they are ready. I have had a ruff year getting clean and sober and I pray alot to stay that way. I get  alot of support from NA & AA. I don't think I could do it without that support. You need to take care of your self and never try oxy just for the hell of it. As a matter of fact I wouldn't even do it unless I had a fatal desease and there was no hope of recovering. That is how addictive it is. The best way to help your friends is to set a good example of yourself. One day when they see you happy and vital they may choose to do something to get back there themselves. But I wouldn't suggest trying to hang just because you feel sorry for them. That puts you in too much temptation. Be there when they ask and find a new group of people to hang with. I have 65 days clean now along with my boyfriend who I believe has gone out again. It is so painful to watch, and I have to stay away for my own well being. The only way I think I can help him is to stay clean and work a good program to show him that it can be done. It's hard as hell to stay away but some times that is the only thing you can do. When they are blasted they don't know or care if our around or not anyway. Good luck.

by authenticjourni, Jan 08, 2002 12:00AM
Tuesday, January 8th, 2002'



"Hey..."

         I've just read all of your posts..."Yep, it's really a bummer watching your friends turn to zombies or even worse, slip over to the other side before they've even had a chance to live life here. It's all about "self-preservation" people. As selfish & cold as the tonality of the "truth" rings, the "reality" is this; "ADDICTION IS A DEADLY DISEASE!"

         One "has to be selfish" in order to survive it's "baffling, cunning, manipulating, & deadly grip. Several of you mentioned being in a 12 step program...well, if memory serves me right...one must change "people, places, & things" immediately after getting clean, if there's to be a snowball's chance in hell of staying clean!

          I don't want to sound like a hard ass, but...as painful as it may be, you must think of "numero uno" now. Oxycontin (or whatever your drug of choice may be) has shown you it's powers, proven it's lethal, you must focus on "YOU" & "YOUR PROGRAM" & "Let go & Let GOD." The rest is up to your friends now, but...more importantly, working your program is up to you.

          Your only human though, be gentle with your selfs...if you should stumble, jump back up, brush yourself off & hop back on that "SOBRIETY" pony & hold on tight! "One Day At A Time...break it down into minutes if you have to, whatever it takes...to make it through one more day..."CLEAN & SOBER."

           I wish you all the best of luck, I know you can do it...



Much Love & Light;

Authenticjourni

by AnnieS, Jan 10, 2002 12:00AM
To: J.B
wE

by J.B. to Brian and Vicky, Jan 10, 2002 12:00AM
To: Annies
wE? He relapsed, didn't he? You don't have to make it a "we" relapsed situation, do wE? Be cool and see what happens to him. You may be shocked!



J.B.

by MasterManipulator, Jan 11, 2002 12:00AM
To: njpothead
Pack your bags.



Tell you parents you are moving to another major city.



Go be by yourself for awhile and run as far and as fast as you can away from those other kids you've only been ridin' around in cars, listening to music with, and hangin' out with for only a few of what hopes to be a 60-70 year lifetime for you.



I have detoxed 6 times.

2 cold turkey with brain siezures.

And, I finally had back surgery and cured by pain.



I have millions in the bank as a successful entrepenuer, and then as a corp executive.  Money can't buy you health or happiness.



But I can guarantee you one thing:

You stick around and start chewing Oxycontin like SweetTarts, like I used to while flying all over the world in my suit and tie, taking over 800mg a day, and you will see SATAN.



And while you lay in bed, with EVERY muscle (even in your fingers