Crack addiction?

[bunny50]

My husband is a long time drug addict.  He used to just smoke only pot and quit a couple of years ago because he had been caught doing crack and was given the ultimatum.  But he keeps on going on binges doing crack.  I was wondering if someone who supposedly can go without crack or any drugs for a couple of months and then binges is addicted to crack.  Any information will help.  He knows that he shouldn't be doing this and still does no matter what the results can be for his lifestyle, health and family life.  It is just unbelievable hat a middle age person who does no drugs for months will continue to take such risks with everything that is important to his life.  He has already seen the results of his behavior and knows it will get worse but still binges. Any information will be a great help for us to understand this issue more.  thx

[gizzy32]

IBKleen is right, most crack addicts will go on binges, then stop for awhile, some don't stop. THis drug is so mentally addictive he is going to need some help to learn how to fight through those cravings. My coke cravings were so strong that when it hit, NOTHING else mattered and crack cocaine is even stronger. I still can't explain it, but it's like something else completely takes over your mind, anxiety and panic would set in and sometimes i actually felt high without using which made those cravings even worse. I was terrified of craving cause i did not know how to beat them and they were very scary.

Is he willing to get some help? We say we want to quit, but until we surrender and accept we are powerless, that terrible cycle will continue. Good luck and i hope he sees the light. Keep us updated.

[bunny50]

Thx for the help.  I see this going on forever (it has been going on over 7 years) and it is destroying our family.  He is willing to go back to the dr for counseling but no in-patient treatment.  Because of work, etc.  We seem to live a hidden life when it comes to this.  Hide, hide.  Obviously it has made a lot of changes.  Thanks for explaining it more clearly so I understand it better.  I have lived over 1/2 my life with him and don't want to leave him but this is not what I expected at this stage of my life.  So with your help I can have a better idea what is going on and not just think he was just doing it because he felt like it and doesn't care about the rest of effects on his family.  thanks, thanks

[bunny50]

How am I enabling him?  And how can I stop this?  I obviously need help. I don't understand

[theeagle]

If he is willing to back to the doctor then start with that........if you are going to go try and help him get through this you have to start somewhere. He doesnt consciously wish to destroy himself and the lives of those that he loves.....but the drug is powerful beyond belief....you may want to investigate al-anon....decent group for families of people with problems to help them understand ...............

[bunny50]

I have had him move out for about a week and I have also moved out for the same amount of time.  I have watched the bank account.  And made sure he did not have money to do this.  But he is tricky and has alot of time to do his own thing.  Works for himself now and has access to enough money to do anything without me knowing. I am going out but will be back in a couple of hours.  I really need help to decide what to do about this situation.  And the thing is he can go for such long periods of time without using and then out of the blue he disappears and wow your back in the original situation.

[gizzy32]

I hope you come back and let us know how you are. Your right about the tricky part, us addicts will do whatever it takes to use and when i was around crack addicts, the ones without jobs still found ways to buy it. Crack is a monster drug to kick and stay clean from. If he is willing to go to the counsellor that is a great start, but he truly has to want this for himself first and foremost and it takes work to beat our addictions. Here is a link for alanon, if there are any close to you, i think you would benefit greatly. Take care of yourself.

http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/

[DavaSage]

Please see my true story about my friend, who is now gone due to coke habit.

Same same....

[DavaSage]

Please ask me for more details on the horrors of coke, ice / meth,

I was there....

[daisy699]

Hi Dava I was interested in reading your thread or story about your friend you have lost due to crack or meth? Where can I find it did you post on this site..Daisy

[crackedup]

Hey bunny! I really feel like I understand your situation...and to some extent, your husband. I know about this exact type of behavior because I do the same thing. I just found this site and am here this morning because of my stupid stupid crack problem/addiction. I am SO sick of it all. But that doesn't appear to be enough.When I was a kid (18 to early 20's) I was an extreme pothead. I smoked pot all the time, I even smoked pot before I got out of bed. Nothing was good enough for me without the enhancement of pot. I got married started having kids and gave up smoking pot. It reallly wasn't that big of a deal either. 22 years went by and then I first smoked crack.....oh my God. I fell "in love" with the junk. At first I could kind of take it or leave it and getting through a workday wasn't a problem and I only did it at night and on weekends. But eventually I wanted to do it all the time. It didn't take long before everything real and important in my life was in jeopardy......especially my job. My employer made it real easy for me to get help, go to rehab and "get better". But after rehab I didn't want to return to work and I still wanted crack. Long story short, that was 15 years ago. Now, I am unemployed and on disability due to physical injury. Every month I get a check that BARELY covers my living expenses and every month when that check comes all I can think about is "getting high". This leads to a lot of unpaid bills and weeks of very little food and NO money, no ability to do ANYTHING that might bring pleasure. And it's all because the first thing I do is go on a crack binge. This behavior doesn't make ANY SENSE, ESPECIALLY for someone my age and I cannot believe the suffering I endure for the rest of the month because I had to have my crack binge. I have lost the trust and support of my family and I don't know what I am going to do. If I can't find a way to stop this I know it will kill me. Your husband needs help! Unless his using has no negative effects on his life and your life together and unless he has an unlimited source of money he has to find a way to stop!! He is an addict, if to nothing else but to the brief pleasure that his binges give him. What is he like after the binges? What kind of negative side effects are caused by his behavior?

Interested AND sympathetic

[jt808]

hey buddy sorry to hear about ur situation, but this post is a very very oldt so u mite not get any responses but u can either start ur own post or read others but just dont be suprised if u dont hear back from the original poster. good luck bud.