I think my boss is addicted to ephedrine...is that possible?

[fearfactor]

Hi, all - I am writing because I think my boss is addicted to ephedrine pills.  He has loads of bottles of them all over the office, even though they are illegal in our state to the best of my knowledge.  I am thinking he has saved them up from before the ban or else he orders them on the internet from other states.  He has red eyes a lot and does work extremely long hours.  He is very obese - which seems weird for an ephedra addict.  The reason I think this is because I was working in his office and opened his desk drawer to see loads of bottles of MORE ephedrine pills (the Mini-Thins mostly, but he also keeps Stacker and stuff like that).  I also saw where he wrote on a piece of paper that he needs to deal with his addiction (he is a big-time list-maker).  I know ephedrine can be deadly - should I try to help him or just let him go on with life?  I would hate for him to drop dead as he has a lot of health problems like high blood pressure.  We work in a small family business but I still don't want to embarrass him.  What should I do?  Is ephedra addiction even possible?

[vicaddict]

I understand and sometimes that's all a person can do sometimes.

I will also keep him in my thoughts and prayers as well.

HUggs
Tracy

[vicaddict]

I think the addiction to them is because you know they will help you stay awake and give you LOADS of energy.

So just like any other addiction, these yes can be addictive. But they are deadly to ess with. If he is already obese, high blood pressure, I can only imagine what these are making his heart do.
Definately not a good combination. They aren't even good for healthy people b/c of how they increase the heart rate..etc.
I forgot to add this in my last post. If you can't openly bring it up..maybe try a different approach see if he bites...talk nothing but how tired you are and wish there were something you could take to make you more energetic....see if that will trigger him into mentionining what he has that he thinks may help you.
Just another suggestion.
Huggs
Tracy

[vicaddict]

Hi there;
To answer your question, I do believe they are addicting. I have a neighbor who would go through a bottle in 2 days...always had to have more. She would call it "speedballing"...she is on so much for medication she would use the ephedrine in between.
And YES they can be very deadly..specially if this man already has health issues. I do not know what I would do..if I would mention it or not.
Like the last post said they may get very offended, scared, and want you to not say a word.
Specially if he thinks you were snooping in his things.
From the way it sounds is he is addicted to his work, takes these to stay awake and keep plugging along...however it can and eventually will be deadly.
I guess if you feel you know him well enough to call him on it and make sure he knows you will not say anything, that would be your call. I am not sure what I would do in this situation, but I do know if I knew the person well enough I would bring it up and see if I could help.
But we both know hwo that goes also...if he is confronted it could do nothing more than P**S him off, ya know?
WIsh I had more advice for you.
Tracy

[fearfactor]

Yep, I don't think I will say anything to him, at least not now.  Maybe when I know him better.  We are professionals and I think he trusts my judgment but still, it is really not my business.  I just hope and pray that he can get help because he has a family and they would be very upset if he were to die.  For now, I will just wish him well!

[1911]

My advice...say nothing.  If he thinks you know his secret and is afraid you will tell others, he will get rid of you just to protect his secret.

When I was the boss and on pills, that is how I felt.  

George
Day 22