Crack Cocaine

[andrea]

My boyfriend has a crack cocaine addiction. He will go about one or two moths clean then binge for days. He has been using on and off for 10 years. He says he wants to stop but he wont initiate going to NA. He talks and talks about what he should do but never DOES IT. Can my aggressiveness help? If I pick him up and take him, or stay on top of him constantly, will I be helping him? Also, can an at home treatment work if he cant afford expensive programs? Is there a book out there that can help a family detox an abuser themselves? He is not working now and I feel these next three months could be solely devoted to getting him clean, (if he is willing). Can we do it? Anyone who has detoxed themselves, or another crack user, I would appreciate your input.
Thank You

[Carrie]

My husband has been doing crank behind my back for atleast 2 years.  I had confronted him before and even gave him a drug test that he failed but he still swore he was not doing anything.  On Thanksgiving Day at my parents house I actually caught him doing it I never thought I could be so disappointed in someone.  Needless to say we split up the next day.  But I just don't know what to do now he has never cared really if we stayed together or not until like a month after we split up I met somebody now he calls all the time shows up at my house at 2am to say goodbye.  We both work for my dad and he has taken off work several times just to be with me all day at work.  I believe it is the drugs causing him to react this way because up until like a week ago he was still doing them.  He thinks he can kick the habit on his own but I don't and I don't know if I should tell him to stay away or be nice so he doesn't do anything stupid.  Any input would be nice thanks!

[Amanda Howell]

This is a reply to Andrea. I read your question and I could swear it was me talking. I am in the exact same position. My boyfriend is an alcoholic, and addicted to cocaine. He was addicted to crack, and he says he is off of it, but I know better. I have been to hell and back trying to help him and I've been hurt many times in the process. He has lost his job because he failed three drug tests, and now he borrows money from his 80 year old grandmother to support his habit. She is wrong for giving the money to him if you ask me, because she knows what it is for. He is very depressed now, because he went from a high paying job to no money at all, and his bills are high, because he used to be able to afford them, and everything is behind. He is practically anti-social, even with me, cause all he does is sleep, but I guess that is better than doing drugs. So, I just wanted to let you know you aren't alone. I really do feel bad for you cause I know how hard it is. People think it is easy and you should just leave, but you don't leave when you love someone. They need us, and I believe someday we will be rewarded. I am only 20 years old and I've learned a lot from a drug addict. Keep your head up and stay strong.

                                        Amanda

[Brighty to Vickeyvortex]

Gee Vickey, I'm not so qualified to answer your question !! I do have my opinions if your ear is there :-))

I agree about the hemp issue... it is a valuable resource for consumer products. I recently got a catalog will all cotton products.. this also included flax and hemp. There were hemp handbags and lots of other neat things. The problem is they were so costly. I guess this is because the supply is small. I have no idea how large the hemp industry actually is and why it is not expanded... as you say to protect trees and so on... perhaps it is a viable substitute. I think a spare time net search on hemp may be interesting. As far as the marijuana issue... that seems to be the problem.... the way I see it, we have something similar now to prohibition... people for centuries, in all cultures have had recipes and sizeable brewing industries.... beer and wine are known in every traceable culture... when the government instituted prohibition all that happened is that the crime element escalated.... you simply cannot legislate alcohol out of a society.... the same seems to be true of marijuana... we have a prohibition in spite of the fact that people all over the world are choosing to use it. Again, marijuana is a globally mega profit industry... and it's illegality is continually making criminals out of people who are not criminals...  usually the consumers. The judicial system is a big profiteer of the marijuana prohibition. I don't have the answers... I think drugs should be de-criminalized. And I also think marijuana should be legalized. I guess there will be lots of throat cutting over who will profit if this were to happen. Just my opinion... since you asked. Love, Brighty

[vicky to Brighty]

You have a very astute opinion.  I also wanted to comment on your view of marijuana.  I agree 100% about the government staying out of the chemical creation of it.  I believe it is only effective in its natural state.  God put it on our earth along with many other healing herbs that are used in their NATURAL STATE.  Like the comment about Hearst and the Hemp competition, the public does not understand where the controversy over this drug first arose.  Hemp had a very important role in the making of rope and other products.  If hemp was grown, trees would not need to be cut down.  Why is alcohol condoned and marijuana treated as a crime.  Why, Brighty, Why???????????  Thanks for all the understanding, Love, Vicky

[Brighty to Vickeyvortex]

Thanks Vicky for the site information.... sounds like a philosophy rather than a religion... but I suppose it helps for the non-profit aspect to front as one!! Thank you so much for your information. Love, Brighty

[To Brighty from Vickyv re: Scientology]

Brighty:  A brief passage from www.scientology.org which is billed on netscape as the official site of the group. I urge everyone to go to this site to get the facts, from the organization themselves. Again, their message seems to be more about the power of the inner self, and does not believe in God AS A SAVIOR.  In fact, in the description of the "religion" as started below, God is not mentioned. I found that site to be very informative and verified what I had believed scientology to be.  Thanks for sharing your thoughts with me.  You are a gift.


Man is an immortal spiritual being.
His experience extends well beyond a single lifetime.
His capabilities are unlimited, even if not presently realized.
Scientology further holds man to be basically good, and that his spiritual salvation depends upon himself and his fellows and his attainment of brotherhood with the universe. In that regard, Scientology is a religious philosophy in the most profound sense of the word, for it is concerned with no less than the full rehabilitation of man's innate spiritual self -- his capabilities, his awareness and his certainty of his own immortality. Furthermore, as religion deals with the spirit in relationship to itself, the universe and other life, and is essentially the belief in spiritual beings, Scientology follows a religious tradition that is at least as old as mankind. Yet what Scientology ultimately represents is new. Its religious technology is new, its ecclesiastical organization is new, and what it means to 20th-century man is entirely new.

At the heart of Scientology lie its axioms that precisely define the fundamental laws and truths of life, including who we are, what we are capable of, and most importantly, how we might realize our native spiritual abilities. These axioms form the foundation of a vast body of wisdom that applies to the entirety of all life. From this wisdom has come a great number of fundamental principles people can use to improve their immediate lives, as well as to achieve spiritual immortality. In fact, there is no aspect of life that cannot be improved through the application of Scientology principles.