Replies

I don’t necessarily believe in gateway drugs so much as I believe in gateway personalities.

I say this as a former drug addict, and the reason that I say it is that I have known many people who use drugs. Many of them kept themselves relatively under control and just stuck with weed, never really went any further.

Yet some do go further. I was one, and I knew others that went much further than me.

It really seemed that the key to what determined this was what was the root cause of addiction? How great was the problem that they were running from, real or perceived, by doping themselves up on a regular basis like this?

Some of the things that I have learned from my battle with addiction are these.

For whatever reason, some people are born into this world where it seems like their main purpose in life is to battle the demon of addiction, and it really is a demon, and those persons are the only ones who can defeat that demon individually.

They may have many others around them who love them endlessly and want to do nothing other than help them, but in the end it is only that person who can pick up their own sword and kill it. No one else can. God can help in this battle, but even then only so much. He can give them His strength if they ask, but then they have to actually use it.

The reason that only that person can defeat his demon is because that person is the only one who is with himself 24/ 7. No one else can do that duty. Much as their loved ones would like to try, they can’t. There will always one day be that moment of temptation, and the addict is the only one who can turn and walk away at that time.

It took me a long time in my life to learn that the things I did that made me cool when I was young, those things that made me fit in with others who did the same things are the things that also made me into an outcast as an adult.

Because as we age, the troubles of youth seem to settle and people move on and become responsible adults with jobs and families, and if you are still messing around being a drug addict, you will never have those things, and you will be on the outside of everyone else who does, and that hurts.

At the age of 19, she may be too young to learn these things yet. She may go on like this for sometime, and basically her loved ones can only hope and pray that she discovers the truth before she ends up hurting herself either legally or otherwise.

Recently, I have been watching an interesting program on Investigation Discovery called Breaking Point, which is about professional interventions.

That is a very moving program to me, because as a former addict, I see how the behavior of addiction just destroys those who love you. This is at times extremely sad to watch, but as I think back to the times of my addiction, I know that I was completely unable to perceive or even care how it affected anyone, including me.

It is also interesting to note that in some cases even when provided professional rehab and care and lawyers to deal with any criminal record, the addict can still not grab the hand that is reaching to help pull them from the water. They simply do not want to and remain oblivious to the damage they are doing.

I am very sad to hear of your troubles with your daughter. I will pray for you both, and if I may give one piece of advice. Tell her that only she and God can beat her demon, and the way to ask for God’s help is to pray to Him and ask Him for His help.

I am not even joking about that at all. On her darkest day, she will see His light, and He will lead her back to the path and out of the woods.

I apologize for the length of my post, I’ll stop it now.

I will pray for you both, and if I may give one piece of advice. Tell her that only she and God can beat her demon, and the way to ask for God’s help is to pray to Him and ask Him for His help. I am not even joking about that at all. On her darkest day, she will see His light, and He will lead her back to the path and out of the woods. I apologize for the length of my post, I’ll stop it now.

I hope everyone here reads every word of chris37's post.

Chris, amen to every word, from a fellow traveler in "addiction." The cure is inside. Intervention of an outside source is in vain.

And for the Love of Pete, the kid is only NINETEEN!!

Consigning her to failure and soiledness this soon is ... sad. Pray for her and love her the best you can, whether it's propping her up a bit or letting her go to flail and learn, but always with love. That's the most important thing.

I would like to support what chris37 has shared with you. After 68 yrs. of life and being an observer of life, I have gone through crises and have watched others go through crisis. No one is spared from troubles in this life. God designed it that way so that we would turn to him. He brings us to the end of ourselves so that we cry out to Him. Your family is in that place now...you are in that place now but I want you to know God loves you more that anybody has ever loved you...he loves your daughter and wife. He wants to come into your life and show you how much He loves you. All you have to do is ask. That's it...just ask Him to please help you. Because of His son Jesus, He will hear you and answer your prayer. He loves your daughter so much and is waiting for her to turn to Him. He can deliver her from any and all drugs. He can strengthen you to stand up under all this emotional turmoil. He can touch your wife. He loves you, He's waiting for you to call on Him, He will set your daughter free. May His blessing flow through your family.