Posted on 02/06/2005 7:23:26 AM PST by shrinkermd
"...Nick now claims that he was searching for methamphetamine for his entire life, and when he tried it for the first time, as he says, ''That was that.'' It would have been no easier to see him strung out on heroin or cocaine, but as every parent of a methamphetamine addict comes to learn, this drug has a unique, horrific quality. In an interview, Stephan Jenkins, the singer in the band Third Eye Blind, said that methamphetamine makes you feel ''bright and shiny.'' It also makes you paranoid, incoherent and both destructive and pathetically and relentlessly self-destructive. Then you will do unconscionable things in order to feel bright and shiny again. Nick had always been a sensitive..."
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Since this is a public forum, I am unable to speculate too much on this boy's problems. In spite of this restriction, it is possible to see the failures--parental divorce at a crucial age and no tuition direct or indirect as to the meaning of life, mores and so forth. Finally, apart from any clinical value, note the grim reality of widespread availability of substances.
Finally, before puberty this individual was substance dependent or habituated yet people minimized the emerging catastrophe. "Normalization" of serious psychopathology seems to be a huge problem for those lacking in traditional values and beliefs.
The "aha or where have they been keeping this stuff" on the first use of a substance or alcohol is a common finding. Most social drinkers, for example, cannot remember their first drink; many, but not all, alcoholics surely can. Memory is frail and inconclusive at best, but what we remember is also what we are currently thinking about is not a bad explanation.
tears a hole in the "drugs are a personal choice issue".
When someone gets addicted, their personal choice becomes a matter for all of society to deal with.
I have seen a bright, sunny little girl turn into a destructive creature that would abandon her own child and steal from her parents to get another fix of meth.
Indeed, when he was 12, I discovered a vial of marijuana in his backpack. I met with his teacher, who said: ''It's normal. Most kids try it.''
Another 'non-judgemental' triumph of our wonder publik education system.
Then please explain the murderous thoughts and railroad spike through my frontal lobes when I run out of coffee.
Not if people minded their own business doesn't. Of course there are plenty who are "addicted" to sticking their noses into others' business. Because they feel the need to be a busybody, everyone should be a busybody. Doesn't work for me.
LOL I was thinking just the same thing.
I couldn't disagree more on Meth being addictive. You DO become physically ill upon withdrawl. I sat and listened to my own daughter describe her month of January on Meth. She used it the first time on New Years and was straight only 3 days the entire month.
She said the first time she tried it she was hooked - she was up for 4 days straight not sleeping or eating and when she started to come down was so sick she had to have it again.
It quickly turned into a $100.00 habit that caused her to forge checks on my bank account resulting in my calling the police and having her arrested. After a week in jail she is clean and going to NA - I just hope she stays off of it.
Reasons? Who knows, but my guess is her father and I divorced when she was 1 and after a few years intermittent visitation he remarried and pretty much blew her off. I think the last straw was last year when she found out he moved out of state and hadn't even told her. No matter what I did, I couldn't make up for the continual rejection.
Uh oh.
I am sorry to hear that, I hope she stays clean. Losing one of my kids to drugs is one of my biggest fears.
I will never forget the time I accidentally bought decaf and didn't discover it until after a week of headaches and acute depression.
This was excellent. Thanks for posting.
Very good post. The article is very well written, when I saw how long it was I figured I'd never make it to the end, but it was a good, if very sad, read. A wee bit mawkish in parts, but that is probably unavoidable. I hope this young man stays straight, I really sincerely do.
I'm very sorry, that must be heartbreaking.
:(
"I asked if he would meet me. No matter how unrealistic, I retained a sliver of hope that I could get through to him. That's not quite accurate. I knew I couldn't, but at least I could put my fingertips on his cheek."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.