Guest guest Posted July 26, 2003 Report Share Posted July 26, 2003 Eve, I have close relatives who are " crackheads. " This is a very, very serious undertaking you are proposing for yourself and your family. Especially if you have children! If your friend is in " bad shape " your home is not the place for him to be. A rehabilitation center is! In a very short time your home would become an unsafe place for you and your family. A " crackhead " is no longer the person you think you know and love. They have become an addict who only knows and loves crack! Crack is a drug which leaves a strong psychological craving. While smoking crack, the person physically craves more and more and more and more. Whenever they are not smoking crack they say they inwardly obsess in their minds how wonderful it makes them feel. They find themselves unable to resist their cravings. There is never enough crack even when it is gone. Crackheads are known to become steal everything worth a dime. They are dangerous and violent while on their " mission " to get more crack. When an addict lives in our homes, our lives, our health, our safety, peace of mind, money, valuables... everything we presently have -- material and spiritual -- are at risk, everyday of every hour. An addict who lives with you will wreak more havoc in your life than an F5 tornado! I know firsthand. Since the early '80s when crack first hit -- certain -- US streets, I only know of two people (a family member and later one of their friends) who've managed to stay clean and sober from crack and alcohol for over a period of 10 years. The good news is they have their full lives back and are healthy, happy, productive, law abiding, taxpaying, homeowners! They both needed rehab http://www.soberrecovery.com/. However, it took both of them at least FOUR stints during the course of many years at a rehab for them to learn how to stay clean and sober. Not even one beer. Failure to stay away from " people, places and things " are the most difficult changes for them to make and reason for most relapses. During the first few weeks of sobriety, they were both given B12 injections to help them gain weight and improve their overall health. An addict using accupuncture or any other alternative treatment without first having made their own commitment to sobriety and counseling with an experienced drug counselor, is like putting a band-aid on a dam. If an addict is serious about their sobriety, one must take their own initative to seek help. Often they must hit " rock bottom " i.e. losing their freedom (jail time), their family, their job, and their home " before they " get tired of being tired " and commit themselves to changing their lives. Often times they do not commit to sobriety. No matter how much they lose. We cannot do any of it for them. They must personally make the calls to arrange their detoxification at a hospital or rehab. The ball is always in their court not ours... in their time... not ours. No matter how desperate WE become to save them! IMHO every family or friend loving and living with drug addiction may benefit from Nar-Anon http://www.syix.com/mleahey/United/ so we don't become or remain a " co-dependent " . Your friend may truly benefit from Nar-Anon. Its been proven through the millions of people who've managed to overcome addiction, that only a clean and sober addict can " sponsor " another addict. Nar-Anon is free, anonymous and effective. If there is no Nar-Anon available in your immediate area, there are AA meetings available virtually everywhere http://www.realfriendsandfamily.org/aa.html. Sobriety is sobriety is sobriety. It is based on the same principle -- abstinence and the belief of a higher power -- whatever that higher power may be. As they say to addicts at both AA and Nar meetings... " it works, if you work it! " Eve, don't rush into anything! Your friend needs professional help. Family and friends are frankly, unqualified. Before you decide to let an active addict live in your home, speak to an experienced drug counselor. Go to a local AA or Nar-Anon meeting for " codependents. " These organizations are listed in your local phone book. At this time, you may better serve your friend as the provider of information and resources. Then later be his " unassociated with drugs " friend he can talk to and visit with in time, once he's shown he's clean and sober. But only if you two have no history of doing drugs together. You will spare yourself (your children) and your friend the vicious cycle of addiction. Wanda <Hello group I have a friend that is on crack. I would like to help him he is in bad shape. I would like to move him in my home but, I have no experience in dealing with a person who is an addict. I am planning to take him to get acupuncture treatment. Any other suggestions . Urgent! you answer will help me decide if I invite him in my home. Thanks eve> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2003 Report Share Posted July 26, 2003 , " evelyn Richardson " <richgirl@p...> wrote: > > Hello group I have a friend that is on crack . I would like to > help him he is in bad shape. I would like to move him in my home.... BIG MISTAKE!! A major can of worms, from the addict selling off your property to buy drugs, to him inviting his other druggy friends into your house, to, and possibly in addition to, getting YOU ARRESTED for drugs. Few cops and no jury would believe that anybody would be stupid enough to bring that kind of person into their own home unless it was their own child or they were also involved with drugs!! That's the kind of person you kick out of your house, not let in!!! Most people in our nation's prisons are there on drug charges. Don't become one of them. You can't help this kind of person directly. You are definately far better off helping this person through an organization that knows how, just like you can't simply hand a homeless person money because he would just spend it on drugs or alcohol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 28, 2003 Report Share Posted July 28, 2003 Well, like I said, even though it might be trying, it can be done and it can be a good experience. The other suggestions were really good too. Especially Alobar's diet suggestions. Those things will help a lot with the addition of the supplements I mentioned. Yes, you can find them in a health food store - the whole food supplement, you might have to order over the net. Look into products similar to Perfect Food, Vitalerbs or Richard Schulze's Superfood. I've never heard of Kings Sulfur Bitters, but if it's similar to Swedish bitters, it certainly should help and can't hurt. I want to emphasize him having a back up place to go, even if it's a rehab center, in case this doesn't work out. Situations like this have the potential to get real bad very quickly, and in that case the agreement needs to be halted. Often it takes several attempts before final success at totally becoming " clean " , so if he keeps trying that is a good sign - eventually he will succeed. Keep your intuition flowing, the lines of communication and acceptance open, and most importantly, the rules firm. We're with you. thessa , " evelyn Richardson " <richgirl@p...> wrote: > Thanks so much .. It seems I got myself in a mess here. I had no idea what I > was getting myself into. I have never encountered anyone that I knowingly > knew too drugs. I never even had a friend that smoked. I did lay down some > rules. I took all his money He does not access to a penny . I determine what > he eats and drink. He has very little . He still has his job. He loves to > work. I bought him a bottle of DR, Kings Sulfur Bitters just on a hunch. I > am happy for the suggestion about the diet, Can I get these at the Health > food store? Thanks soo much. Please keep intouch with me through this > ordeal > Thanks sooo much > eve > " thessa " <thessabelcher@h...> > > Saturday, July 26, 2003 4:09 AM > Re: Urgent Help !!!!! Crack cocoine > > > > Hi Eve, > > I have lived with a crack addict who had tried to quit, but ended up > > going back to the stuff. It was a hard time, I tried to help as much > > as possible, but the problem stemmed from the personality. In her > > case it was a complete lack of self worth. This lack of self worth > > caused other problems as well, namely inviting her abusive boyfriend > > to come live with us. If you decide to invite this person in, just > > be aware that it MAY be a very trying experience. Of course trying > > experiences are often very valuable. If this person is open to your > > efforts and puts out more effort than you, he could overcome. You > > might have a " plan B " in mind. He needs to have somewhere else to go > > immediately in case the arrangement is not working out for either of > > you. Also, write out rules/guidelines for his living in your house. > > You both need to understand what type of behavior will get him kicked > > out (ex. doing crack in the house or whatever you decide). You both > > should understand that this is HIS battle, and you are there for > > support, not to win it for him. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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