For those who do not understand addiction
These simple guidelines can help you understand addiction and how an addict behaves. Remember, addiction almost always starts off with light recreational use or experimentation and invariably ends with full-blown dependency. An addict asking oneself the question “Am I addicted?” usually ends in a sort of confusion one does not want to face. The easiest thing to do in response to the answer is to just take more drugs. See the problem?
- Have you noticed that the person (or yourself) is hanging out with a new group of friends? Life is full of changes. Friends can come and go but when drug use is involved one commonly finds disintegrating relationships with family and friends and new relationships forming with those who use drugs. This can occur because using drugs causes the user to do things they wouldn’t normally do. They lie because they have too many secrets. They commit destructive acts (deciept, theft, etc.) against family and friends in order to get money to buy drugs, or to otherwise coverup what they are actually doing. They separate themselves from people who really care about them because they are ashamed of what they’re doing. They then associate with those whom they believe understand their situation because they use drugs as well.
- How are you doing on achieving your goals? School, Work, Family? Drug addiction is crippling. The overwhelming need to get high just to be normal becomes first and foremost in the users mind. All other things get pushed to the back or forgotten. Work or school become intimidating, terrifying concepts that could not possibly be done when the user isn’t high. Even when high, it’s impossible to relate or even function so quitting, getting fired or dropping out are the only relief. Once addicted, users will lie to anybody and family and loved ones are no exception. Drug users cannot seem to follow through and complete cycles of action. They start one thing, never finish it, and move on to the next. They leave a trail of chaotic, incomplete projects behind them.
- Do you have a lot of (possibly recent) regrets? We all do things we might regret. When you use drugs, you have to have money. Being high all the time seriously puts a damper on getting and keeping a job. It also crushes one’s ability to live up to live up to your obligations. If you never do what you have said or promised that you’d do, your earning potential takes a sharp drop to nil. Be that as it may, you still need to get high. So, what do you do? You take money from friends and loved ones (they won’t miss this $20), you steal from work (if you’re still employed), you coerce people into “helping you out” with a loan or you just plain steal or engage in fraud or other very illegal activities. If you take drugs, you do what you have to get by. More often than not, you end up hurting the people around you and individuating from them because of the guilt.
- Do you have a growing criminal record? Upsets happen in life. Things like speeding tickets, parking violations, etc. can be a part of the normal routine. When you start fearing being arrested on a regular basis or have things like larceny, breaking and entering, driving on a suspended or no license, DUI, trafficking, burglary, domestic violence or worse on your record you need to take a look at what you are doing. Chances are it’s drugs. How many times have you been to jail? More than once, twice, three times? Do you even fear going to jail anymore? Remember jails are full of career criminals and sociopaths. These people don’t care about laws or even about the people they protect. Do you or someone you know have flagrant disregard for the law? Chances are you’re doing something to get more drugs.
- Can you see the problem? If you answered yes or were unsure about any of the above questions, or maybe you answered yes but don’t see that as a problem then ask yourself this: Are you high right now? We live in America, protected by The US Constitution. We can do anything we put our minds to and achieve stellar levels of happiness. True happiness from experiencing life, from your accomplishments, from living your dreams. It doesn’t require constant maintenance in the form of a pill or substance that you have to lie, cheat and steal to get. It’s impossible to be happy when your conscience is constantly nagging you about the bad things you are doing just to get by. If you use drugs and lie a lot, do yourself a favor. Think about your family, your friends, your goals and dreams and then ask yourself this: Am I truly happy and would I want my children to live like this?
If you’re really honest and find that the answer is no, remember that it’s not too late. You can do something to change all of this. With the help of Narconon Colorado – A Life Worth Saving you can learn how to live.