Addiction Can Hit Anyone. Don’t Let It Be YOU.

Life turned upside down and inside out.  My beautiful, wonderful, charming, fun loving and fun sharing son, caught up in the world of drugs, lost his life in April of 2018.  Let me share some of what I have learned over these challenging years.

Don’t Let It Be YOU.

First of all, addiction can hit anyone so don’t let it be you.   Addiction is a disease.  No one wants or chooses to be an addict.  It’s an insidious disease that creeps up on you while you are growing up and are not in a mind set that allows for good decision making.  Often times it develops before your brain has even developed  fully; before you are able to make good decisions.  It develops during a time when you are experimenting with various behaviors, trying to grow up, trying on grown up behaviors, socializing, drinking, partying and just trying  to fit in. Adolescence, the most difficult years, because you are trapped between childhood and adulthood, is often the time when addictions can take over.

Adolescence is a Difficult Time.

During adolescence, you work so hard at growing up.   You think you make decisions about who you are, what you do, and believe will lead to good results.  However, you are confused, insecure,  and attempting to develop your own personal identity. 

The young person begins to separate from parents.  He/She rejects what the parents want.  This happens at a time when the adolescent  doesn’t  know much about life or where to go in life.  Someone offers drugs. All these young people, many friends are doing the drugs.   So the unhappy adolescent tries it,  never expecting the drugs to take over.  Unfortunately, the addict doesn’t know he’s an addict until s/he starts with drugs.

You May Be Born With Addiction

I believe an addict enters the world with his/her addictions.  Pay attention to family history.  Are there addicts or history of mental illness in the family?  Cousins, grandparents, aunts or uncles? If the answer is yes,  you are at greater risk for substance abuse and  addiction.  The addict  has no idea that s/he may have an allergic reaction to drugs or alcohol and so s/he experiments. S/he tries a substance and finds s/he likes the feeling of getting high.  S/he likes the altered state the substance gives her/him.  So, the experience is enjoyed and repeated over and over again.

Additionally, more drugs introduced.  More drugs  experienced.  Nothing bad has happened, explore more?  Move on to more addictive drugs.  At the same time, you are in this vulnerable stage in life. Your altered state makes you feel good.  You still don’t know who you are and what you want to do with life, but the substance makes you worry less about life and decisions you need to make.  Drugs allow you to escape your anxieties. You continue to  use, explore, expand your experience with drugs.  Eventually, you are addicted.

Addiction Is Not A Choice

Unfortunately, there is no free will.  Choice doesn’t exist.  The cycle builds momentum and becomes bigger than you.  Living in the “underworld” of drugs, crime, lies, deception. You’re drowning in the insanity of addiction believing there is no way out because you “have” to get high.  You need the drug.  And the drug runs you.  Now and for the rest of your life,  you are an addict.

Say No To Drugs; Don’t Even Try Them.

Firstly, be aware of  your family history and teach your children when addiction runs in your family.  Tell them, don’t take the risk particularly, when your risk is high.  Drugs not only  ruin your life taking away all of your potential for a happy and healthy life; they often take your life.  Don’t get caught up in the insanity of addiction.  This insanity makes you believe you control how far this goes  but you are out of control.  Love yourself.  Be patient with yourself.  Allow yourself to grow up healthy.  Don’t start using drugs. You don’t know if you will have an addictive reaction.  It happens fast.  Don’t let it happen to you. YOU MATTER.  ADDICTION CAN HIT ANYONE.  DON’T LET IT BE YOU.