Crystal Meth -- Is it really surprising?- Page 2

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:14pm

Actually, this is the first time I've spoken about it publicly.
I was asked if I was in any program, and said, "Nope, I just stopped doing it."

I saw how it was tearing WeHo apart, and no one was talking about it. It was sad becasue, ater you've done it, you KNOW when someone else is high, and they thought they were flying under the radar.

I just hope that this thread will help out anyone who reads it.

There, my good deed for the day is done...I'm going to get drunk now... Just kidding

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:17pm

TD and Dame - I do hope that your described experiences can deter some one.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:20pm

I have friends who have alternately:
-sero-converted
-lost their jobs and moved back with their parents
-gone into a coma
-tried to commit suicide

Things seem just as bleak as my ACT UP days 15 years ago, when someone I knew was announced dead at every meeting.

Updated On: 6/21/05 at 12:20 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:22pm

Diva and Dame--congratulations. You have showed enormous strength kicking the unkickable drug. I only wish my two friends had your strength.

But each of them has "bottomed out" at least once and gone back to using. The last time for one he was rushed to the hospital with two burst boils, one near his groin and one on his chest.

The next I expect to hear of them is that they're dead. All of the friends he's dropped have long since mourned for him.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:30pm

meth is a huge problem here in Seattle as well... plus we have what was called the 'meth capital' of the US: Granite Falls, WA, about an hour from Seattle. It's so incredibly sad... and yes, DAME and Diva, it's so awesome that you could step away the way that you did. I know way too many people that have not had that will power, and continue going back.

I hope the younger ones are reading this thread...

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:30pm

I have so much to say and no time in which to say it.

Fear is not a good long term motivator for behavior change or maintenance.

The amped up crystal of today is so potent, and so addictive, it's quite unlike the meth waves that date back to San Francisco when WWII pilots from Japan came back after being instructed, by the US military, to JAM themselves in the legs with syringes full of the stuff so they could stay awake and running bombing missions.

It's really not about "good parenting." Anybody can get caught in the grip of addiction. And Tin, with your line that says "which is sorely lacking today" you have sort of crossed the line into old fuddy duddy hood.

More later.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:33pm

I'm one of the "young'uns" and I'm reading this thread. While I haven't started anything yet, there are people in my grade and the grade above me who have started smoking cigarettes and pot and having sex and I fear they may move on to something like meth. I hope they don't end up like PalJoey's friends; alone, job-less and almost dead.

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:34pm

"Fear is not a good long term motivator for behavior change or maintenance."

I absolutely agree - but it can come in handy when confronted with an unexpected situation.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:41pm

Fear has kept me from going near things I'm afraid of - one of those would be addictive substances. It's not a behavior change - it's how I've always been. That's all I meant.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:45pm

"people in my grade and the grade above me who have started smoking cigarettes and pot and having sex and I fear they may move on to something like meth."

What grade are you in?

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:46pm

I'm going into 9th.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:48pm

The whole sex thing with middle school kids is freaking me out. I'm like, 'Pick up a bong and smoke pot...just don't have sex!!!!'

Yes...it's a joke...but really! What do 13-year-olds know about sex??

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:53pm

Namo - of COURSE I'm an old fuddy duddy - I crossed that line a few years ago - I despise the way young people, hell - people in general, act these days - totally disrespecting the rest of humanity for their own greedy goals. I'm sick and tired of being stepped on and knocked into by people on their cell phones - dialing and discussing what they had for dinner the night before - jesus christ - get to a corner and drop a quarter for God's sake, just pay attention to what's going on around you and realize that there are other people in the world with needs just as important as yours, who deserve your respect and are entitled to their own personal space.
OK..I'll get down off my soapbox now! lol!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:55pm

unfortunately, sometimes 23 year-olds don't know anything about sex either...or drugs.

i have always wanted to try pot and cocaine and other stuff, but for some reason, i just can't bring myself to do them. i feel like everyone out there in NYC is doing at least some kind of drug...and i almost feel left out since i am not using. but i also don't want to die...

fitting in should not be this hard at my age...
Updated On: 6/21/05 at 12:55 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:56pm

My Fair Lady,

9th grade is far too young to be smoking or having sex.

I would find a new group of friends.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 12:59pm

Withoutatrace,

If everyone was jumping off the Empire State Building, would you?

"Make your own kind of music! Sing your own kind of song! Even if nobody else sings along!"

(Sorry, that just popped into my head)

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:00pm

Diva-My friensd don't do that. The people in my grade who I really don't like do that.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:02pm

Good for you then. And stay away from "those people".

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:04pm

"If everyone was jumping off the Empire State Building, would you?"

the sad part is, i would consider it. i spent 10 years trying to "be like everyone else" since I didn't want to face the fact that I was gay. it has screwed with my head in more ways than one. i think i just need to find new friends who are also gay and understand what i'm going through...they are out there somewhere. everyone's support on this board has helped a lot though, so thanks!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:09pm

Call your local Gay and Lesbian Center. They can be very useful.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:10pm

If you're reading this thread, you're lucky. You love theater. I will never forget the high I had after seeing Evita or Billy Elliot.

'GET HIGH ON THEATER!'
'GET HIGH ON THEATRE!' (UK version)

Updated On: 6/21/05 at 01:10 PM

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:11pm

Withouta trace - they are most certainly out there - and you'll run into them eventually. In the meantime, your own integrity is what counts.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:16pm

Gosh I'm lucky I came out young and had parents who loved me regardless of my orientation. I never in my life had to pretend to be something I'm not, so maybe that helped me avoid the use of substances and other peer-pressure related things, to find meaning in life.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:30pm

honestly, theater *is* what gets me high in life. it's just that you see all those people in clubs getting high and having the time of their lives and you can't help but wonder what it would feel like.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/21/05 at 1:33pm

Sure, you see them out having fun, but what you don't see is what happens AFTER the party's over. It's not a pretty picture.