Drug abuse and drug addiction is a very serious and often life threatening
problem. It robs people of their lives and ruins families. No
one sets out to abuse drugs. No one plans to become a drug addict. The
fact is, however, millions of people every year, from every background,
from every part of the country, rich and poor, become addicted to drugs; illegal
street drugs and prescription or pharmaceutical metications.
People understand that taking drugs is unsafe but they believe addiction will not happen to them. They think that they can control it. But drugs are very powerful and it is easy for drug use to progress to drug abuse which is then, a very small step to drug addiction and it can happen to anyone.
People begin taking drugs for many different reasons. Some begin for the physical pleasure or as recreation or a social activity. Others seek relief from physical and emotional pain. Still others face self esteem problems, loneliness and coping with the pressures of life. What starts out as relief from pain or personal problems often ends up in drug addiction.
At first it seems to help. The pain is gone for a time. Life’s problems seem to go away, the body relaxes, worries disapear. Even daily tasks and responsibilities seem easier. But this perceived relief is gone when the drug wears off and the realities return. Then you remember the drug, the relief it gave, the absence of pain, the pleasure, and more is taken again. After a while more and more is needed and addiction sets in.
Once addicted the original reason for taking the drug fades. It’s not temporary relief from pain anymore, it’s not social recreation, and life isn’t just a little bit easier. Instead the drug must be taken to feel normal or to keep from feeling horrible. The drug may only keep from feeling bad. In fact the pain of not taking the drug is now much greater than the pain you were trying to escape in the first place.
eventually they'll do whatever is necessary to get the drug. Whatever the negative consequences are it’s better than going without the drug. Getting drugs is the most important thing in an addicts life.
What if you don’t get your drug? Withdrawal symptoms set in. This becomes a hell worse than you ever imagined. You must get your drug – you must! Your whole life is for one thing: get your drug, get the money, whatever you need to do to get it, to buy your drug. You don’t care about family except how you can get money from them to buy your drug. You don’t care about any kind of normal activity except how it can get your drug. Your drug is central to your life – it is your life. Lying, stealing, manipulation are the means of getting your drug. Whatever it takes, it doesn’t matter because there is nothing worse than not having your drug – nothing worse. This will eventually destroy your life. It will destroy all your family relationships and all of your friends. You are likely to end up in jail, go insane or die….probably all three.
But there is hope, there is a way out. Addiction can be cured. Drug addicts can become free from their addiction. They can turn their lives around and regain productive healthy lives. With help and the right kind of individualized, comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation, drug addicts can conquer their addiction and take back their lives – and live a full happy life without drugs.