Cocaine

[anthrogirl]

Anybody here ever battled a coke addiction--or helped someone through this problem?

Please share your stories here.

thanks,
ag

[Spiritus Naturae]

Anybody here ever battled a coke addiction--or helped someone through this problem?

Please share your stories here.

thanks,
ag

Are you looking for help on doing an intervention with someone? If so are they friend or family? I'd be more than happy to help as much as I can. :yes:

Jonathan

[Spiritus Naturae]

While myself never having been a coke addict, many of my friends in recovery used the substance in it's various forms but obviously have successfully overcome it's power. All of them belong to one 12 step program or another. Many are in CA (http://www.ca.org/) (Cocaine Anonymous) but the majority of those I have met are also participants in the AA (http://www.aa.org/) (Alcoholics Anonymous) program as well. Alcohol seems to always be the dubious help mate for most substances and is a crippling addiction in and of itself, at least it was for me. It seems that being able to find others with similar problems, histories and experiences, then 'fellowshipping' with them helps immensely. It is not always successful but there is something about finding another soul who has succumbed to the same dark force of addiction, knowing that they have succeeded in arresting the development of 'the beast'; that does something to you as a human being, giving you hope and a desire for something better, something different than the despair of the former life.

Again, 12 step programs dont work for everyone, but when they do work the effect is a permanent one. I have in my own experience seen them work for everything from heroin to alcohol to food addictions and would recommend anyone in the throes of addiction to at least give it a try.

Jonathan

[anthrogirl]

Are you looking for help on doing an intervention with someone? If so are they friend or family? I'd be more than happy to help as much as I can. :yes:

Jonathan

A friend.

The thing about coke, speaking from personal experience, is that even when you want to quit--even though being high on coke isn't really that great (it's kinda like being loaded on caffeine, IMO)-- it still calls your name like some kind of dubious siren.

The other thing about coke these days is that it's getting cheaper. Part of this is because the market is totally saturated. People are practically giving it away. It's EVERYWHERE!

The only way that I was able to quit (and I didn't use it that often) was by leaving the scene altogether. I had to change my social environment, so that I was no longer exposed to it. And to be honest--even though I haven't used it for a number of years, I would still have a hard time resisting it if it was keyed up under my nose.

A 12-step pgm ain't gonna happen in this case. This person wishes to quit of their own accord.

What can I do, as a friend, to help alleviate the day-to-day temptation?

thanks,
ag

[Spiritus Naturae]

A friend.

The thing about coke, speaking from personal experience, is that even when you want to quit--even though being high on coke isn't really that great (it's kinda like being loaded on caffeine, IMO)-- it still calls your name like some kind of dubious siren.

The other thing about coke these days is that it's getting cheaper. Part of this is because the market is totally saturated. People are practically giving it away. It's EVERYWHERE!

The only way that I was able to quit (and I didn't use it that often) was by leaving the scene altogether. I had to change my social environment, so that I was no longer exposed to it. And to be honest--even though I haven't used it for a number of years, I would still have a hard time resisting it if it was keyed up under my nose.

A 12-step pgm ain't gonna happen in this case. This person wishes to quit of their own accord.

What can I do, as a friend, to help alleviate the day-to-day temptation?

thanks,
ag

Would your friend be willing to leave the scene, as you put it? Another key to 'success' that you learn about in a 12 step program is the necessity of saying goodbye to certain people and places in our lives. These things are just not healthy for us and often pull us down back into the same cycles. A 12 step program, while dependent on assistance in working steps with other people (sponsor), is successful only when a person desires to change and no longer wants to participate in the use of chemicals. There is always that little twinge that rears its head every now and again but now we know we no longer have to use.

I say encourage your friend to disassosciate with people who use. Help them to network with people outside of that culture, help motivate them to involve themselves in activities and hobbies that will place them away from the former lifestyle. If you want to do an intervention with that person, make sure you've got a few of their closest friends and family members present. People who sincerely, genuinely care about the person. Believe it or not, you should also rehearse what it is you all are going to say so as to avoid getting overly emotional or condemnatory in the midst of addressing the problem.

[Alberta girl]

This person wishes to quit of their own accord.


ag

Here is your friend's achilles heel.Very few people quit anything of their own accord and even when they achieve abstinence they are incapable of truly enjoying life. There is a tremendous difference in 'putting a plug in the jug' and actually achieving sobriety where one can live at peace with oneself and others. This is true of any drug or obsession known to man. We often call it 'white knuckle-ing it'. Your friend can go through as many dry runs as they want and try the geographical cure but they will always be left in their own company, with their own fears and pride. Recovery is impossible ontil these issues are addressed. I don't wish to leave you on a hopless note. Recovery is possible but almost never on one's own accord. You will be a good friend if you can impress this upon this person. Thank you for letting me share.

[Spiritus Naturae]

Here is your friend's achilles heel.Very few people quit anything of their own accord and even when they achieve abstinence they are incapable of truly enjoying life. There is a tremendous difference in 'putting a plug in the jug' and actually achieving sobriety where one can live at peace with oneself and others. This is true of any drug or obsession known to man. We often call it 'white knuckle-ing it'. Your friend can go through as many dry runs as they want and try the geographical cure but they will always be left in their own company, with their own fears and pride. Recovery is impossible ontil these issues are addressed. I don't wish to leave you on a hopless note. Recovery is possible but almost never on one's own accord. You will be a good friend if you can impress this upon this person. Thank you for letting me share.

:yes: Good post, Alberta girl. Very true...

[BeHereNow]

Perhaps you could find a way to negatively associate cocaine in his head. Like maybe cut it to make it weak. The only 8-ball I ever got was, I think, cut with something because I vomited all three times I sniffed it. So I've never had a desire to do it again.

Maybe you could also help replace the coke high with something else, like an espresso addiction, or um... I don't know if that's such a good idea.

[Cello]

Anybody here ever battled a coke addiction--or helped someone through this problem?

Please share your stories here.

thanks,
ag

I'm a recovered crack head. Started with snorting coke...progressed to cooking it up and 'freebasing'......ran through a TON of money and have stories I could tell.....just about lost everything...

What specifically would you like to know about....?

(read through thread -- have a better idea what you want, but am on the way out the door - will reply later -- but if you don't hear in a day or two - remind me! )

[BeHereNow]

I'm a recovered crack head. Started with snorting coke...progressed to cooking it up and 'freebasing'......ran through a TON of money and have stories I could tell.....just about lost everything...

What specifically would you like to know about....?

(read through thread -- have a better idea what you want, but am on the way out the door - will reply later -- but if you don't hear in a day or two - remind me! )

How did you quit smoking crack? Do you ever crave it?

[Cello]

How did you quit smoking crack? Do you ever crave it?
Wow. not to be 'cliche' but I really did get to a point where I KNEW my life was soo way out of control and I was soooo tired...I was either going to smoke myself into oblivion (and death) or I was going to have to 'die to self' and admit I was done. Done trying to make do, done trying to manage my life, control, medicate, whatever.....I knew I couldn't make my life work. I basically came to the conclusion I had to stop trying. Where was there to turn? For me the only thing I knew that was going to be able to run my life, control my life, give me peace - was God. So I basically gave up - said OK God - I'm done.....my life is not mine anymore - its yours. Take it, pathetic as it may be...its yours.

Then I entered myself into an outpatient treatment program - 5 nights a week - 6-10 pm and mandatory AA meetings for 10 months. I also did NA a bit. The program helped get me clean, taught me more about my illness (addiction), but GOd healed my heart, my soul....Church is my 'program' so to speak (though I dont' view attendance like that...)

Do I ever crave? Even now. Yes. In a way. The thing with coke and particularly crack -- is that there aer sensory triggers which you dont' get in the same way as other addictions. I mean, passing a bar or smelling something might make someone crave alcohol -- but certain things to this day still have physical effects on me -- so yeah, I crave in a sense from time to time, but never entertain the reality of a possiblity of using for very long (and that is part of a key I think--- you can't allow your mind to linger...for if it does, your 'will' will follow). And getting clean was not overnight. I relapsed and fell on my face on and off for a few years out of rehab.

What all the progams say, I believe to be very true.....you have to hit bottom. You have to.

Everyones bottom is different. Mine was really far down the tubes.

But you have to hit your bottom before you will be willing to really want to change. And you have to want it...until then, it won't happen.

I did change people, places, things. I gave up a life. But I got a new one. And its better. :) I really did give up a life. There is a book called "I lived a hundered years" (or a thousand or something) Sometimes I feel like I've lived a hundred years of a life and now I'm living another life.

While I have passing fancies of using....I dont' want that LIFE back -- so using isnt' an option because with it comes that life....or the start of the road back to it and its that life that I don't want - more than just not wanting to use - I dont' want that life. ugh.

Does any of that make any sense?????

[Cary]

Anybody here ever battled a coke addiction--or helped someone through this problem?

Please share your stories here.

thanks,
ag

I'm a crackhead, a junkie, an alcoholic or whatever term you like to place. I took my first drink at 12 and was blackout drinking by 14. My longest drug of choice was alcohol, but I spent many years smoking crack and "chasin the dragon" with heroin. I have never had serene sobriety until last January I realized that I was willing to do whatever it took to clean up my life. In all of the years that I played with the idea that I was powerless over ALL mind altering substances, like being on a roller coaster, back and forth, I've found that first I had to want it and then in order to get it I had to surrender. There's an amazing amount of power that filled my soul once I surrendered. Sometimes I take control back and quite quickly my life goes awry. Like yesterday, after refusing to pray since life handed me a gliche on Sunday, I found myself feeling totally alone and as I was in the car I determined that since God doesn't love me, (I've never been convinced that He does) I might as well stop at the liquor store or go to my old dealer's house. But first, I thought I'd give reaching out a chance. (Something new and different) Being willing to only reach out to two people and not having one of their numbers memorized, I decided to call someone that I trust cares about me no matter how 'sick' I am. That person saved my behind. To say I was close is an understatement. My point is, recovering from addiction is not a done deal and then you move on. I KNOW that I could not possibly stay sober without having God in my life. It's a journey, not looking at the destination. I do attend 12 step meetings (AA, CA) and having done the 12 steps before, but not staying clean, I know that I need to believe, feel in my heart, that God loves me. So now I've determined another goal in my journey. It feels good to know this goal. Maybe that's the lesson in my misery of 3 days. And my life for that matter. I know I'm not going to get a burning bush that says 'God loves you'. Rather I think it's a process that I want now. I think it's common for addicts to complicate everything. I also think it's common for addicts to have a high ego (the world should revolve around me) and low self-esteem (I'm a failure). If someone you know has an addiction, or you have an addiction, if you want it then it will be simple, but not easy. But ask yourself: Is life ever easy? Why not learn some new tools to throw in the mixture and gain some peace of mind?