Posts Tagged drug abuse reasons

Depression and Drug Abuse: My Story

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on January 5th, 2010

I used to be someone who could never see the silver lining in every cloud. While I was living a rather easy life, I could not help but feel a sense of emptiness. I felt that something was missing in my life. Compared to my friends, I had relatively less problems than they had – my family is okay, my financial status is stable, and my work is more than enough to keep me on my toes during the day. Despite these, I never felt satisfied with my life. I then slowly sank into depression, thinking that there was nothing in my life that could fill the gaping chasm in my heart.

depressionAs time went on, I met different people from all walks of life. In my line of work, I meet poor people, sexually abused women, and drug addicts. And as my depression intensified, I felt vaguely tempted to try drugs, hoping that these would allow me to escape from the melancholy of my personal reality.

So I went with some acquaintances and had some fun one night. Then they started passing drugs around. When they started to get closer to me, I felt a sense of unease; it didn’t feel at all right to be there. I didn’t want to waste my life dependent on the drug. I wanted to live my life as freely as I possibly could without fear or shame for my own identity.

I politely refused the offer and left midway through the party. I figured that it was better for me to live my life by my own terms, and I found it hard to see drugs as a concrete and lasting answer to my plight. Since then, I’ve tried to live and be happy with my own life, and face my own problems with dignity and pride.

I haven’t turned back since.

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Thank you to one of my dearest friends, who wish not to be named in this post, for sharing his story. Should you want to share your story too and allow others to learn from your experience, just drop us a comment.

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Get Ready for the Usual Excuses for Drug Addiction

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction on November 23rd, 2009

Those with drug problems often find excuses to continue with the habit. The natural tendency is to attempt to rationalize their drug addiction, stressing that there is a definite and valid cause to justify their drug use.  If true and lasting recovery is to take place, we must learn to sift through the excuses and look at the real heart of the problem.

drug addictionOne excuse that users give is that they feel that they have a sense of control over their drug use. They claim that they can stop anytime they want to. While this may be possible to some extent, prolonged use can lead to addiction, even if the time period of usage is not continuous. It is one thing to go back to it from time to time, and it’s another thing to completely cease from it.

Others may claim that they are not even using the drug enough to become addicted — a perception that is subject to a lot of doubts and debate. One thing we must remember is that tolerance to the drug can be built up from long-term drug use, and the amount of the drug required to achieve the desired effect, whether euphoria or placidity, also increases.

Somewhere along the line of their addiction, they may start to blame you for their habit, telling you that you never give them respect, acknowledgment, and love. That is why they say that they delve into drug use in order to simulate the feeling of being happy, or at least attempt to escape reality even for just a brief moment. It is thus very important to keep in mind that you, as a separate individual, are not the cause for his drug habit. Remember that it is the user’s choice, and not yours.

Knowing the excuses drug users usually dish out, it becomes easier to find the right responses and rebuttals for their claims. This can help in the long run, especially when on the long road to rehabilitation.

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