SURPRISE! SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS A DRUG ADDICT

The Foundation For A Drug Free World reports: "Every day in the US, 2,500 youth (12 to 17) abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time. For years I have been baffled by the number of people I have encountered and befriended, who turn out to be addicted to narcotics. My best friend of over 20 years finally was compelled to tell me he too suffered from an addiction illness. Finding out after 20 years of being very close friends; I was faced with a dilemma. Do I cut all ties and run for the hills or do I stand by my friend in such a troubling time and risk the fallout that is sure to come from such a situation.

My friend is not the first person I have been close to who finds himself gripped by addiction illness. My brother and several 1st cousins are addicted to crack. I don't know if you have ever lived with a crack addict; but my brother was the worst example of a Black man on crack during my childhood. I have tried to forget about all the misery he caused our family; but now it seems every other person I meet is a narcotics addict. I don't have to tell you that I do not warm up to strangers very easily.

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, teens who abuse prescription drugs are twice as likely to use alcohol, five times more likely to use marijuana, and twelve to twenty times more likely to use illegal street drugs such as heroin, Ecstasy and cocaine than teens who do not abuse prescription drugs.

While in college in the 80's I took a class called "Drugs and Behavior". Our professor brought a "crack rock" to class so that we can get an upclose look and yes smell of crack burning. Please note that the professor did not smoke the crack in class; he simply burned it so we would know what it smells like. While at home on break I smelled that same metallic chemical smell coming from my brothers room. I burst in and his bedroom floor was littered with empty beer cans and he was smoking crack. I could not wait to tell my parents who already knew about it and did not know what to do.

Since addiction is an illness of course sufferers need help; but what about the collateral damage to innocent bystanders like myself. We at first want to be compassionate but to people who don't have an addictive personality trait; we don't know where the line is between compassion and enabling. I know we will never wipe out narcotic drug use is this country; but what do we do with our "friends" in the meantime. My friend of 20 yrs is on his 3rd recovery attempt.