Addiction to Drugs/crack addition

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Expert: Veronica C. Yost - 3/26/2009


Question
Hi Veronica,   I want to thank-you for your responds the other day and for taking the time to help other people.  I have been thinking about your answer,  the part where the addict only cares about himself.  Is that true?  I am finding it difficult to understand how someone could live such a lifestyle, have nothing, surviving day by day and care about themselves.  When you have lost everything of value from friends, family, and home etc..  How can that be caring for yourself?  What I'm I not understanding? I know this drug is super powerful!  I could understand if you said he only cares about crack.  Not himself, others or any consequence, but to say he only cares about himself, means he still has some sort of rational thinking.  If you care about yourself you care about other things also.   I believe (at least in this addict) he goes where ever he can exist now.  Living in cheap $30 a night motels with crack buddy or crack whores.  Just a very, as you said, pathetic existence.   Your comment about only caring about themselves has been on my mind.  This guy is sandalist!! Nothing seems to matter to him NOTHING  not himself, not anything except doing drugs. I believe he thinks he can not live or survive without them.  I also believe, he knows what he is doing and done.  Thank-you so much for our time and understanding.  Michelle

Answer
When I say he cares only about himself I mean he can not spare the time to care for another human being like he does himself and his own needs.  Sure you can break it down and look at every aspect of the addicts life and still look and see how the actions are self gratifying.  Living how they live, where they live is a choice with the ultimate goal of smoking crack.  
He can not survive without drugs, that is the nature of addiction.  Actions are beyond comprehension by the outside world.  All addicts know exactly what they are doing and have done...they don't care about the consequences.  All they want is the drug and at all costs.  Don't mistake trying to survive for caring.  The only reason we survive is for the drugs.
Let me know if you have further questions!  

Addiction to Drugs

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Veronica C. Yost

Expertise

I will NOT provide information on how to PASS A DRUG TEST SO DO NOT ASK ME!! I can provide information regarding crack addiction, drug user life style, why they do what they do, visual differences between crack and crystal meth, what effects crack has on the body (long term), what crack looks like, what to expect when someone stops/starts using, effects after drug use has stopped, how long it REALLY takes to recover, what family members can expect of their loved one during drug use and recovery process, why recovering addicts sometimes turn to alcohol or pot, how to talk to your children about this drug before they ever touch it. I won't answer obvious questions about how to make or use crack. I won't describe how to make crack pipes but I will help a parents, guardians or family members identify a pipe, paraphernalia and the drug itself. Since pipes can be very sneaky looking and sometimes without a smell I will answer those questions also.

Experience

I spent many years addicted to drugs and have been clean and sober since 2007. I had a $1000 a day habit and spent over $70,000 in one year on crack. Coming off drugs and alcohol was the most difficult thing I have ever done. I also feel extremely blessed in that it was a drug dealer that actually started me on the road to recovery. It is a daily battle that never goes away. Only 3% of the drug population that quit crack (without rehab) actually stays off the drug. I have been clean for more than 4 years. I believe everyone is different regarding treatment and if possible should consult a physician.

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My life is my experience.

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