About Veronica C. Yost Expertise 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 crack. I lived in multiple crack houses with a number of high level drug dealers. I produced (made) crack for specific dealers. 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. Every girl is the crack house I lived in was "hooked out", they never did that to me. I don't know why but I thank God for all the blessing along the way. It is not easy and it is hard to quit but I had to learn and realize that I will go to my death bed wanting this drug. But I will be damned if I EVER give in to it. It is a daily battle that never goes away. After 2 years my family physician told me that had achieved something great and I should be proud. Only 3% of the drug population that quit crack (without rehab) actually stays off the drug. I have been clean for more than 2 years. I believe everyone is different regarding treatment and if possible should consult a physician.
Question QUESTION: I am fifty four years old. My beloved nephew ( 30 yrs)never had a chance in life and started drugs at age eight...cocaine, heroin, etc. Years back he started on crack. I did not see him for twelve years.
Last year I saw him in jail and asked for rehab instead of a ninth prison stay. He was a star client in residential social behavioral program and out patient drug counseling. He came home last November as the person I dreamed of. The behaviors started about February. As time went on he was sneaking out at night to steal, was using etc. I finally put him out last week.
I saw him today...he looks like a sixty year old homeless man shuffling around the streets. I am dying. I am dying. I begged for an hour asking him to come home to shower, eat, sleep. He refused. Said he could not bring all this to me again. Excuses so he can use.
I have NEVER seen anything like this. Is there any hope for him? Is he going to die or be killed? Please give me hope. Please tell me how to save him (yes I know I sound crazy).
ANSWER: Hi Terri,
Unfortunately the only one who can save your nephew is your nephew. Nothing you or anyone can say will make him stop until he is ready. Some call it a "trigger" that makes the user want to stop but I can tell you this drug is all consuming. You either do it and decide to stop or you do it until it takes your life. I know it's not what you want to hear and I know you love him but the best thing to do is take care of yourself. Your love won't save him or free him from this addiction. I can give you the hard fact and it is only 5% of addicts ever successfully recover and never get high again.
What you saw is addiction at it's "finest". He honestly can't help what he's doing. You see when people start using the brain stops producing serotonin, a natural stimulant we all have. After the brain fully quits producing it tells the user they need use more and more to replace what has been lost. We are all dependant on the natural form of serotinin to function day to day. Now he is dependant on crack to function day to day. You are suffering watching him destroy his life but I can't give you much hope, especially if he is in the shape he is in. The only thing you can do is hope is gets caught with drugs and go back to jail and then maybe he will have another chance but the position he is in now it's unlikely that he will stop voluntarily.
I am so sorry I can't help further or help at all. Always remember that no matter what he loves you and if he were in his right mind he would tell you how sorry he is to have done this to you. Accept my apology for him and I will pray that something or someone can reach him before it's too late.
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QUESTION: thank you...is it possible to replace the seratonin medically?
With this drug taking so many, what is the hope...that a sub culture dies out?
I cannot bare to think all these lives are expendable. My R# has been beat to a pulp, pistal whipped, drug by a car until he was practically skinned, been in several high speed chases, etc.
Is there research or something I can get involved with?
Do I keep his room ready for the times he is sober?
How does a drug make you willing to die for it? I'm sorry...
thank you again.
ANSWER: Hello,
Yes they have medications that actually help quite a bit. Often these meds are given when a person checks into rehab and what is given depends on his honesty in the amount that was used. It's is similar if not the same as detox medication.
The problem with this drug is many users want someone to be co-dependant with them and often convert someone, this makes them a new user. Plus, many many dealers who sell one drug will offer another drug free temporarily to get their customers hooked on something stronger and having them continually return. Having lived with some major dealers out of Detroit I saw this happen often. I was given heroine for free but thankfully hated it. This is why the drug business is so very lucrative. Constant turn over and with crack you can do it a couple of times and not be hooked but after that you are done.
Lives aren't expendable but it is like fight a gun war with water pistols. Officials take one dealer off the street and he's replaced by 5 more. The money is too good and that's why you see so much of it going on. The little guys who sell on the street are nothing, you'd have to go through a chain of command to get to the leader and distributor. The distributor is never turned in by the street boys and the dist. never ever sells or makes a direct pick up of stock.
As far as research is concerned...I am not sure what you mean but if you want to get involved in anything I would suggest you start working to strengthen the laws that apply to individuals caught selling or buying illegal drugs. They have made great strides in this area but in my opinion it isn't enough. Dealers are pretty smart, the good ones and know how not to get caught. Years of practice. You could also volunteer to help people in rehab/recovery centers. Learn all you can about the signs of use, what happens when someone attempts to stop using etc. There are plenty of books available like, CoDependant No More. A nice young lady had a boyfriend addicted, kicked him out finally and went to her doctor who told her to read that book. She did, told me about it and she said it was amazingly wonderful.
Keeping a space ready for him only allows him a "fall back" and that's not okay. He needs to hit rock bottom and if he does come back take him directly to the ER where he can get help started. There is nothing wrong with loving him and wanting to help him but you must draw the line. The addiction will drag everyone down with it, I promise. I did it to my family and he will do it to his. Dealers will give him drugs for free to a certain extent but there are always days when they won't, that will become his "bottom". That is the key time to force him into help, not when he is actively using. My answer would be no, don't keep his room made up. Make it a nice guest room that doesn't look like his old space.
Don't be sorry. I didn't care if I lived or died when I was using. Some people don't feel that but they also don't realize that they are dying. If you put crack on a table and said to me, "You leave that there and live or smoke it and die..." I'd have smoked it and died. Crack takes away all pain, inhibition, reason, logic, love, hate, fear and leaves you will panic, pleasure unlike any other and that's it. You panic only if you are running out. Otherwise it's non-stop feeling like you've never felt in your life. I have a horrible and rude way of describing it and I apologize if it is offensive but getting high from crack is like feeling 5000 orgasms at the same time. You can't fight that, nobody can. Again, I am sorry about that but myself and every other addict I know will tell you the same thing, it undeniably the best feeling you'd ever have.
You're welcome and I certainly didn't mean to be offensive with that statement. It's is the only way an addict can make a non-addict understand what it's like and the words are commonly uses by recovering addicts. Please contact me if you would like!
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QUESTION: Again, thank, you. Only time will tell now. My prayer is he is arrested within the week. I will hold the probation officer accountable in court in the hopes we get real rehab.
Just a note; Richard had major surgery and was on crutches. Within a week he managed to get out at night and steal. He also managed to climb up the chimney to his bedroom window. Unbelievable.
Richard is almost six foot tall and weighs less than 120 lbs two weeks ago. I know it is worse now.
I think my only option at this point is to love him, work towards rehab, be supportive, and learn. I am in child protective services but may return to school for drug counseling. We shall see.
Thank you so much for being here for everyone. Thank God you are in the five percent.
Terri
Answer Hello,
Actually I am in a 3% because I never went to rehab! Stat drops considerable w/o rehab. The dealer I lived with actually saved me and sent me away. That's a wonderful story and you may want to hear it or not. But yeah that isn't a good weight at all. I am 5'10 and got to 110lbs and you could see every bone in my body. I'd stay up for 30 days at a time with no food or water or sleep. Crack is a great pain killer and I am not surprised he could do that. I too had broken bones and never treated them. Not too mention the toll it takes on your organs.
Why isn't his probation officer drug testing him? Have you spoken to the PO? I will say a prayer he gets arrested too. Hopefully, he will get help but I fear that ship has already sailed...
Thank you for contacting me! It has been my mission to help whoever I can learn from my mistake. Being a Drug Counselor is great but I can tell you the ones I went to later had no idea about anything I talked about. That's because addicts lie and never reveal the truth, sadly.
Anytime!
