AboutCrystal Expertise I can answer questions on substance abuse and addiction as well as possible ideas for abstinence and groups. I have been a substance abuse counseling specialist for 5 years. I cannot give medically diagnose but can give accurate advice and helpful ideas.
Experience I have been a substance abuse counselor for five years and have detoxed clients off of all drugs and alcohol.
Education/Credentials I have a minor in addiction,an A.A. in Juvenile Justice and am working on my B.A in Criminal Justice with addiction. I have worked with doctors who specialize in medical detox and have 10 years nursing field experience.
Question I am really scared that my use of a LSD is out of control! I feel pressured to be part of the drug scene. I see people in the media using drugs for pleasure. When I'm high on drugs, I forget all my problems and school is unimportant and I see things that make me laugh. I've dropped out of sports and I do whatever I can to get money for the drugs. I read your column and know you talk straight to teenagers. Can you help me?
Sincerely,
Bartman
please email me fast
Answer Bartman,
How long have you been using LSD and what made this your drug of choice? It is interesting to me that you would choose this out of all the drugs out there and then to use it consistently is scary because you are frying your brain and losing brain cells that may possibly never grow back. It is hard being a teenager and feeling pressured to be a part of the in-crowd but think about this from a logical point of view for a second, are you really going to be friends with any of these people in the far future, are you planning to make any of them life long partners and if your answer is "No" or "I don't know" then think about whether or not any of them are going to be there for you when you are down in the mud face first because you can't form a whole sentence let alone graduate from school because you are too fried or baked to function anymore. I am not lecturing you, I just think that you need to understand that ALL teenagers have problems and when they drink and do drugs they all have the same answer as you stated earlier,"Being high makes my life easier, I don't stress or worry about my problems and I feel happier" but do you really feel like you are better high or is it just that you find it easier to hide from what is hard? You are obviously a teenager who is wise and understanding about how you feel and you are smart enough to realize that your drug us is out of control, which also makes me think that you want to stop and you want to move on with your life.
I know so many kids who let go of the sports, lose faith in themselves and lose who they are before they have even given themselves the chance to get to know themselves and what you are capable of achieving. It is hard to feel like you do and to deal sober and especially after you know what it is like to be high so try taking on day at a time and focus on who you want to be in the future and what you want to do with your life later, that should help you to be strong. Does all of this make sense or do you need me to change your angle a little bit.
