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Addiction to Drugs/Questions Answered by Expert Peter L.
| Subject | Date Asked |
| treatment | 2/6/2012 |
| Q: In the story I am writing, someone on the street has taken too much cocaine or has had a back ... A: Sorry for the late response! I'm assuming you meant "bad" reaction to cocaine rather than "back" ... | |
| Teenage Problems | 1/10/2012 |
| Q: Greetings! Hello Sir, I am Rachel Ann Rempis taking up Mass Communication at Far Eastern University, ... A: In answer to your questions: 1) I think there are strong societal influences in the ways kids ... | |
| Will my support that I will do, be helpful? | 1/4/2012 |
| Q: I have a friend who moved from the East coast to another state quite a distance form where he was. ... A: The last four words of your question preface a lot of my answer: "His welfare comes first". This ... | |
| what can I expect | 12/5/2011 |
| Q: I've been taking Percocet 10/325 for about 4 months. It was supposed to be 4 times a day but I ended ... A: You are going through classic opioid withdrawal symptoms. You can go it alone, and will eventually ... | |
| Adderall Abuse | 11/19/2011 |
| Q: Peter L, I am a Journalism student at Northeastern University. I am writing a paper about ... A: I'd like to help you, but am not sure how to we will be able to establish communication. This is a ... | |
| Lased weed. | 11/15/2011 |
| Q: What are the long term effects that can happen from smoking weed that has been laced with crack? A: Well, both drugs used independently can have long term effects, but I can't really say using them ... | |
| Benzo Withdrawal Seizures | 8/22/2011 |
| Q: L, I was prescribed Alprazolam (Xanax) for an acute panic reaction lasting six weeks. I was told ... A: Kirk, Physicians differ greatly on what approaches they take toward something like a benzo detox. ... | |
| Step-daughter's mother's marijuana use | 8/18/2011 |
| Q: My step-daughter is 22 months old and her father and I have been concerned for quite some time as we ... A: There's a lot of speculation about second-hand marijuana smoke, and if it is a significant factor at ... | |
| Will I pass? | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: my name is Jeremy and I'm 18 years old. I joined the Army back in october and I am leaving for ... A: Today's drug screening tests are very sensitive. It's hard to say if the amount you smoked will ... | |
| meth | 7/6/2011 |
| Q: I want to quit using meth, I have no medical insurance, so im wondering if there is any over the ... A: You have the first thing you need, which is motivation! Coming off addictive drugs can be very ... | |
| Needing to know all of my options | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: First of all thank you for taking the time to read this. I am in a situation that I am not sure ... A: I can see you're trying to do the right thing, and I commend you for that. A lot of my time spend ... | |
| mother-in-law | 6/20/2011 |
| Q: My mother-in-law is 45 years old. She has experienced many misfortunes in her lifetime (rap by ... A: Sorry to hear about the difficulties you're having with your mother-in-law. There's no question she ... | |
| Son addicted to drugs + | 5/17/2011 |
| Q: My son is now 28 years old. He finally graduated college in March of 2010 and has moved back home. ... A: My sense is that your son has been using opioid medications, though you did not specify which ... | |
| spouses | 4/26/2011 |
| Q: I am a new addictions counselor, and while I am fine with most aspects of addiction, and counseling ... A: and I'll do my best to answer it. You are also in a very interesting part of the world that I have ... | |
| 41 year old drug addict living in parent garage | 4/18/2011 |
| Q: For a few years now I have been attempting to convince my husband and his family to do something ... A: It may be time for the tough love scenario, but I wouldn't recommend you be the driving force for ... | |
| 41 year old drug addict living in parent garage | 4/17/2011 |
| Q: For a few years now I have been attempting to convince my husband and his family to do something ... A: Perhaps due to my profile description here on AE, or some other factor, the type of problem you are ... | |
| Need some advice | 4/6/2011 |
| Q: my wife has been dealing with addiction for sometime now. it started about 2 years ago. they were ... A: Sadly, you are seeing first hand how an innocent use of powerful pain medications (opioids) can turn ... | |
| Crack affect sperm | 3/31/2011 |
| Q: My husband uses crack and we have been trying to get pregnant.I don't use and never have! But I was ... A: First, have a frank conversation with him about this. And I'm curious: when did you find out he was ... | |
| Crack affect sperm | 3/28/2011 |
| Q: My husband uses crack and we have been trying to get pregnant.I don't use and never have! But I was ... A: Tell you the truth Megan, I'm wondering how his use will affect you! Why do you tolerate his crack ... | |
| My husband is addicted to Crack | 3/27/2011 |
| Q: My husband and I have been married for 16 years. We have four children 8 year old twin boys, a 6 ... A: I can see how difficult this has been for you. You are learning first hand about how difficult a ... | |
| heroin | 3/17/2011 |
| Q: I've been married to my husband for 5 years. He took on so much when we got married that I never ... A: My apologies for my slow response. We are seeing a lot of opiate dependence (heroin, pills) in our ... | |
| Safely detoxing | 3/9/2011 |
| Q: less then one week ago. I have been addicted to percocet and have been taking them daily for a long ... A: I am currently working with a pregnant client, and we have her on Subutex. Please google that word ... | |
| Ativan | 3/4/2011 |
| Q: I have been taking 4mg/day Ativan for a few years now. It is the only medication that staves off my ... A: Sorry for my late reply; I've had some catching up to do. Yes, it is difficult to get prescriptions ... | |
| How to Get 19 year old to Rehab | 2/22/2011 |
| Q: I recently found out my 19 year old son has been smoking roxie and/or crack for several months. He ... A: I apologize for the delay in answering you. The situation you describe with your son is obviously ... | |
| husband's addiction | 2/21/2011 |
| Q: I have been married to my husband for 5 yrs. He is a very loving man. We have 5 grown children ... A: I can see how tough a situation this is, and many people have written to me with similar concerns. ... | |
| Energy Drinks | 2/18/2011 |
| Q: I am a student and I am currently working on a project and would like to ask some questions. I am ... A: Energy drinks are a relatively new phenomenon, but we always had stimulants for the same reasons ... | |
| withdrawl from drug abuse | 2/13/2011 |
| Q: My brother-in-law got sick and went to the hospital. He was addicted to cigarettes and a strong pain ... A: Addiction carries some significant physical consequences, and withdrawal is one of them. Nicotine ... | |
| weeed | 2/9/2011 |
| Q: What does smoking Marijuana do to people, psychologically and physiologically? As in, when we smoke ... A: I wish I could tell you why your heart was racing so much. I'm not a doctor, so therefore can't ... | |
| weeed | 2/8/2011 |
| Q: What does smoking Marijuana do to people, psychologically and physiologically? As in, when we smoke ... A: Marijuana is a very interesting drug of abuse, as it has hung out and been used steadily over the ... | |
| Opiate Addict | 1/20/2011 |
| Q: My boyfriend became addicted pain pills at a young age when he required surgery. He did go to rehab, ... A: I started in this field working in a methadone program treating heroin addicts, and now, some 27 ... | |
| spouse using drugs | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: I have had an ongoing problem for the past several months. My husband lost his Mom about a year ago ... A: These situations are very, very hard, and I can sympathize with your plight. I have had many a ... | |
| What do we do next with our son | 1/16/2011 |
| Q: 2 years ago our son (Now 21 yrs old) was arrested for possessing OXY. He had been doing pot since ... A: Dual diagnosis conditions are not fully recognized when it comes to mental health or addiction ... | |
| What do we do next with our son | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: 2 years ago our son (Now 21 yrs old) was arrested for possessing OXY. He had been doing pot since ... A: I apologize for my late reply as I've had some catching up to do. The story of your son parallels ... | |
| drugs | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: I have found bic pens taken apart in my teenage sons room - with one end of the empty tube burnt.\r ... A: Hard to say what he's doing with those pens. It could be he's using them as crude pipes to smoke ... | |
| Cocaine make you lose weigt? | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: I am currently doing a project on drug addictions. I chose to do my project on cocaine and is a bit ... A: Well, cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug, and as such will affect appetite not unlike stimulants ... | |
| Two addicts | 1/6/2011 |
| Q: My boyfriend and I have been together almost two years. We had used heroin together for a few months ... A: Well, having been there yourself, you know about what addiction does to one's life. Not only that, ... | |
| Oxycontin Relapse | 1/3/2011 |
| Q: My boyfriend relapsed on oxycontin after over 2 years of being clean. I had no idea, and for as long ... A: and you are a obviously a very concerned and compassionate person. You are seeing the struggle ... | |
| Drug abuse | 1/2/2011 |
| Q: 19 year old daughter is at the very least smoking a lot of pot. She was recently beat up by ... A: Sounds like a tough situation. Young people like your daughter have a lot of complex dynamics ... | |
| Cocaine & Prescription Pain Pills | 12/22/2010 |
| Q: My aunt takes anti-depressants & pain meds for a Hernia she had removed (think its back) and she is ... A: Yes, it's possible to take pain meds and not return to cocaine. But having said that, I wouldn't ... | |
| Step daughter in jail | 12/20/2010 |
| Q: My step daughter has been addicted to pain killers and alcohol for at least 6-7 years on and off. I ... A: Well, you've helped her quite a bit, and some might say you've even offered her more help than is ... | |
| Cocaine/Alcohol | 12/16/2010 |
| Q: I've been drinking for about a year now and about every other day. Since the summer, I've been ... A: I'll bet you know how someone in my line of work would answer your questions... You're putting ... | |
| Research question for script | 12/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a question regarding the treatment of drug addiction for a screenplay I'm working on. In my ... A: What the doctor would prescribe would depend on a number of factors: What substance she's using, if ... | |
| my first love does heroin | 12/14/2010 |
| Q: About two years ago I met my first love. He was had a car, a job, and was going to school. To the ... A: I get quite a few letters such as yours, and I appreciate the natural inclination so many ... | |
| opite detox | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: I have been helping my husband detoxify from oxycodone and he is in his 11th day. He is just so ... A: Congratulations on being there for your husband and helping him through his ordeal. Opioid ... | |
| rise in thc levels | 12/10/2010 |
| Q: How is it possible for one's THC levels to increase after abstaining for over 2 weeks. I had ... A: I've seen the very thing you're talking about, and have spoken to our lab about it. Seems THC can ... | |
| morphine addiction from birth | 12/8/2010 |
| Q: To whom it may concern, I wanted to find out more information as well resources for my girlfriend ... A: I think it would be hard to conclude that her difficulties today, whether the drug abuse or ... | |
| my daughter is biopolar and dangerous to herself | 12/7/2010 |
| Q: My daughter has been diagnosed with severe mood disorder (Bipolar) among other things, depression, ... A: I once had a job interview with Job Corp, and was impressed with the organization. That might be a ... | |
| My mom is addicted to Pills! | 11/29/2010 |
| Q: I am in a family of six. Five kids, one mom. No father. Everyone of the kids in my family have ... A: This is a very tough situation and I'm glad you are looking to find a solution. You no doubt can ... | |
| detox weakness | 11/28/2010 |
| Q: how long and is there anything i can do to help with the weakNESS im 10 days clean but so weAk ... A: You didn't mention what you are detoxing from, but I'm going to assume it's an opiate. Opioid ... | |
| plz help | 11/19/2010 |
| Q: im 23 and i just got out of treatment wesenday and today i became depressed so my friens bought me ... A: Kasey, Was there any follow-up to your treatment? There should be some form of an aftercare plan ... | |
| drug addiction | 11/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a 22 year old son, that I know is on some sort of drug. I can not figure out what it is or ... A: Hard to say exactly what he might be using, but indeed he is using something. My best educated ... | |
| Codeine Addiction | 11/17/2010 |
| Q: Before becoming pregnant with my first daughter I had no back problems but after having a c section ... A: Opiate withdrawal can be long and complicated. You have used these drugs in large amounts for quite ... | |
| Daughter-in-law pregnant and addicted | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: My daughter-in-law is 36 weeks pregnant and I just found out that she is addicted to Percocet 10's. ... A: In my field we regard pregnancy and addiction as a very serious combination. There are instances of ... | |
| teen drug use | 11/7/2010 |
| Q: My daughter is 15 and I strongly suspect that her boyfriend is using drugs. How can I help her ... A: I assume you may already have had a conversation with your daughter about substances and substance ... | |
| My sister's an addict with a gun | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: My sister is 40 years old. She has been addicted to ice for at least a year now. I believe she is ... A: I think your options are limited here, leaving only the prospect of convincing her she needs help ... | |
| Left my husband because of cocaine | 10/27/2010 |
| Q: This is actually a repeat question that I need some more insight on. I hope you can help me too. I ... A: Sorry for the late response. I will give you my perspective on your situation, but encourage you to ... | |
| relapse? | 10/26/2010 |
| Q: I'm in NA. After 1 year and 7 months of being completely clean- yesterday I took three Vicodin at ... A: Well this is such a grey area, at least in my estimation, but as you have correctly guessed, your ... | |
| Crack abuse | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: My husband (married going on 3 years but together since 2003 with 4 children) has a problem with ... A: I've never heard of doing such a thing (guardianship) but I suppose it could exist as a possibility. ... | |
| Cocaine Addiction - relationship | 10/23/2010 |
| Q: I just met a guy who said he is a recovering cocaine addict. He was in recovery a year and a half ... A: He could be back using. And for my money, I'd almost be certain he is. If he's not, then that ... | |
| Addiction | 10/21/2010 |
| Q: My boyfriend of 2 years is smoking crack I am in recovery and have been for 2 years I broke up with ... A: You are in recovery yourself, so can understand the irrationality and often, quite frankly, the ... | |
| Pls give me some insight to my bf's crack behaviour | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: First, let me apologize for the length of this. My situation is about my boyfriend of a year. ... A: Livie, Glad to hear you have given up using crack. You'll be a lot better off for that. You asked ... | |
| Pls give me some insight to my bf's crack behaviour | 10/16/2010 |
| Q: First, let me apologize for the length of this. My situation is about my boyfriend of a year. ... A: I often hear from girlfriends of boyfriends like yours who tell me how great their partner is. I ... | |
| please help | 10/12/2010 |
| Q: I Met my bf 7 monts ago he was in halfway - Sober house and now he lives wit me at ... A: Jamie, Talk to your boyfriend about getting help. You should each be in different treatment ... | |
| Marijuana and Second Hand Smoke for small children | 10/2/2010 |
| Q: My daughter picked her niece up this morning from the other grandparents house where she lives. The ... A: I, for one, am frustrated with the 'sanitizing" of marijuana use in this country. We hear such ... | |
| drug effect | 9/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a question about drug use that I Really hope you can answer. A brother of mine has sampled ... A: Well, that's an interesting question, Jude. I would not want to take anything unless I knew what ... | |
| My son's drug abuse and mental health | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: Long story short; my son who is 26 lives with his mom and I. He started doing heavy drugs around 2 ... A: These are heartbreaking situations and you have noted how difficult it is to find a solution. ... | |
| pregnant and need to know if he is using again. | 9/3/2010 |
| Q: I'm 4 months pregnant, I've been in a relationship for almost 3 years. A year after we had been ... A: Sorry for my late reply. Yours is one of many questions I receive on how to negotiate a very ... | |
| long term effects of smoking marijuana | 9/2/2010 |
| Q: What are the most serious long term effects of smoking marijuana on a daily basis? A: The effects of marijuana, particularly long term, just happens to be an area of particular interest ... | |
| Drug Addition | 8/12/2010 |
| Q: I need help with my husband, and myself. When I met my husband years ago I blind to him doing drugs. ... A: I think you know by now that your husband has some very serious addiction problems, and he is acting ... | |
| Drug abuse and probation | 8/11/2010 |
| Q: My boyfriends daughter has a friend that was on probation for meth. She was sent to mandatory drug ... A: Drinking, or the use of any substance, can be prohibited in some probation agreements. In other ... | |
| false positive drug test | 8/10/2010 |
| Q: I took a drug test for the Department of Children Services and my test came back positive for ... A: I would say that because the Vicks inhaler has stimulant properties, you can get somewhat of a ... | |
| help for my son???? | 8/8/2010 |
| Q: My Son is doing drugs and just got caught stealing from my sisters house, he pawned off a bracelet ... A: This is a very unfortunate situation and characteristic of addiction. I hear of these situations ... | |
| Methadone Detox/Withdrawl | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: I have just recently finished a 28 day program in Monroe,NC and now on day 33 I feel better but I ... A: I hear about these complications often when someone is treated with methadone. It's a very ... | |
| drug addiction | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: My worst fears are confirmed, my sweet, funny boyfriend is using opiate drugs and lord knows what ... A: Sorry to hear about your frustrations with your boyfriend. I've been an addictions treatment ... | |
| recovering/ recovered heroin addict | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: My husband has been clean for 11 years. We have been trying to get pregnant and have been having ... A: I can't say I've heard of any direct correlation between heroin use and fertility problems, but I ... | |
| boyfriend addicted to drugs | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: I am in a relationship with a man that has a strong drug habit. He is extremely addicted to pain ... A: Do you know why you got involved with a man after your husband who has a similar drug problem? I ... | |
| husband dealing with roxicodone addiction | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could help me to better help my husband deal with his addiction to ... A: I feel your husband needs treatment, and I find it hard to see how he'll do any better without it. ... | |
| daughter's heroin addiction | 5/31/2010 |
| Q: Our daughter told us she was on 'crack' (smoking it),several months ago. She then came the other ... A: Your daughter needs treatment very desperately to help her stem her worsening addiction problems. ... | |
| pregnant and have a substance abuse | 5/25/2010 |
| Q: I am 21 weeks pregnant and I have been taking oxycodone (percet. Now when I try to stop I'm having ... A: Methadone would help you with your opiate (oxycodone) addiction, and there are many pregnant women ... | |
| How do I find strength to stay married to an addict? | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I have been married for six years and dated for nine years before that. We have been ... A: You have definitely been through a tough situation and are still dealing with it. You are seeing ... | |
| Brother | 5/12/2010 |
| Q: My brother is on drugs. He went to rehab once and he is currently relapsing. I don't know how to ... A: Are your parents involved? How old is your brother? These questions will bear on what the options ... | |
| Boyfriend in drug rehab | 5/9/2010 |
| Q: My boyfriend recently left the States to enter in a drug rehab center in the Philippines. We've been ... A: and I'll try to give you a complete answer, which of course will reflect my views on the situation. ... | |
| Follow up | 5/8/2010 |
| Q: Peter, Thanks very much. I do a lot of exercise, and we do eat pretty good, almost no processed ... A: Neuro-cognitive retraining was an idea introduced to me via the following article: ... | |
| amphetamine | 5/7/2010 |
| Q: i goto centerstone rehab and today they done a mouth swab. i tested positive for amphetamines. i ... A: Well Joseph, that's hard to say. From what I know about urine tests, swabs are not the most ... | |
| Opiate Recovery | 5/4/2010 |
| Q: I'm a male, almost 60 yo. I was on oxycontin and percocet for 10 years (lupus/arthritis/gout). ... A: Max, Thanks for your very interesting question, and about a subject for which I have had a great ... | |
| how do you know | 4/30/2010 |
| Q: My partner of more than 15 years is starting to show wired behavior. I know that he smoke weed and ... A: g, There'a a very strong chance your partner is using a substance or substances other than ... | |
| Goodbye? | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: I met Kenny in high school. He was the funny guy, the class clown, the guy that went around campus ... A: It sounds like this has been very hard on you, and I can understand the feelings you are ... | |
| intervention on someone who needs pain meds | 4/18/2010 |
| Q: Sh has been perscibed oxi and morhine ( can u believe it). Anyway she has also started smoking coc ... A: I find the prescribing of the drugs you mentioned, and the whole opioid medication family of drugs, ... | |
| Drug tests vs Energy drinks | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: Would A Highly Potent Energy drink cause you to fail a drug test? Redline energy drink to be ... A: Michelle, I don't believe so, but would advise you to not drink those energy drinks if you are ... | |
| Methadone pain management | 4/6/2010 |
| Q: I was in a serious accident at 17. And starting at 43 and past few years have been going to Dr ... A: Seems like you have not been able to put together a comprehensive plan to manage your pain. And ... | |
| HELP | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: I am a 26 year old mail with an addiction problem. It all started when i was in high school and ... A: It seems you have come a long way in recovering from your addictive behavior, and I sense you want ... | |
| My friend is on drugs and I'm concerned for the kids. | 3/24/2010 |
| Q: For privacy sake I will call my friend Kara. I have known her and her family since our sons started ... A: You are seeing how difficult a situation addiction can become, made even more serious by its impact ... | |
| Heroin Test | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: My Son is taking Suboxen for overcoming Heroin addiction.I want to test him for Heroin to keep him ... A: Suboxone will often show up as opioids on urine screens that we conduct in our program. Sometimes ... | |
| opiates while pregant | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know if taking hydrocodone will cause my baby any birth defects i have tried to come ... A: Amy, I'm sorry, but I am not able to answer your question as I'm not a physician. I would advise ... | |
| Crack cocaine and Heroin | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: I have been with my boyfriend for 8 months now and he seemed like the perfect boyfriend at first but ... A: From what you describe, this sounds like a risky situation for you. First and foremost, your ... | |
| Street Drugs safer than pharmacuticals | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: I am on medication for cronic depression and ADD but personally from experience and seeing how easy ... A: Wow, first time I've gotten a question from someone in your part of the world! Somewhere I've ... | |
| crack vs marijuana | 3/5/2010 |
| Q: i found what looks like a broken pen " shell " in my sons room while cleaning.... it has a burn like ... A: Hmmm.. hard to say what that is without actually seeing it. I would suspect crack, considering what ... | |
| drugs | 2/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a husband who has a great personality. We have 2 kids and he is great with them . The problem ... A: I can understand how your husband's drug use is upsetting you. I get many messages and questions ... | |
| heroin addiction | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: My 20 year old brother does heroin. I know he started out taking pills, then moved on to snorting ... A: You are seeing first hand the nature of addiction and addictive behavior. It's a tough thing to ... | |
| herion addiction | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: i have read alot on the topic of herion abuse, the symptoms of someone using what it does to them ... A: Heroin addiction (or opioid addiction in general) evokes a lot of fear. I can understand your ... | |
| Snorting Pain Pills | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know specifically what happens to the inside of you nose after snorting pills for a ... A: It's hard to say, Brandon. I would see a doctor immediately. Medical stuff is not my area of ... | |
| Snorting Pain Pills | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: I would like to know specifically what happens to the inside of you nose after snorting pills for a ... A: Most of what we know about the harmfulness of snorting has been gained from observations of what ... | |
| My brother | 2/14/2010 |
| Q: My younger brother is currently 14 years old, and has ADHD. He has already been caught selling pills ... A: I'm pleased to see you are taking such an active interest in your brother's safety and well-being, ... | |
| Help my beloved Son is an addict | 2/13/2010 |
| Q: My son is 23 years old with a back injury. He started to abuse his pain killers then last year was ... A: Most Suboxone providers will be firm about the urine screens, but not all. If his medical tests ... | |
| False Test Positive for Meth | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: can you explain what is a GC/MS test for Meth and how it works? A: John, From Wikipedia: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is a method that combines the ... | |
| Breaking up with a dual-diagnosis girlfriend | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: I became very close friends with Ann some years ago and our friendship seemed to get stronger as the ... A: I think what happened between you and Ann was a wonderful thing, and having worked out would have ... | |
| Help my beloved Son is an addict | 2/4/2010 |
| Q: My son is 23 years old with a back injury. He started to abuse his pain killers then last year was ... A: You are seeing first hand the devastating effects of addiction. Your son seems very similar to a ... | |
| Narconon Rehab | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: My husband has been a drug addict for the past 29 years. His drug of choice is crack. He started ... A: Well, I'm sure your husband is feeling the pressure to achieve abstinence from substance abuse as he ... | |
| how to motivate someone to get help | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I noticed that you had experience in how to motivate someone to get help. My son is a crack addict. ... A: As you can see addiction presents very clear challenges to family members. I recently came across an ... | |
| My boyfriend is an ex junkie and has craving to use. I am lost and dont know what to do. | 1/23/2010 |
| Q: My boyfriend has been shooting heroin since he was 13 and now he is 22. We met about 6 month ago and ... A: Your boyfriend is lucky to have such a concerned and devoted girlfriend! He has a long drug ... | |
| Cocaine | 1/19/2010 |
| Q: This may be nothing, but i have just recently started seeing someone who once had an addiction to ... A: Many questions I get are where people seek information about your situation exactly. This is a tough ... | |
| effects of tobacco | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: First off, I'd like to say that I'm not now, nor have I ever been a tobacco user. I don’t intend to ... A: I would tend to approach this by analogy, defined in this way: Is it safer for me to go 120 miles ... | |
| About powder, Mall | 1/16/2010 |
| Q: sir, i am not aware exactly, that to which drug i am addicted, but i will explain the method of ... A: Kamal, I would say this is some form of heroin; crack is usually white, or off-white, so that ... | |
| methadone detox | 1/13/2010 |
| Q: eight days ago i decided to come off it. its the worse thing i have ever been through, on my fifth ... A: You've been on methadone quite a while and therefore the detox will be hard. Methadone detox is ... | |
| Boyfriend is in recovery | 1/12/2010 |
| Q: I met a pretty awesome guy on New Years Eve this year. We hit it off pretty well, and have been ... A: Well, you have approached this gentleman with a sincere desire to relate, respecting him for his ... | |
| addicts faking illness | 1/9/2010 |
| Q: a family member who is an prescribe addict has faked illnesses to get drugs. He is successful each ... A: ML, You are facing one of the classically difficult dilemmas of addiction in the family. How to ... | |
| addicts faking illness | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: a family member who is an prescribe addict has faked illnesses to get drugs. He is successful each ... A: What you're describing strikes me as pretty far out there in terms of anything I've ever seen. But ... | |
| Crack | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I have a male friend that has been using crack for abut 2 yrs. I am a non user of any drug. My ... A: Well, you mentioned that your friend has been using crack for two years; I assume he made this known ... | |
| Crack | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I have been together for almost 10 years now. He rarely drank when I met him letalone ... A: Sorry to hear about this very troubling situation. This can create a lot of emotional conflict ... | |
| A broken heart | 12/12/2009 |
| Q: My man of a year and six months, recently got out of rehab and has been advised after one month out ... A: When substance abusing individuals get treatment, the interviewer doing the intake at the program ... | |
| Heroin Addiction | 12/11/2009 |
| Q: My 23 year old brother in-law has an addiction to heroin (possibly Oxycontin also). He has been ... A: This is a revised answer -- additional content toward the end. There are a number of treatment ... | |
| Drug Addiction | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: I really want to find out how o quit drugs. People say you cant make someone quit until they want ... A: You seem really motivated to stop using drugs, and I commend you on your willingness to achieve ... | |
| pain pills | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: My wife has been taking prescription pain pills for the last seven years.I know she is addicted.All ... A: rj, Well, you know she's addicted, anyone who observes the situation knows she's addicted, but the ... | |
| Oxycotin and OCD | 11/23/2009 |
| Q: Ive been taking roxy's for the last 2 and a half years on and off(mostly on). I have never gone a ... A: Roxicodone is an opiate, so highly addictive. You're reporting taking a lot of these, so I imagine ... | |
| how do i cope? | 11/19/2009 |
| Q: Im going out with an ex heroin user he has just come off subutex and just stated blockers. Over the ... A: You are getting to know the difficulty and struggle involved in recovering from addiction. Opiate ... | |
| Helping a friend | 11/17/2009 |
| Q: I have been helping my flatmate/good friend get well from a recent opiate addiction in New Zealand. ... A: Your friend says she has stopped using opiates (and hopefully got some treatment) but her using ... | |
| how to know when someone is crying for help? | 11/10/2009 |
| Q: heroin addict and she seems to be crying for help. She cries and complains how she hates her life so ... A: Bo, Other than being supportive there's not a whole lot you can do. This woman needs treatment, ... | |
| how to know when someone is crying for help? | 11/9/2009 |
| Q: heroin addict and she seems to be crying for help. She cries and complains how she hates her life so ... A: When one is as addicted as this friend of yours seems to be, there's a lot of confusion, indecision, ... | |
| 21 yearold daughter...drinking and drugging again | 11/8/2009 |
| Q: about 2 years ago; I pulled my daughter out of college and put her into rehab. Her drugs of choice ... A: Your situation with your daughter is complex and difficult, and I can understand your struggle. I ... | |
| marijuana usage | 11/7/2009 |
| Q: I have two teenagers. One is doing very well in school however our daughter has started using ... A: The question of why a young person starts using an addictive substance is a complicated one. We ... | |
| Need Help | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: My name is April, I am 30, married, and have 5 year old twins. Last year we took in my husbands ... A: Age 18 is considered adulthood (in some respects) but in terms of human development it is still very ... | |
| Methadone | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: My friend has been sober from heroin for two years (in jail). She is getting out in two months. She ... A: I would first advise her to get some relapse prevention counseling immediately after she gets out. ... | |
| detox from methadone | 11/4/2009 |
| Q: my son is 30 yrs was a herion user for 10yrs has been on methadone for 3 yrs was on 45mgs a day ... A: Jean, Coming off methadone is usually a challenge due to its addictive nature. May people say that ... | |
| Marijuana false positive test | 10/31/2009 |
| Q: I am 18 yrs old and currently in a drug court program. Prior to program I smoked marijuana many ... A: I can't specifically advise you with respect to getting support for your case. You might want to ... | |
| Marijuana false positive test | 10/30/2009 |
| Q: I am 18 yrs old and currently in a drug court program. Prior to program I smoked marijuana many ... A: I have seen this a number of times. It can be attributable to the fact that sometimes marijuana ... | |
| false positive in child | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: I would like some help,my two and a half year old when taken to hospital because she was I'll tested ... A: Well, it's hard to see the marijuana smoking as the problem, because even if your daughter were to ... | |
| drug testng | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: what pills(ex. tylenol 3) will make you show positive for cocain A: I know of nothing that will show positive for cocaine except cocaine. I checked with a colleague of ... | |
| crack addiction | 10/17/2009 |
| Q: My boyfriend is a crack user. We have been together for 3 years and we both are members of NA. He ... A: As you can see, being in recovery together can be a good thing, but presents some challenges. If ... | |
Addiction to Drugs
Answers by Expert:
Peter L.
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I am available to answer any questions about substance use, abuse, and dependence. I can also offer perspective on treatment options and how to motivate someone to get help. I have over 27 years of experience as a substance abuse treatment professional, working with adolescents and adults in a variety of treatment settings. I feel I can answer just about any question in this topic area but can also access reference sources, or direct you to these for additional information gathering or education on your own.
Experience
I am a professional addictions counselor working in a very highly respected treatment center, as well as having a private practice in two states.
Education/Credentials
Masters Degree in Behavioral Science
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor in three states. Also an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
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