Question From a Reader
Posted by
h2oforthegaslit
Posted on: 07/12/07
Question From a Reader
I have a friend who has tried to quit crystal meth many times. What will finally help make him quit? Thanks
-Kingflop
Hi, Kingflop-
Crystal meth is probably one of the hardest drugs to kick. In fact, about two years ago, I read an article that claimed only a 6% success rate in remaining clean - that's 6 out of 100, as you know, but the thing is, it blew my mind to realize there is a very real chance that the number of folks who have stayed away from meth for, say, over five years is an extremely small number. I imagine that is why there are not many advocates for meth addicts and how to help them. No one can stay clean long enough to carry the torch, I guess. I must interject here that I live in the South and that great things may be happening in other regions of the US that I am unaware of.
To answer your question, Kingflop, I would suggest he not only get away from his current town of residence, but to cut ties with any other drug users; get into a good rehab (in-patient, I suggest) for as long as he can possibly stay, then have a recovery plan for when he is released and attend whatever out-patient resources/meetings/counseling sessions that the plan suggests; create boundaries in his life that he will obey (things like not listening to the same music he did at parties or anything that would trigger a craving for meth or the hustle); and if he is a praying kind of guy, tell him to do this so often that others think he constantly talks to himself.
Other than that, there is only one other way that he will quit. He will catch a charge and do time, during which, he will withdraw. Upon his release, he will meet with a parole officer who will pee test him, and if he is not clean, he will be slapped back in the pen. It worked for me, but I do NOT recommend this route to recovery.
I wish your friend all the best.
-CC (Convicted of Trafficking Methamphetamine; Recovering Methamphetamine / Oxycontin Addict)
h2oforthegaslit
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meth usually isn’t kicked until you are made to kick – jail, running out, something like that. Sorry, it’s the truth.
Unfortunately, many times this is the truth, lastofadyingbreed. However, like anything else, if someone makes up their mind to quit using a drug, they CAN, absolutely CAN do it. Once you make up your mind to do something, and follow through with an effective plan of action, it is definitely possible to kick meth, or anything else you set your mind to do. If one person can do something, another person can do it. If it’s humanly possible to succeed at something, then anyone can succeed at that very thing if given the proper tools or knowledge of how to succeed. Hang in there, man – you can kick it!!
I don’t speak of this much, but I feel I need to say something here. I have been clean of Meth for 6 years now. My ex-band was my favorite drug dealer, he introduced me to a world I never knew existed. After two years of being addicted, almost losing my kids, and my life. I walked away from it, But my husband did not. He continued to pressure me to use with threats, violence, whatever he could, including our two kids. On a particular day when all hell broke loose and he attacked one of my girls, I stepped in and you already know where that went (My daughter was unharmed). I packed myself up and my kids and we ran and we ran, till we got back to my parents and they hid us. A week later in a womens shelter, another I was in an apartment and I had a job in another week. I never went back to the drug, the withdrawls were unlike anything I have ever know. (The horrible seizures were the worse and I would get them even after I quit.) I still get mild ones in my brain to this day, but will I ever use, never agan. I divorced that man for all the horrific abuse and perversions he had made me endure, and my life has never been sweeter. I did it myself, I beat Meth and if I can do it, anyone can. LG
My heart goes out to you, LG, and it is a very heroic and commendable action that you decided to take. Well done. So, so many do not make it out, and certainly do not make the decision for themselves when making it out of meth addiction – rather, many are forced out due to sentences for crimes, etc. You know, I must say this, though: when your ex chose to physically abuse you, to mistreat you or your kids, I do not believe that his weakness in choosing to hurt a loved one can be blamed on drugs. No way. He had to have the heart (or lack, thereof) in the first place in order to hurt you. I heard an inmate state that crack was the reason she decided to knock a woman in the head, steal her car in order to drive to the crack house for a trade, a very shortly after driving away from the fallen owner of the car who was lying in the street, she became aware of the fact that there was an occupied infant car seat in the back. She went to Alabama’s Julia Tutwiler Prison with a 25 year sentence due to this. Thing is, I would have and did withdraw and do without drugs instead of resorting to violence or robbery, etc. No drug made me want to hurt anyone. Even with the misperception and delusional world of methamphetamine, I did not ever want to hurt my kids or spouse or family, or anyone else for that matter. Drugs, money, power, stats – nothing is worth the miracle of life and the right to live that life without the constant fear of violence. All My Best, LG Olson!! -Jeanne