DRUGS (2)

 ABOUT DEPENDENCE / ADDICTION.

ST. APOSTLE PAUL SAID: " DON'T YOU KNOW THAT YOU YOURSELVES ARE GOD'S TEMPLE AND THAT GOD'S SPIRIT LIVES IN YOU" (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Dependence on drugs (or addiction) strongly affects your body, producing physical cravings to take a certain drug. It also affects your thinking and desire (producing psychological cravings) for that drug.  Different drugs have different addictive potential, because they have different effects - ranging from weak to strong. For example, crystal methamphetamine is highly addictive because of its long stimulatory effects, so just doing meth 'every once in a while' can quickly transform into an addiction for many people. On the other hand, marijuana and alcohol tend to be more addictive over the longer term.

Some people use drugs or alcohol for emotional reasons that are not so apparent, such as:

- Loneliness and isolation;

- Boredom and stimulation against the mundane;

- Depression or felling sad, 'empty' or incomplete;

- Lack of self - confidence or a lowered self - image.

Ask yourself if drugs or alcohol are a real solution to these issues, or only a way to hide from them? If these things are causing you to use drugs or alcohol, ask for help and talk to someone.

  BEING OUT OF CONTROL.

How do I know when enough is enough?  Below is a short quiz to help you look at whether drugs or alcohol might have a hold on you. Be honest when answering these questions - you don't have to let anyone else see:

- Do you think your use of drugs or alcohol is out of control, or over-taking other things you should do?

- Does going without drugs or alcohol make you anxious, worried, upset or agitated?

- Do you with you could stop, limit or slow down your drug or alcohol use?

If your answer to these questions make you think drugs and alcohol might be becoming a problem for you, let someone know. Talk to a friend, doctor or counsellor. You can get answers and confidential help.

Garry:" But just one drug is not safe either, 'cause some drugs like  GHB ( gamma-Hydroxybutiric acid)  are really potent and I've seen people harm themselves like stabbing  themselves adn tear at their skin. That can't be good!  LSD trips just on their own too can cause bad hallucinations and crazy paranoia and fread out. How anyone could even remember to take their HIV treatments with that goin' on, let alone the drug interactions, I don't know!"

• < Prev
• Next >