Pubdate: Thu, 24 Apr 2003
Source: Rebel Yell (Las Vegas, NV Edu)
Copyright: 2003 Rebel Yell
Contact: http://www.ryunlv.com/main.cfm?include=submit
Website: http://www.ryunlv.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1362
Author: Kalea Yoshida

DROP THE DRUGS AND GET HIGH ON LIFE

Crack, cocaine, and speed are all highly addictive drugs that plague the 
streets and homes of America. According to Narconon, a drug rehabilitation 
center in California, nearly one out of four Americans between the ages of 
26 and 34, has used cocaine once.

They also claim that 69 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried 
marijuana at least once.

For those that are truly addicted, there are such things as drug rehab, 
treatment centers, and intervention crisis options. I think the main 
question here is if they really work. The Baldwin Research Institute 
doesn't think so. The New York corporation has been researching and 
developing programs for alcohol and drug addicts since 1989. They claim 
that there is not one recovery program out there that has a higher success 
rate than 30 percent. This is a dismal figure considering how many people 
in America are alcoholics or addicted to drugs.

This can pose a sticky situation for friends that have friends or family 
members that are addicted to drugs. There are many angles that must be 
examined here. Trust is an issue because you don't want to violate your 
friend's trust by telling someone else. But you can't simply stand by and 
watch a loved one spiral into the gruesome world of drugs. On the other 
hand, you can't confront that friend because chances are, they will deny 
that they have a problem and you risk the chance of getting cut off altogether.

Interventions have been notorious for driving the individual even further 
away from family and friends into the arms of a drug dealer. The typical 
addict becomes defensive when confronted and will continue their drug use 
more secretively. With regard to rehab centers, it usually takes someone 
several visits to see any kind of results.

It is hard to say what someone should do because it's a complicated 
situation with a complicated answer.

For anyone who needs help, the Narcotics Anonymous World Service hotline 
and the National Alcoholics Anonymous hotline are both available in the 
phone book and provide free advice.

Whether they are "gateway" drugs or highly addictive ones, I think that all 
illegal drugs are evil and just plain disgusting. There are so many other 
cool things in this world to do than drugs. Some drugs make you stupid, 
some can give you the "munchies" and some can even kill you. Hopefully, one 
day everyone really will be able to get high on life.
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