Drug Addiction Hurts Users, Kills Families!
Drug addiction, in it’s most basic sense, is a dependence on a street drug or a medication. When you’re addicted, you may not be able to control your drug use and you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes. Drug addiction can cause an intense craving for the drug. You may want to quit, but find they you can’t do so on your own.
“Drugs may be the road to nowhere, but at least they’re the scenic route.”
~Author Unknown
A drugging life can certainly be filled with colorful stories. Unfortunately, many of them end with…”and then the police showed up.”
But is using drugs that big of a deal? Drug addiction only affects the user after all!
Drug Addiction and Family Finances
A friend was sharing with me about his past drug use. He was reflecting on how much money he spent on drugs and booze over the years. All that money really added up. When he quit using and drinking he expected to have that much more extra cash, but he did not.
“The money is certainly not in my wallet,” he said to me.
Where does the money go? His conclusion was that he was “stealing” money from his family to fuel his habits. He was smoking, snorting, popping, shooting, and drinking his wife’s car payment and his son’s milk!
Drug Addiction and Quality Time
When I was actively drinking I was pretty proud of the fact that I came home every night and did not spend every evening in the bars like “all those damn alcoholics”.
I was physically in the house, but not engaged in family life. I sat on the porch, read the newspaper and drank. Or I squirreled myself away in a back room, watched television, and drank.
Instead of helping my wife cook dinner or checking my daughter’s homework I took care of my own needs.
These ‘family time’ troubles are worse for users of illegal drugs. Buying street drugs takes time and often requires trips to less-than-ideal locations.
Let’s face it…focusing on your son’s ballgame is tough when you are strung out on Meth.
Being of service to others is the highest of callings. For me, that is impossible if I am using any type of mood-altering substance.
They say that charity begins at home…and so does service. Getting involved is the best gift I can give my family. I can help with the dishes, take out the trash, cook dinner or take my daughter to her swim meet. These small acts are huge for my family.
Being drug/alcohol free is the first step. With some work I can consider myself “sober”. The work is hard, but the rewards are huge…a new relationship with my family and a new freedom unlike anything I could have imagined.
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