His father was awakened around 1 a.m. by the dog barking at a neighbor coming home. He got up to quiet the dog and walked past his son’s room. He saw his son, lying on his back, foaming at the mouth, a syringe lay next to him, left over brown junk still in it. It took only half the dose to cause the overdose.
This is real. Kids are either dying or damaging themselves permanently to satisfy the overwhelming craving for dope that takes hold of their minds once they are addicted. Every drug user swears they will never shoot-up. But veteran addicts know that it is only a matter of time: anyone who keeps using will eventually use a needle. Addiction is a progressive disease; without treatment, it gets worse, not better. I know when I come to work each day I am doing nothing less than fighting to save lives. As an experienced, recovered addict I’ve done all and more than these Santa Clarita kids might ever do. I know my experiences, however painful they are for me to relive, are things my clients can relate to. My own journey through recovery was about as rough as it gets and it can inspire others when they don’t believe they can make it. I am a healthy, family man with a thriving business and life and want them to see, through my example, they can do it too.
I know how to deal with the hard core addicts, but I am equally concerned about those who are still in the beginning stages; partying with pot, alcohol or a few pills, unaware how they are cultivating addictive thinking patterns. They ask me if they are an addict and often I say “No. But where do you think addicts come from? Does the stork bring them? You’re not an addict… yet. But by the time you realize you are one, you’ve been one for a long time.”
By that time it is a suffering journey to get back from it. There is absolutely no way to get off of drugs without suffering. The suffering is huge and it’s inevitable; all we can do is decide when we will begin. Every day we wait, the quantity of suffering we will have to endure is increasing.
Don’t wait. Start now. Please.
Scott Spackey is a California Registered Addiction Specialist, Interventionist, Life-Coach Hypnotherapist and recovered addict. For more information, please call 661-299-1966, email: Scott@Life-Mind.com and visit www.LIFE-MIND.com.