A question about hard drugs (with poll)

I know I'm not a regular poster but I don't really know who else to ask about this. I'm worried about a friend of mine who just moved out here to the city and has been running with a wilder crowd which includes doing drugs (mainly coke, E, etc). Not all the time, but maybe once every weekend.

She claims that it's not a big deal and that everyone dabbles in drugs, especially in NYC, and that she's not an addict since its just recreational. I'm not really asking for whether you agree with me or her, but I've never done anything but alcohol so I'm just curious how much truth there is to that. Am I just really sheltered?

Have you done coke/E etc?

---

Posted by 08blushingbride2be

I know I'm not a regular poster but I don't really know who else to ask about this. I'm worried about a friend of mine who just moved out here to the city and has been running with a wilder crowd which includes doing drugs (mainly coke, E, etc). Not all the time, but maybe once every weekend.

She claims that it's not a big deal and that everyone dabbles in drugs, especially in NYC, and that she's not an addict since its just recreational. I'm not really asking for whether you agree with me or her, but I've never done anything but alcohol so I'm just curious how much truth there is to that. Am I just really sheltered?

Have you done coke/E etc?

---

you are definitely not sheltered. i would be worried too.

SHE'S LUCKY TO HAVE A FRIEND THAT CARES.
HAS THIS BEEN going on for a while??

I had a few friends (and one ex) who used harder drugs, not just in college but well after. In my experience with them using, it can never be recreational. Its recreational when they use with the group before going out or partying at home. I am almost positive they will be using the MOST when they are alone. Someone using will hide it from everyone as much as possible. I think they can justify it that if someone doesn't know or doesn't think they are using that they really are OK.

As hard as it was for me, I confronted them about their using. I didn't mention frequency or amount just that they were USING period. I had to cut all ties w/ my ex who was sneaking around, using behind my back. My friends I just layed it on the line.... I cared so much about them but didn't agree with their lifestyle choice...therefore was I chosing not to be a part of their life. It was so hard and I worried so much but overall I thimk it was a wakeup call!

It really depends on how strongly you feel about using and the person involved. Do what you feel you need to, no one is going to say that action(s) were right or wrong! Stay strong

she is lucky to have someone who cares alot about her... FM me if you need / want to talk
i work in an outpatient program in MYC... and i kno alot of other places around if you want to mention some places to her.

its not bad to mention... its great to realize early that this is not the type of lifestyle that she wants for the rest of her life.

debbie

---

Posted by 08blushingbride2be

I know I'm not a regular poster but I don't really know who else to ask about this. I'm worried about a friend of mine who just moved out here to the city and has been running with a wilder crowd which includes doing drugs (mainly coke, E, etc). Not all the time, but maybe once every weekend.

She claims that it's not a big deal and that everyone dabbles in drugs, especially in NYC, and that she's not an addict since its just recreational. I'm not really asking for whether you agree with me or her, but I've never done anything but alcohol so I'm just curious how much truth there is to that. Am I just really sheltered?

Have you done coke/E etc?

---

I am a recovering addict and i am not ashamed to admit it. I am 7 years sober as of september of last year and reading your post reminded me of myself. I said the same things to my friends and it took a while but i finally realized it WAS a huge problem. It a very hard thing to deal with i am sure....but kicking it is hard too. Luckily i had great friends who kicked the crap out of me untill i realized what i was doing to myself. If you need to talk feel free to FM me....ill give you any help that i can! I am off to work now so if you do FM me ill get back to you after work!

Its a tough position you are in. I had lost a friend(still alive I think) cause it was too painful for me to see her that way. IWe had good times together but when I stopped doing stuff and she didnt. I had to let her go cause it had a hold on her and she didnt want help, not from me.

I see it both ways. She could be going thru a phase and hopefully may grow tired of the constant partying and just stops. Especially if she just moved here and its an all new party scene.
And the other side she may have a problem and may not want to stop. The only choices are she decides she needs to stop or you decide you need to confront her and say whats needed and hope for the best.
JMO I hope your friend comes around for you cause you seem like a good friend.

I use to be a very talented writer and sometimes I can write but its harder then before the drugs. I forget things that are important which i never did prior. So after i hit 21 I stopped doing coke, e and acid. I never did shrooms, K, meth or anything like that but know personally people who did and still are doing and they are a mess from it.

I would say in the end of she is not using it nightly/weekly then its not soo much of a big deal if she is young but deff. do express that you feel she should realize that yea many people do that **** in the club scene but you need to grow out of it quickly otherwise in one split second your so hazed out your in a subway car with no idea where you are freaking out and alone and vomit is all over you and people are just starring at you so you try to jump out of a subway car. NO FUN!

I do not even smoke up at all because i can't do it due to the drugs i had taken it just brings me into a depression that I can't snap out of. So I would also check if she is depressed at all. Also remind her that coke, e and acid can still be tainted and if someone want to pull something on her its very easy and it happens more times then you think.

I used to take a least 4-8 pills of codeine or Vicodin a day for a long time. It was easier to self medicate myself than deal with my mental issues. By taking the pills, it would make the panic attacks stop. I would black out, especially when I would mix with alcohol. I'm missing 3 days of time and I will never get them back.

Now, I will admit, although I've stopped taking these, I still smoke pot. However, I'm of the mind that it is for medical purposes. I rather smoke every once in a while than pop xanex when I'm having a panic attack.

You friend could have a problem. I know I did. However, it took admitting that I had deeper issues to solve it. I needed to escape my own mind. Talk to her again, but sometimes it takes that person to understand that they have issues. That's how it worked for me.

Wow. I give you all a lot of credit. You went through some rough times and are able to walk away stronger.
Congrats!

How frustrating for you. Sounds like ur friend is in denial.

IMO Keep being supportive but don't let it overcome you....sometimes there's just nothing u can do to make someone open their eyes.

doing coke or E every weekend - i dont know but that sounds like pretty often to me.....besides drugs are dangerous - people have died from that stuff - even if it recreational its still dangerous - its not legalized/regulated so you dont know even know what your really getting.....that always made me to afraid to try - know too many people who OD

ive never done E, coke or any of that BUT ill tell you that i was one of the very few people i know who didn't do it...I went clubbing ALOT from the age of 14 i started and going to NYC clubs. Unfortunately the sad truth is that a majority of regular club goers do drugs. THe funny thing is that i had no clue about this for so long, well i mean about those that i know. Then after a while i kept hearing about them doing it and not even just a little bit but i mean LOTS of coke and doing lots of E, back then E was real big, bigger than it is now i think. I guess it was always hidden from me or just not spoken about to me since i didnt do drugs, and infact wouldnt even drink at clubs, i started drinking probably 22-23.

Now of course i know so many details about how much was done and who did it and i was shocked at some people, people i would've never guessed were doing.

Crystal meth seems to be bigger now than E.

I was also an idiot and didnt even look for signs if ppl were doing it...after i was told small signs to look for i did, and WOW i was like 'is everybody on something' and i started paying more attention and yeah i noticed alot more. Go to bathroom in a hamptons club and all you hear is snorting...I remember the bathroom of one place the bathroom attendant had to start yelling at everybody to get out bc there was such a huge line, meanwhile it was 2 girls in each stall and all you heart was snorting

I smoked pot a handful of times throughout high school and college, never did anything more than that. . .but I think, IMO, someone doing these drugs at ALL is a problem and an issue. She's lucky to have a friend like you that cares enough to confront her!

I would speak to her again. . . I'm not really sure what you could tell her, but I don't think you are just 'sheltered' and I think that doing hard drugs every weekend sounds pretty serious. even if its only 'recreational'

---

Posted by MrsHtobe

I smoked pot a handful of times throughout high school and college, never did anything more than that. . .but I think, IMO, someone doing these drugs at ALL is a problem and an issue. She's lucky to have a friend like you that cares enough to confront her!

I would speak to her again. . . I'm not really sure what you could tell her, but I don't think you are just 'sheltered' and I think that doing hard drugs every weekend sounds pretty serious. even if its only 'recreational'

---

it is very serious...some of these people who do drugs every weekend do more than enough for the whole week. I mean some are popping 7 pills of E and more, i know ppl who would do 15 hits of E in a weekend and its insane. Sadly i know somebody who did so much E in one weekend and is now paralyzed .

To the OP: i dont know how much she does every weekend but im going to guess if she does coke probably a decent amount of that while shes at a club. I didnt know this until 2 years ago lol but coke doesnt last long, i think 15 mins or so, and then after you need more. If someones out at a club for hours theyre probably doing it continuously

---

Posted by Espo22

---

Posted by MrsHtobe

I smoked pot a handful of times throughout high school and college, never did anything more than that. . .but I think, IMO, someone doing these drugs at ALL is a problem and an issue. She's lucky to have a friend like you that cares enough to confront her!

I would speak to her again. . . I'm not really sure what you could tell her, but I don't think you are just 'sheltered' and I think that doing hard drugs every weekend sounds pretty serious. even if its only 'recreational'

---

it is very serious...some of these people who do drugs every weekend do more than enough for the whole week. I mean some are popping 7 pills of E and more, i know ppl who would do 15 hits of E in a weekend and its insane. Sadly i know somebody who did so much E in one weekend and is now paralyzed .

To the OP: i dont know how much she does every weekend but im going to guess if she does coke probably a decent amount of that while shes at a club. I didnt know this until 2 years ago lol but coke doesnt last long, i think 15 mins or so, and then after you need more. If someones out at a club for hours theyre probably doing it continuously

---

That's so scary - and sad. I never really ran with that club crowd, so I'm probably less exposed to it than others. . .I guess its the people who are exposed to it so continuosly that probably become a little numb to the seriousness of it.

Drugs are Illegal for a reason. Because they ARE fun at the time - However Always will sneak back up on you! Nobody ever intends to be an addict. I myself, have deeply dabbled in the 'drug scene' in my past. It is Very Hard to stay in control when you are clearly not....I would ask a few more questions, and just let her know that becoming an addict would not be a choice she would be directly making, but as a Result of her current behavior. Cause and Effect.....
The only reason I was able to pull through, was the fact that I had friends that made many efforts to change my ways, and to clearly be concerned. While doing drugs, you are escaping something....If you know your friends are there to catch you, It's not so scary to fall off the Drug Roller Coaster....It Must be Pointed out that the behavior is Un-acceptable! (I'm assuming she is in the 19-23 age range?) If you need more help...please FM me - I am happy to chat and offer whatever advise I might have for you! Good Luck, this may be a tough one!

---

Posted by MrsHtobe

---

Posted by Espo22

---

Posted by MrsHtobe

I smoked pot a handful of times throughout high school and college, never did anything more than that. . .but I think, IMO, someone doing these drugs at ALL is a problem and an issue. She's lucky to have a friend like you that cares enough to confront her!

I would speak to her again. . . I'm not really sure what you could tell her, but I don't think you are just 'sheltered' and I think that doing hard drugs every weekend sounds pretty serious. even if its only 'recreational'

---

it is very serious...some of these people who do drugs every weekend do more than enough for the whole week. I mean some are popping 7 pills of E and more, i know ppl who would do 15 hits of E in a weekend and its insane. Sadly i know somebody who did so much E in one weekend and is now paralyzed .

To the OP: i dont know how much she does every weekend but im going to guess if she does coke probably a decent amount of that while shes at a club. I didnt know this until 2 years ago lol but coke doesnt last long, i think 15 mins or so, and then after you need more. If someones out at a club for hours theyre probably doing it continuously

---

That's so scary - and sad. I never really ran with that club crowd, so I'm probably less exposed to it than others. . .I guess its the people who are exposed to it so continuosly that probably become a little numb to the seriousness of it.

---

I was part of that circle but honestly just never got into the drug part so people dont have to do it...i was never pressured lol infact bc i didnt do it and i guess ppl saw that i wouldn't even drink they just never offered, never spoke to me about it and was not all in my face.

The person paralyzed was not even somebody part of the club scene either.

i have never done coke and to be honest that stuff scares the sh!t out of me. i really can't stand it and i know someone i'm very close to who had a problem w it years ago and it almost ruined our relationship.

i don't want to scare you but i think maybe you should be a little concerned about your friend. i think once a week is a LOT. i would keep on her and continue to let her know how you feel about it but try to do it w/o pushing her away. that's a tough spot to be in. good luck and if you need to talk about it, don't be shy - FM me any time.