Crack

[melodymatters]

I find people on LS have rather...puritanical ideas regarding RECREATIONAL drug use. Much like most people can have a few drinks and not become alcoholics, many people can dabble and try different substances here and there with no problem. I've tried everything under the sun and never got addicted to anything. I still like a few beers and an occasional joint and am highly functioning.

 

In THIS case however, as soon as drugs or alcohol start making one's life unmanageable ( the first step in AA) then yes, it is a problem and I think offering treatment is a wonderfully kind AND sensible thing to do. Good luck to all of you involved !

[wow04]

What I don't get is you choosing to date this man with his history. I see it a lot. Is it because you think you can save him or something? You want to mother him?

 

Help me out here. This really does confuse me.

 

I used to be a addicted to drugs and alcohol, by the grace of God and fellowships of AA and NA I no longer use. People change. I know many people who have done horrible things in their past, but are wonderful people now. You don't judge people by the past. You can tell if a person has changed. I don't need to change him, he has already done that by working his AA program. No I have four kids and don't need to be his mother. We are partners.

 

OP, have you talked to your employee and asked him if he was using?

[2sunny]

But consider that a good alanon (enabler) can often chase the one using and look just as chaotic as the one using.

[Sauron]

I find people on LS have rather...puritanical ideas regarding RECREATIONAL drug use. Much like most people can have a few drinks and not become alcoholics, many people can dabble and try different substances here and there with no problem. I've tried everything under the sun and never got addicted to anything. I still like a few beers and an occasional joint and am highly functioning.

 

In THIS case however, as soon as drugs or alcohol start making one's life unmanageable ( the first step in AA) then yes, it is a problem and I think offering treatment is a wonderfully kind AND sensible thing to do. Good luck to all of you involved !

 

Rec drugs are not the only thing they have puritanical ideas about. I like a good scotch and think pot should be legal. The treatment is part of the benefits package from our insurance provider.

[Sauron]

I used to be a addicted to drugs and alcohol, by the grace of God and fellowships of AA and NA I no longer use. People change. I know many people who have done horrible things in their past, but are wonderful people now. You don't judge people by the past. You can tell if a person has changed. I don't need to change him, he has already done that by working his AA program. No I have four kids and don't need to be his mother. We are partners.

 

OP, have you talked to your employee and asked him if he was using?

 

This guy is a software engineer. His work is stellar and he is working a major project for a major customer. There is no way he is using crack if it's as addictive as you all say.

[Sauron]

But consider that a good alanon (enabler) can often chase the one using and look just as chaotic as the one using.

 

Can you expand on this? Do you mean he may be enabling his wife's useage?

[Sauron]

My boyfriend is a recovering crackhead. I wasn't with him when he was using, but I knew him. He couldn't hold a job, he pawned everything to get money for more crack, and eventually stole to get it. He spent time in prison due to him having to get his next high. He has been clean years now, but has to work a good recovery program.

 

I have been in the rooms of AA and NA for over 9 years and I have never seen a functioning crackhead.

 

From what I have read, not everyone hits this level. Just like another poster said, some will have a drink and become raging alcholics while other prople can drink socially. So if some one smokes some crack on the weekend does that aetomatially mean they are going to become a crackhead?

[Woggle]

I find people on LS have rather...puritanical ideas regarding RECREATIONAL drug use. Much like most people can have a few drinks and not become alcoholics, many people can dabble and try different substances here and there with no problem. I've tried everything under the sun and never got addicted to anything. I still like a few beers and an occasional joint and am highly functioning.

 

In THIS case however, as soon as drugs or alcohol start making one's life unmanageable ( the first step in AA) then yes, it is a problem and I think offering treatment is a wonderfully kind AND sensible thing to do. Good luck to all of you involved !

 

With some drugs this is the case but crack is highly addictive. I have seen crackheads and literally the only that matters to them in life is the next hit. They are like zombies and will do anything to get crack money.

[Sporty Girl]

Anybody that is on crack does not care about anything or anybody. They destroy themselves, their friends, and families. They lie, cheat, and steal. If they have a job, the whole pay goes on their crack habit. They have to be high all the time, everyday, every minute. They are chasing the dragon from the first time, that they will never feel again. They end up losing everything in life. It's a shame they know what the drug will do to them, but they don't stop, or they still do it anyways. He problaby is distracted from work because of his wife using crack, and he is worried about her. She might be hooking for crack while he is at work. He better be careful before she sucks him into that **** and ruin his life. If he sits there and watches her do that stuff, then soon he will be doing it too.

 

My ex boyfriend, thank God he is gone from my life. He was a crack head. He worked a really good job, but when he got paid he would runaway with his pay cheque, and go smoke crack with everybody else. When I was at school during the day I would constantly worry if he was cheating. Eventually I left him, and realized I can't let this person pull me down. I hate crack heads. I have never done drugs in my life, so I cannot tell you what it's like. All know is that people get hooked for the first time, and they cannot hold a real life and face reality while using that drug.

 

Why don't you offer him a place to stay so that he can get away from her and talk to him like a real friend and convince him to leave her. She will ruin his life big time.

Edited October 7, 2012 by Sporty Girl

[Tara247]

Let me expound on that for a second to give you a better idea.

 

First of all, crack is cooked down cocaine. The druggies, back in the 80s realized they could cook down cocaine into a more addictive form, and sell it cheaper...but for more profit.

 

Statistically, crack is running right at a 100% addiction rate for first time users. Theres no high like the first one....and they keep chasing that first high. Its a nasty, nasty drug. And very, VERY few who get on it ever come off it.

 

Yep, just think of poor Whitney Houston.

[Sabian]

Anyone who says that any drug user is out of control or "deluding themselves" into thinking they have it under control is just regurgitating the bs anti-drug campaign.

 

I'm not saying that some drugs aren't terrible for you, but there are multiple illegal substances that can be and are used responsibly. Not just marijuana. I know multiple people who are very successful and respected members of their community who regularly use heroin and cocaine. They aren't out of control and you would never guess that they are on anything.

 

It's like anything else. Have no self control and you'll have problems. Be reasonable and responsible and you'll be just fine. However there are obviously some substances that are dangerous the first and every time you use them regardless of how much research into dosage and other things you've done.

 

 

*Edit* Ah what the hell, I don't know you people.

 

I was an opiate addict for 2 years. I used it to manage my anxiety and it did wonders for me. Yes it was illegal, and yes I was addicted, but I treated it like medication. I took the same dose, at the same time of day. Never more, never less. When I decided it was time to get off and see how my anxiety was without it, I slowly quit over the course of a month and have now been clean for almost a year. I didn't steal, didn't ruin my life, didn't have to go to rehab, and am pretty healthy. In fact. I'd say the use of the opiates allowed me to see how to live without over-bearing anxiety and I am now able to do so without the drugs.

 

This may blow some of your minds, but I consciously and intentionally became addicted to opiates and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

Edited November 11, 2012 by Sabian

[carhill]

OP, a couple questions from a business perspective:

 

1. Have you independently verified his 'reasons' for missing work?

 

2. Does he have authorized use of a company vehicle as part of his employment contract?

 

3. Is the employee's wife covered under your health insurance plan?

 

Tangent to that, do you know his wife? Met her? Spent time with her at employee social functions you put on for your workers?

 

My take, from a couple decades in business: People lie. Employees are people.

 

Crack cocaine is a serious drug and is generally illegal. It's the 'illegal' part I would be concerned about as a business owner. Compassion for one employee is laudable but the needs of the one should not exist at the peril of the needs of the many.

 

I saw the most marked effects of coke and crack back in the 80's when I was in my 20's. Whole businesses ran on drugs, and successfully, but people were high most of the time. It fried up a lot of people and ruined marriages and put some people in prison. Myself, as the innocent, wondered how these people could work dawn until midnight, day after day, week after week, month after month. I learned.

 

If you have a corporate attorney, I'd suggest a talk about this subject. Good luck.

[wittyscreenname]

I am a casual crack smoker. I do it once in 3 or 4 months and I don't get cravings or feel like I really need to smoke or anything like that.

[Forever Learning]

 

*Edit* Ah what the hell, I don't know you people.

 

I was an opiate addict for 2 years. I used it to manage my anxiety and it did wonders for me. Yes it was illegal, and yes I was addicted, but I treated it like medication. I took the same dose, at the same time of day. Never more, never less. When I decided it was time to get off and see how my anxiety was without it, I slowly quit over the course of a month and have now been clean for almost a year. I didn't steal, didn't ruin my life, didn't have to go to rehab, and am pretty healthy. In fact. I'd say the use of the opiates allowed me to see how to live without over-bearing anxiety and I am now able to do so without the drugs.

 

This may blow some of your minds, but I consciously and intentionally became addicted to opiates and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

 

That is very interesting. I believe your story, and I think you are a rare individual, and that most people don't have your self control.

[suladas]

A friend of a friend I know does coke, still functions and it doesn't control his life, he's actually an amatuer MMA fighter. Granted he is a bit different and you'd assume something is up, it's not like his whole life revolves around it. No one can assume anyone who does it is a addict and it ruins their life, everyone is different. Granted I am against drugs, and would never touch anything like that or be close to anyone who does.

[Nyla]

I am a casual crack smoker. I do it once in 3 or 4 months and I don't get cravings or feel like I really need to smoke or anything like that.

 

If you don't need to smoke, why are you doing still crack every 3 or 4 months? Why can't you just stop?

 

I think crack has a stronger hold on you than you care to admit.

 

The only drug I have ever done is marijuana. I'm too scared to try the harder stuff because think I would become addicted and it would ruin my life.