Quit using COCAINE? It turns me into a SUPER-HERO! Really?
The following are real life people who are/were using Cocaine on routine basis who decided to quit for a variety of reasons. Information is being provided for you to consider whether or not your cocaine use is "really working for you" as well as and understanding that if it becomes an addiction in your life, these WILL BE the consequences of continued use in your life! The format for these posts are 1) short demographics of the person, 2) their drug of choice, 3) benefits of using Cocaine, and 4) the negative consequences that occurred which caused them to want to quit.
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- 19 yr, white man; COCAINE; benefits of use: "Makes me feel invincible,
unstopable." Reason to quit: "My drug use could and would get out of hand." - 21 yr, white woman; COCAINE; benefits of use: "Makes me forget why I am unhappy, puts me in a better mood for the time." Reason to quit: "Went on a month binge of smoking crack & shooting up crack and cocaine; ended up in ICU." - 22 yr, white man; COCAINE; benefits of use: "Feel right, lets me speak my emotions, get rid of my guilt and pain." Reason to quit: "Out of control, can't even trust myself." - 25 yr, white woman; COCAINE & HEROIN; benefits of use: "Using drugs makes me think I am a better person. That I can deal with anything but in actuality it makes me a bitch." Reason to quit: "Went to treatment, and soon as I left, was using again. Want sober life back." - 27 yr. white woman; COCAINE; benefits of using: "Using helps me express my feelings verbally or think about things I usually can't think about as good." Reason to quit: "I am tired of feeling depressed, directionless, etc." - 27 yr, white man; COCAINE & HEROIN; benefits of use: "Helps me pass time; don't feel anxious or discontent when use; stops my worry and can escape situations." Reason to quit: "Arrested high on crack after a delusional episode; wife left me and not speaking to me because of my behaviors." - 29 yr, white woman; COCAINE & OPIATES; benefits of use: "Helps me escape loneliness that I feel not having any friends. Helps me deal with the grief about sister's death." Reason to quit: "Stealing from my family and nearly bankrupting the family." - 35 yr, white woman; COCAINE; benefits of use: "Numbs my feelings, emotional pain." Reason to quit: "Fiancee cancelled our wedding." - 36 yr, white man; COCAINE; benefits of use: "Escape, gives me energy, I feel more comfortable." Reason to quit: "Cocaine Addiction was ruining myself, my marriage, and my business." - 38 yr, white man; COCAINE; benefits of use: " Gives me a high feeling." Reason to quit: "Tested positive for cocaine in random drug test at work." - 40 yr, white woman; COCAINE; benefits of use: "Escape from reality." Reason to quit: "I stopped caring about anything, and I didn't want to live anymore." |
- 41 yr, white man; COCAINE & ALCOHOL; benefits of use: "Gives me instant
relief, but it doesn't work anymore." Reason to quit: "Fear of my separation with God." - 42 yr, white woman; COCAINE; benefits of use: "none anymore." Reason to quit: "Being arrested and feeling like I would have to over- dose to be free of the drug." - 42 yr, white man; COCAINE & ALCOHOL; benefits of use: "relaxes me, allows me to slow down enough to concentrate for a couple of hours." Reason to quit: "Unable to stop using cocaine & quit drinking; spending all my money on drugs." - 44 yr, white man; COCAINE; benefits of use: "Makes me alright with myself; I feel normal, at ease, ok with my world." Reason to quit: "started using Crack cocaine and can't stop." - 45 yr, white man; COCAINE; benefits of use: "makes me forget my problems or so I thought." Reason to quit: "Cocaine addiction." - 47 yr, white man; COCAINE; benefits of use: "Smashes a feeling of insecurity." Reason to quit: "Use of Crack cocaine over & over again, spending of thousands of dollars & the feeling of helplessness." - 48 yr, white man, COCAINE & ALCOHOL; benefits of use: "Not much any more, it produces a numbness which helps me hide from reality." Reason to quit: "Arrested and realized my life was out of control again." - 50 yr, white man; COCAINE; benefits of use: "Helps to escape problems." Reason to quit: "Inability to control use of Cocaine; and realization of lifelong addiction to many substances." - 50 yr, white man; COCAINE; benefits of use: "It has not done anything good for a long time." Reason to quit: "Tired of living the life of addiction." - 51 yr, white man; COCAINE; benefits of use: "none anymore, makes me agitated." Reason to quit: "Quit my job & started living in a hotel, withdrew from the people I loved." - 55 yr, white man; COCAINE; benefits of use: "Help me to feel no pain, increased my sexual enjoyment, keeps the pressure of life off my back for short periods of time." Reason to quit: "Sponsor convinced me that it was my only option, or I would die early or go to prison." |
