Drug Abuse Personal Stories

Drug abuse is a problem that has assumed alarming proportions all over the world in recent times. The main victims of drug abuse are today's youths, who are losing all purposes of life on account of this problem. It has spread to all classes of society, and unless proper steps are taken by all of us to tackle this menace, more and more youths will become its victims and follow the path of self-destruction.

Here are two personal stories about drug abuse - one of a young drug addict who finally overcame her problem and returned to normal life, and the other also of a young girl who pulled her friend out of this dark abyss. (Names have been changed to protect their identity).

Linda was a 14-year-old girl when she had her first encounter with cocaine. Earlier, she had tasted marijuana and alcohol also. Then one day out of sheer curiosity, she sniffed heroin and got promptly hooked. She lost her father at a young age, and the vacuum created by his death left her restless. It was at that time she got the experience of heroin which helped her calm down. The deadly powder gave her some sleep and a feeling, which was indescribable but charmingly irresistible.

Gradually, Linda began to mix with only those who did drugs. They became her friend just because they too were hooked to heroin. They formed some sort of a team to get what they wanted, no matter at what cost. Getting heroin was not very difficult, and it was quite affordable also. As her addiction gradually went out of control, she stopped going to school.

Having noticed some abnormalities, her mom asked her if she was taking drugs. Linda lied and said no. Her mom believed her for a long time in the firm belief that she could never do such things. But she finally realized Linda had a problem, and went all out to help her daughter. After much persuasion, she made Linda agree to undergo treatment.

After treatment, she now lives a drug-free life and is ready to join college.

The other story is about Althea, another young girl who helped her friend Elena kick the habit and start a new life. According to Althea, Elena - otherwise a bright girl by any standards - hung out some girls much below her own standard. Althea discovered that it was drugs what brought them together. She hated these things because of their ominous consequences and believed that if Elena continued to go this way, her life would be ruined. So, as a friend and well-wisher, Althea tried to convince Elena of the disastrous effects of drug abuse and requested her to kick the habit. Elena had become so addicted at that time that she paid no heed to her friend's advice.

While most people would give up on such die-hard addicts, Althea was not ready to lose the battle. She tried continuously to persuade Elena to at least try for once to stay away from drugs. Althea believed that once she could feel how it was to live a drug-free life, Elena won't return to that dark abyss again.

Her perseverance paid off at last as Elena agreed to give it a try. Overcoming all temptations and withdrawal symptoms, Elena succeeded all by herself without needing any treatment of any kind. She is a healthy, bright girl pursuing her studies in college today. And she knows she owes her new life to none other but her friend Althea.

• Matt Thompson
• 10/06/2009, 3:59 AM
• 0 Comments