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Just picked up an old friend at a detox center.

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Swede Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 04:22 PM
Original message
Just picked up an old friend at a detox center.
He had a one way bus ticket back home. We had a coffee while we waited for his bus. He's four years younger than me and he looked awful. Skinny,scarred up face and hands,exhausted. We joked about the old days. He said I was the only bud ever cut him any slack. I've always thought,there but for the grace of god..... Anyhoo,he said he finally said he's scared of dieing,that he can't get off the shit. I told him this time really try,and he got on his bus.
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Booberdawg Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 04:24 PM
Response to Original message
1. It's a powerful disease
And you said it - There but for the Grace of God go I ....
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corarose Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 04:26 PM
Response to Original message
2. Your friend has a TRUE friend
Stay by him and help him out he needs it.
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Swede Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 04:31 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. I don't want to lose another friend to substance abuse.
I've lost five friends to drugs or alchohol already.
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corarose Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 05:56 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. 1 is too many
5 is way too many. I feel for you and I am lost for words because 5 people would be devastating.

I needed a friend to be around but I didn't have one so I went cold turkey on my own and I have been 6 days without diet pills.

You are a wonderful person.
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Swede Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 06:05 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. Thanks corarose. I've been kinda down since Wayne called,
he never before mentioned death. He's alone and scared and I don't want to get that horrible phone call. I've read some of your posts,you too are alone and maybe a little scared. Hang in there is all I can say. Is there an old friend you can call?
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corarose Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 06:09 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. I don't have anyone but I will be fine
My best friend died several years before my Mom.

Don't leave your friend alone because you never know what can happen please take care of him. Please do that!
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Swede Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 06:14 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. I will try. He lives in a town about 3 hours away.
But I have his phone number.
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ikojo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 06:00 PM
Response to Original message
5. Swede, my prayers are with you and your friend as
he tries to get off drugs. I have never used drugs so I have no idea how tough it is to get off of them. I know what alcohol did to my dad and my younger, now deceased, brother (his birthday would be tommorrow..the same as Jim Morrison's).

My brother tried to self medicate with alcohol when he really needed to be treated for the depression that ultimately took his too short life. Many alcoholics and drug addicts are merely trying to self medicate.

Please encourage your friend to seek counseling in addition to any drug treatment.

Peace to you and him
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soupkitchen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 06:18 PM
Response to Original message
9. Just make sure You don't go to work tomorrow with a hangover
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Swede Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 06:30 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. Thanks soupkitchen.
Life is a struggle at times,and when your down it's easier to get lost.
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corarose Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 06:37 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. I am amazed at how insensitive some DU'ers are
Edited on Sun Dec-07-03 06:50 PM by corarose
Can you imagine what they would do If they had friends in need or needed help themselves?
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Kamika Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 06:38 PM
Response to Original message
12. wow lost 5 friends..
I'm not even sure if my total sum of "real" friends is five
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Swede Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 06:43 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. We grew up in a small town.
At Clark's stag party back in 1977 when we were last all together. Now Clark,Ivan,Rick,and Ernie are gone. Carl wasn't at the stag but he's gone now too.
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Obamarama Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 06:48 PM
Response to Original message
14. Maybe the fear of death will give him the push he needs...
Edited on Sun Dec-07-03 06:49 PM by KzooDem
I had a friend who turned into a cokehead....nobody would have EVER thought he would let his life slide like that. Smart, goodlooking, successful....

Cocaine destroyed his life and he ende up, quite literally, facing death in the face. That was the end of the line for him and his addiction. He faced his demons and got off coke and got his life back together. With a lot of support from friends and family.

Just be there for your friend if he needs you to be. And don't wait for him to call you. Good luck...you sound like the kind of friend everyone should be blessed with.
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Cheswick2.0 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Dec-07-03 06:59 PM
Response to Original message
15. I will pray he has an epiphany
I hope he has a change of mind and heart.... and finds a purpose in life which is bigger than what he is doing with the drugs.
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