DROP THE DRUGS AND GET HIGH ON LIFE

Crack, cocaine, and speed are all highly addictive drugs that plague the
streets and homes of America. According to Narconon, a drug rehabilitation
center in California, nearly one out of four Americans between the ages of
26 and 34, has used cocaine once.

They also claim that 69 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried
marijuana at least once.

For those that are truly addicted, there are such things as drug rehab,
treatment centers, and intervention crisis options. I think the main
question here is if they really work. The Baldwin Research Institute
doesn't think so. The New York corporation has been researching and
developing programs for alcohol and drug addicts since 1989. They claim
that there is not one recovery program out there that has a higher success
rate than 30 percent. This is a dismal figure considering how many people
in America are alcoholics or addicted to drugs.

This can pose a sticky situation for friends that have friends or family
members that are addicted to drugs. There are many angles that must be
examined here. Trust is an issue because you don't want to violate your
friend's trust by telling someone else. But you can't simply stand by and
watch a loved one spiral into the gruesome world of drugs. On the other
hand, you can't confront that friend because chances are, they will deny
that they have a problem and you risk the chance of getting cut off altogether.

Interventions have been notorious for driving the individual even further
away from family and friends into the arms of a drug dealer. The typical
addict becomes defensive when confronted and will continue their drug use
more secretively. With regard to rehab centers, it usually takes someone
several visits to see any kind of results.

It is hard to say what someone should do because it's a complicated
situation with a complicated answer.

For anyone who needs help, the Narcotics Anonymous World Service hotline
and the National Alcoholics Anonymous hotline are both available in the
phone book and provide free advice.

Whether they are "gateway" drugs or highly addictive ones, I think that all
illegal drugs are evil and just plain disgusting. There are so many other
cool things in this world to do than drugs. Some drugs make you stupid,
some can give you the "munchies" and some can even kill you. Hopefully, one
day everyone really will be able to get high on life.