Drugs and poverty go hand in hand.

[bama88]

I visited a friend who lives in a very poor area of my state.  And when I went into her small town you seen the evidence of addiction.  My friend is not and addict, but a child of addicts.  And even tho she is an adult, she still wants a mommie.  Her mother is strong out on who knows what, and her dad and step mom are beer drinking pill popping.
As I was driving to see her, and seeing her small town.  I finally put this together, drugs and poverty go hand and hand.

Such a vicious cycle.   And this could be fixed.  If the person wants to fix it.
Just an oberservation.  So when your battling the cravings, and your dealer is calling you.  Please think about how drugs lead to poverty.  Maybe for once, you'll keep your money to yourself.  Maybe for the first time in a long time you won't be giving your money away.  Just maybe you'll keep it.    
For all those who are going thru this remember you can't buy sobriety.  It's free for the taking.

[Debby236]

I don't think that's true I've always been a middle class range & I know a lot of people also with great jobs & money I live in a upper class neighborhood & as a lot of people I know & I know a lot of people addict to pills from Drs to buying them on the streets & also other kinds of drugs so it's just everywhere.. Look at all the rich millionaires singers,actors & people just brought up with loads of money that r sometimes the worst with all kinds of drugs & alcohol!!!

[ScarrieAnne]

LOL, I watch a lot of animal planet! and infomercials, netflix has been a godsend through all of this! and OMG my daughter and I are obsessed with too cute and pitbulls and parolees.

[ScarrieAnne]

I slept from 9 til 1am and have been up running around, doing laundry, took a shower, ckeaned up a little, just waiting on the kiddo to get up for school. That's the awesome part about having school age kids, they go to school and we can nap or have downtime or whatever, Im sure I will burn out around lunchtime. I have my therapy appt. at 11, but am not feeling like going, even though I will. I think its great you can take some more time off, you need it, and that your job is understanding is just great.Id rather be working at this point because the isolation and boredom of being a stay at home mom is getting to me, through this w/d. I want to work while she is in school, but I am not ready to take that on yet! I hope you can nap today, those power naps do me a world of good! take care of yourself and keep me posted! XX. C.

[atthebeach]

Addiction doesn't discriminate. It crosses all nations, has no socio-economic
Barriers, affects every race and religion.

I live  in and have raised my family in upper white middle class towns. The
Heroin and pills epidemic is alive and well. My husband, one son and daughter are all recovering addicts.

We have very sadly known many, many young friends and school
Acquaintances of my son and daughter who have lost their fight with
Addiction. We have attended to many funerals. They have overdosed, committed suicide, stepped in front of the train that takes their parents to
Work in Manhattan, hung themselves. died in car accidents.
Money is no problem for them. There is more than enough to supplement their habits. They don't have to resort to crime.
They drive expensive cars and wear designer clothes.
Our schools districts rank very high in overall academic performance.

Much of the time the families are in denial. How could their child be an addict?  They have everything they could have every needed materially.
Yet they are addicts.
I cry as I write this. Remembering all those that have been lost.

[Krissy_123]

I like "cat from hell" reminds of my crazy cat jellybean. Lol. That guy is amazing how he helps these ppl and their cats. Thank you,and have a great night/day jifmoc!!  <3

[jifmoc]

Haha!! I binge watch the "Too cute" Animal planet videos. There is one w/ a pygmy goat trying to befriend a litter of pups...enjoy!!!:)

[Krissy_123]

Hahahaha jifmoc it's so funny you said that!! Animal planet is my little guys favourite ch. so it's still on from when he went to bed. I'm done baking my party mix,so going to try a hot bath (again) then climb back under the covers and I'll watch me some animal planet! :D

[jifmoc]

Hey, you 2 insomniacs, I remember being so tired and not being able to sleep. I know it's barfy hearing this again but it will pass...promise:)

Animal Planent videos and the syfy channel, lol!

[Krissy_123]

So true,so true. Lol. I'm ok with it though. I was suppose to go back to work tomorrow (Monday) but I really don't think I'm ready. I've taken a few more days off. (They think it's still recovery from surgery) so I'm just going to keep busy until I fall down dead asleep on my pillow or the alarm goes off for the kids to get up for school I guess. I'll just try napping tomorrow well the kids are gone. How you feeling? Did you sleep at all?

[ScarrieAnne]

I feel ya Krissy, been up since 1, no chance of going back to sleep now, so here we go again! Good Times, lol.

[Krissy_123]

Haha ya I am. It's 2am. I gave up on sleep and I'm actually making nuts&bolts (party mix) for Christmas gifts for the ppl I work with. My eyes are tired and body,but just not my brain. :(

[Yesidid]

It seems that once you had this experience and flash of insight you felt compelled to share it with others in an attempt to help them and I thank you for that. But unfortunately you are wrong. Many things lead people into addiction and oddly enough poverty is one of those things. The hopelessness and depression that come with experiencing  poverty generation after generation break the will of some people. They may begin by seeking temporary relief in drugs and alcohol but end up addicted. With treatment centers non-existent in places like the one you described and unaffordable to most middle class people elsewhere, effectively dealing with addiction becomes a huge challenge, leading to more hopelessness, a worsening of the prospects of getting and keeping a job, and more drug use. The physical addiction that comes with hard drug and alcohol abuse requires much more tha "just stopping." Yes drugs cost money but poverty has a cost of its own. The situation of both addiction and poverty across this country are much more complicated than can be fixed with "if you don't spend your money on drugs, you won't be poor" - just my opinion.

[jifmoc]

Hey, Krissy, no worries:)!!!

Are you having trouble sleeping, btw?

[ScarrieAnne]

I don't think Bama meant all addicts are poverty stricken. I actually agree with a lot of what she said. I live in an area where poverty is rampant. There is not much of an education system, The only industry here is Oil Refineries, and its who you know to be able to work there. We live in a port city on the I 10 corridor, drugs saturate this area. When you grow up poor, have no education, health care, or hope that there is any way out, it is easy to become an addict. some people make it out, and make something of themselves and Im proud of them, but here that is not the norm. We have a major pill, heroin and crack epidemic in our area, plus all these new poisons the "kids"are doing. Ive seen so much where I live, girls prostituting for crack, Pimps beating them up, Dealers everywhere, its not going away in this town there aren't enough resources to help those in need with addiction issues, its basically like this, you don't have money, youre an addict, well f*** you , your on your own. Just my 2 cents, hope I didn't offend anyone. Great thought provoking post Bama. XX. Carrie Anne

[Krissy_123]

Yes jifmoc this is true as well. I apologize. I may have read her post in a defensive way.

[jifmoc]

Also, I think Bama meant that addiction leads to poverty, not that all poor people are addicts.

[jifmoc]

Bama- that was a good insight. Not the usual one of addiction. So many on here have spent all their money on drugs. I did the same. But I looked okay on the outside. Poverty is just one of the horrible consequences that can happen from addiction.

[Krissy_123]

I'm going to have to agree with minisheepdog. My pills for the last 11 years cost me nothing. I live in a nice home with a beautiful family and knew nothing about the the pills I was put on. My doctor was my dealer. I've never bought off the streets and I bet a lot of other ppl on here haven't either!! Not all addicts are poverty stricken. Sometimes life just leads us down a crappy road and we have to find our way back.

[minisheepdog]

So poor people are all addicts.your judgemental insight saddens me.