Speed Addiction

[Simmone]

Hi I am very new to this site but I hope that someone can help me out with my question.

I have a friend that I think is addicted to Speed (amphetamine the ilegal powder type). She has been taking it now for approx 3 years on a daily basis. I saw her recently and I think the stuff is killing her she seems in a world of her own!
She doesnt take this for fun any more its clearly to get her through the day and night but she can sleep on the spot in mid conversation to someone, which I can only think this is the come down?? But what I'm confuesed about is that she has put on a massive amount of weight and looks very yellow and pale! She has massive water attention all over you can stuck your finger in her arm and it will dent for ages!

Has any one gone through this or knows anyone in this situation? I am building up to approaching her about this as I am concerned one day she wont wake up!

Thanks for your help!

[10356]

you eventfully use up what you are suppose to be selling then you have know more money, in turn it makes it harder to get, they will front you for only so long. It will catch up to her Limbo

[Simmone]

Thanks cathy thats what I needed to hear (sorry, bad that it is) but that would explain the excessive weight gain. I really have no idea how to go about getting her help. It goes a bit deeper but one main reason for the addiction is that she makes a living out of selling it, which really doesn't help! We have all been waiting for her to get caught out and that would be the end of it all, but she gets away with it every time? She needs to go into rehab but that seems so impossible! I just cant see anyway round this?

[10356]

when wired for a long period of time you can sleep on it or she is doing speed balls thats crank and heroin or 8 ball the weight sounds like water retention the kidneys are not filtering as they should I know when I was wired I hardly ever peed because I never drank water and the yellowing of the skin is jaundice that means the liver is being compromised can not filter the toxins fast enough. When you starve the organs these things can happen. Is she staying up for many days in a row? Finally your body will rebel and demand sleep. There really is know withdraw symptoms physically to speak of except restlessness the mental is pure Hell!!!!! I wish you all the luck talking with your friend keep us posted and if she likes post her self she would receive a lot of help, Drug addicts do not like being called out so be prepared for her reaction, it will not be her but the drug talking Limbo

[cathy5841]

i am sorry you are going through this.  my daughter was using meth for 3 years and in the end she did the same thing.  it is not actually weight gain.  it is her organs failing.  mu daughters kidneys began to shut down, and that was the reason for the water retention.  she was puffy all over.  she was a very heavy user.  please try to get your friend to a dr.  i ammnot one and this is only based my experience with my daughter.  i wish you luck. and i will say a prayer for your friend.
cathy

[Simmone]

Hi thanks for your responces I am really greatfull!
From what I gather she starves but then when she comes down she binges on junk food lots of it! She has also lost lots of teeth, but she is so in denile she blames all her health problems on her previous pregnancy which she had diabetes??? Now I'mn not a doctor but I'm also not stupid she cant admit her problem. She has also had a drink problem for meny years which has taken its tole on her, but no longer drinks hense the speed to substitue it!
The biggest problem we have is that she is very stuborn and will shut us all out if we handle this worng, she has two kids which we are also worried about. So it's really trickey but I need to tell her what I think and I think she has a liver problem from all the rubbish gone through her body! But I am worried she wont wake on day!

[scottt]

I"m not a dr but it sounds to me like she may have liver problem I "d take her to hosp.

[sadinmichigan]

Thankyou for your post and welcome.I can understand your concern.I don't know anything about that drug but just give it a few and someone will be along to better answer your question....Is this person a minor? if not does she have family that could somehow get her medical attention..it sounds like she needs it right away.

[poetrygirl1960]

You can be sure she is addicted if she is doing it to get through a day.  As for the weight gain, do you think it's possible she may be doing something else with it?  Because the nature of speed or coke causes appetite suppression, and weight loss.  Anyway is there a way you and more of her friends and family could plan an intervention?  Before she becomes even more jaundiced and frail.