John, a journalist and drug activist interviewed Tyler, his schoolmate, and former drug addict. After exchanging greetings and other niceties, following is the full interview. It is a shocker.
John: “How would you describe your day as a drug addict?”
Tyler: “After the first smoke, I used experience massive ‘highs’ and overwhelming ‘lows’?”
John: “What do you mean?”
Tyler: “Well, it is an emotional rollercoaster that is difficult to describe. Sometimes you feel you are riding over an emotional high tide and then experience a barrage of hallucinations, withdraw symptoms, self-doubt, worthlessness, and uncertainty."
John: “How do you feel about drug addiction?”
Tyler: “Drug addiction is like a hungry monster that has an insatiable appetite. It eats and eats, and then eats some more. You are constantly thinking about how to obtain drug not how to develop yourself or assist others. You rarely think about food, family, kids or friends but how to replenish your supply of drugs. The overwhelming desire to feed the monster forces to think and ‘work' fulltime.”
John: “Why don’t you dump the monster and walk away?”
Tyler: “Ha! You don't know what you are talking. Most drugs cause psychological and physical dependence, which causes you to detest leaving them. A drug user can feel, think and act in ways that seem irrational and irresponsible to normal folks. Some drugs such as opioids cause severe pain when you withdrawal from them. Other drugs, such as heroin, cause psychological dependence. After using a drug for some time, you become its prisoner."
John: “How long does the elation last?”
Tyler: “That is one of the most deceptive aspects of drug use disorders. It is the euphoria that results from using drugs that attracts people to start on the dangerous and slippery path of addition. After using a drug such as Ritalin, you feel ecstatic because it triggers the release of substances called neurotransmitters that make you feel great. But the excitement is transient and leaves you sad, confused and feeling alone.”
John: “Do drug addicts have fears?”
Tyler: "Certainly. You fear to die from an overdose, which can happen when you try to withdrawal from a drug and then overdose when the withdraw symptoms become unbearable. Drug users are aware of this and live in constant fear of death. Moreover, drug use disorders affect not only the life of the abuser but also his family, colleagues, and friends. You may feel unworthy, which is another source of anxiety.”
John: “Why do many drug users tell lies?”
Tyler: Drug addicts are not born that way. They aren’t deceptive and schemers from birth. It is the overwhelming desire to feed the illicit habit that causes them to resort to unethical means to raise cash to refresh their stock. A teenager may come up will all sorts of stories: a school trip, losing a school bag or the need for a new book. Some resort to prostitution. When you have a drug use disorder, you have to lie like a rug.”
John: “Why do drug addicts lose their jobs?”
Tyler: “They do not only lose their jobs but also their friends. You cannot hide a drug problem from your employer or friend for long. They eventually find out. Employers want to see results, and you need to feed a friendship to keep it, scenarios that are next to impossible when you are nursing a drug habit."
John: “Is there any hope for those with a drug use disorder?”
Tyler: "Certainly. Firstly, don't keep the problem to yourself. Talk to your parents, a fellow believer, a trusted friend, or rehabilitation center, depending on your situation. Above all, educate your yourself.”