Youth Substance Abuse Story

My Best Friend’s Experience with Addiction

One of the most certain ways to ruin your life is to abuse alcohol and drugs. It really is unbelievable how common substance abuse is among high school students. In fact, my best friend was addicted to alcohol and cocaine, so I have seen firsthand how her addiction to alcohol and drugs can hurt a person.

My friend’s substance abuse problems began with social drinking on the weekends during parties. Gradually, she began to try other drugs, and was soon using them in excess. She started sleeping with people she barely knew, and never used any protection. It got to the point that we no longer had very much in common because she was literally obsessed with drugs and drinking. Over the course of one semester, she went from an A student to someone who did not show up for class half the time.

Even though her behavior had changed, my friend was able to hide her problems from her family. It was as if they were blind to her addictions. However, when she failed to come home one night after a cocaine overdose during a party, everything changed. I had to rush her to the hospital, where she had to have her stomach pumped. She then had to seek withdrawal services because her addiction to drugs was so deep. Upon seeing her lying in a hospital bed, her parents finally acknowledged that she may have a problem. From that point forward, her parents began dedicating their time to helping their daughter overcome her substance abuse problems.

Despite having a loving and supportive family, my friend seemed to care more about obtaining drugs and alcohol than she did about improving her health and well-being. She stole money from her parents and brother to buy drugs, and her destructive behavior eventually led to a family breakdown. She eventually ended up overdosing two more times before finally committing to take part in an outpatient substance abuse program and Alcoholics Anonymous.

As her friend, I do my best to learn about substance abuse and to prevent her from putting herself in situations in which she might be tempted to drink or abuse drugs. I talk to her regularly about the dangers associated with substance abuse, including increased risk for sexual abuse, legal matters, and premature pregnancy. She is gradually becoming more like the friend that I used to have. While my friend seems problem free at times, I remind myself that addictions are powerful and that she could relapse at any time. Every day I find myself hoping that she will have the strength to follow through with her treatment and beat her addiction.