Pubdate: Thu, 05 Jan 2006
Source: Phoenix New Times (AZ)
Copyright: 2006 New Times, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/640
Author: Judy Guin
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1940/a02.html
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1851/a10.html

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS:

I wasn't actually gonna write a letter, but with another article, and a
couple of crybabies in your Letters section, how could I resist?

First of all, let me say I have been clean from meth for 17 years. If
anyone wants to quit an addiction to any form of drugs, it's easy.
Without detoxing, without withdrawal, without 12 freaking steps. If
you don't buy it, you won't use it. If you don't hang out with those
who have it, you won't use it. If you use it and cannot afford it, you
have a much bigger problem than addiction.

If you have to steal or connive to support a habit, then you are a
thief and should go to prison. To steal for a habit is not only wrong,
it's lame. Everyone has "free will." If most "addicts" go back to
their first time, um, no one stuck a gun to their head and made them
try it.

My first time, a boyfriend brought it home, but I alone chose to try
it, and then I chose to continue using it. I can't blame society, my
peers. You must take responsibility for what you do.

Treatment is a farce, if you aren't sincere about quitting. God has
nothing to do with it, either. I'm not religious, but do you really
think He condones drug abuse? Not.

Your articles made it sound like all meth users are bad news, when in
fact some (very few, but still) are quite productive. When I was using
meth, I held down two jobs, had my own apartment and took care of all
the responsibilities that come with work and home.

And when I quit, I just quit.

No backlash, no bullshit, no cravings, no D.T.'s, no withdrawal, no 12
steps. Just will power!

Addicts, most of them, are hopeless -- but only because to get clean,
they have to really want it, and most of 'em cop out or are not really
serious. I say, don't blame the drugs, blame yourself.

And by the way, not all meth addicts crave sex ("Meth and Sex," Joe
Watson, November 24). As for the people I ran with back then, sex was the
furthest thing from our minds. Tweakers like to do other stuff while they
are high -- like clean, tinker with their cars, drink beer.

To me, your articles were not only rambling, but not as thorough as
they could've been. But through the years of reading your publication,
I'll say such reporting is par for the course for New Times.

Judy Guin

Phoenix
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin