Monday, November 12, 2007

Cocaine: The Long-Term Effects

I have come to the conclusion that people who use hard drugs are never really normal, especially people who abuse cocaine. They may have a religious conversion, they may settle into a veneer of respectability, but the damage is done. A religious conversion does not always take the place of the on-going psychiatric treatment that people who indulged in cocaine use should seek. Otherwise, the lying, irritability, depression and paranoia that characterize the cocaine abusers continue throughout life.

I have run across certain women who have had a conversion after a life of drugs and promiscuity. In spite of a wayward past, they have really tried to live a devout life. This is admirable. However, needless to say, often severe psychological problems linger, which may manifest themselves in various ways. Extremist religious attitudes and practices are so often the way such people overcompensate for their past. If such a person insults me, slanders me, tells me that I am "unstable," I take it with a grain of salt. It's the drugs talking. It's the past sordid life talking. All one can do is pity the person for their own instability and hope they seek the professional counseling that will help them overcome their low self-esteem.

There is a drug problem in our county. Of course, with a university, what can one expect? But there are many who abuse drugs who have no connection with the university. Luckily, we have a wonderful District Attorney, who has dedicated himself to ridding Happy Valley of the cocaine scourge. The former D.A. disappeared mysteriously and has never been found; maybe the coke addicts got him, I don't know...... Share

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Elena Maria,
I believe God can heal us of all our afflictions.
I suppose we always suffer from the effect of our sins and this is in itself a penance, but I think if a person sincerely prays for a healing then these things can be corrected and all things made new.
Mary rose.

elena maria vidal said...

I totally agree, Mary Rose. I have seen such miracles. In some cases, however, medical or psychiatric intervention might be part of the healing process, as I am sure that you will agree.