by Robert Mckenna

Created on: May 18, 2009   Last Updated: June 26, 2009

A day in the life of a drug addict no matter the addict's drug of choice, is another day in hell. Whether you think of an addict with a needle in his arm, a crack pipe in his mouth, or addicted to prescription drugs, remember the addict is a real person; a person who made bad choices. An addict has a disease of the mind, body, and spirit, confusing the decision making process.

Anguish, pain, misery, and totally enslaved to the prevailing need for more drugs, at the expense of loved ones, and debasement of self, describes what life is like addicted to drugs. Everyday starts out in a state of panic and fear. Upon awakening, consciousness is never filled with beauty; rather the reality is one of consuming fear, fear about filling a need so strong, a person often makes tainted choices which would never be contemplated if the mind of the addict was clear. It is not uncommon for a pill addict who has no more of the prescribed medicine, to start the day going to Emergency Rooms at the surrounding hospitals, feigning symptoms, and begging the doctors for prescriptions. If the prescription does not provide enough pills, the addict might visit another doctor, and go through the emotional theatrics as often as necessary, to get the copious amounts of drugs needed to sustain another day of addiction. If the addict cannot get enough drugs through theatrics and false symptoms, often the addicted person will write or alter a prescription, knowing their actions put them in jeopardy of up to two years in jail.

The drug laws, and the misunderstanding by family, friends, neighbors, and society, further humiliate the addict. With an abnormal low self-esteem as part of the addicts defects of character, the continued inability to function without drugs, reinforces low self worth, and can even drive the addict to taking his own life, as a desperate attempt stop the downward spiral. The addict lives a lonely existence, searching for a brief respite from his perceived miserable existence. The addict has asked, even begged God for help, and believes even his God has rejected his pleas for help. The addict not only is lonely, but spiritually bankrupt as well, thinking he his doomed to hell. In one respect, the addict is correct. The addict has made his life, hell on earth.

The days start out dark and alone, and end dark and alone. The colors of life most people take for granted, the addict has relinquished in pursuit of his addiction. The addict would gladly sell his soul for a minute in the light and color of life. The addict has lost his way. To make matters worse the only person an addict trusts his himself, the one person he should trust the least. The disease of addiction talks to the addict in his own voice. The disease tells the addict more is better at any cost. The disease reminds the addict how the drugs can make him whole again, and bring joy back into life. The addict remembers the first wonderful high, and has been chasing that elusive feeling ever since, but to no avail.

The feelings of impending doom, of extreme paranoia, and the feeling of fear of everything, becomes a predominate companion in all the addict does, leaving him rarely able to venture from his room. No amount of money can change the horror of life in addiction. Wealthy or poor, or somewhere in the middle, the addiction is relentless and continues to grow stronger, until the addict dies or seeks recovery.

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