Technology
I’m A Crackhead
In this episode of 'Other People's Lives,' hosts Joe Sanagato and Greg Dybeck engage in a candid conversation with a guest who identifies as a 'functioning crackhead.' The gue...
I’m A Crackhead
Technology •
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Interactive Transcript
spk_0
So you said you use every single day?
spk_0
Like, and it's only, I will use every day if it wasn't for money.
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You know I'm playing.
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Are you high right now?
spk_0
Yes.
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Alright.
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Welcome back to other people's lives.
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I'm Joe Sanagato.
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I'm Greg Dybeck.
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For anyone out there that would like to be a guest on our show,
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don't hesitate to reach out to us.
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Our email is oplpodcast.gmail.com.
spk_0
Yeah.
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And today we are speaking to a crackhead.
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That sounds like an offensive term,
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but that is what they wrote in their email.
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So the subject line is, I'm a functioning crackhead.
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And they are going to talk to us about their addiction,
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how they use pretty much every day,
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but basically still find themselves in a position
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to be a functioning member of society.
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So really interesting.
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It doesn't seem like a conversation you get to have often
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where someone is kind of going to willingly admit all of this
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and walk us through it.
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So we appreciate the guest being on.
spk_0
And yeah, thank you so much for being on today.
spk_0
I appreciate you guys giving me the opportunity to come on.
spk_0
It's not a funny thing,
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but it is plenty of your lead.
spk_0
The word crackhead is just like, yeah, it's so direct.
spk_0
But it is.
spk_0
Yeah, hey, you said it first.
spk_0
You gave us permission.
spk_0
Absolutely.
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But can you just, I guess, talk to us about
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how your addiction started, how were you introduced?
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Was it crack originally?
spk_0
Was there sort of a gateway drug into crack?
spk_0
Yeah, so I'll try and make it as short of a story as possible.
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But so I became an addict period
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like when I was 19 years old.
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It started off with pain pills.
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I legitimately got addicted accidentally.
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So I'm a little older.
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And like now it's very well known.
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How addictive like opiates are.
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Like I think everybody knows that.
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But back then it really wasn't.
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And so like I was always scared even like smoke pot or anything.
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But for some reason, like, you know,
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I felt like, oh, okay, they're from a doctor there.
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I bet.
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So I would do them.
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And you know, before I knew it,
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I did them for a while just recreationally.
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But I really liked them.
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Like when I did them, I was like,
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oh, this feels like home, you know?
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And the folks were sure, I got hooked man.
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I was like, I'm tired of spending money.
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I tried to quit.
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Couldn't.
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So I ended up, you know, going to rehab,
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came home was clean for about 10 months.
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So I found out my ex girlfriend cheated on me.
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And well, my girlfriend at the time, you know?
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So I was like, I'm relapsed.
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You know, well, during that 10 month time,
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like they had really cracked down on pain pills.
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And so all there was was heroin.
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So I did it.
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And I ended up on heroin for a long time.
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It started off by smoking it in an oboe user.
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It started off for a few years, just heroin.
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Then went to heroin and meth.
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Then I was like, there's just a long thing like, you know,
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but when heroin and meth didn't,
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so heroin got off the streets, then went to fentanyl.
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And I didn't like fentanyl.
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I thought it sucked honestly.
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So I quit while I was clean for a while.
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And I don't know, I get like after a certain amount of time,
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like I just get bored being sober.
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Like I haven't met with my health issues.
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And one day I was like, huh, like I had done cracking the past
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like a couple of times.
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And it wasn't something like that I felt the need to do
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again after doing it.
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So like, well, I can do this and, you know, be fine.
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That's not the case.
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Like I did it.
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And I was like, well, I'm gonna do it again.
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And again, and again, and again.
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And here I am.
spk_0
So you said you use every single day?
spk_0
I would say no less than five times a week.
spk_0
Like, and it's only, I would use every day
spk_0
if it wasn't for money, you know what I'm saying?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Yeah.
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Is crack expensive?
spk_0
Not really.
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It depends on like your tolerance, I guess.
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Like, okay, so depending on like if I have enough money,
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I can't spend like about like $80.
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And it's a lot cheaper than like your other stuff.
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Honestly, like, you know, I would say like the least I was
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in like 25 bucks a day.
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And then upwards of like 80.
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I was gonna say like how much do you think you're spending,
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you know, in a week or in a month on drugs?
spk_0
Like, no, I would say at least like 300 bucks.
spk_0
Yeah, 300 bucks a week?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Wow.
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Okay.
spk_0
Yeah, I feel like I have heard that crack is cheaper
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and that's why it's like,
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I spent more than 10.
spk_0
Oh, sorry.
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Yeah, I spent way more than the past on my other stuff,
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but it's still very expensive.
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So when you said the pain pills originally,
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was that because of like a surgery or something,
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like where those prescribed to you when you first tried them?
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Okay, so when I was 13, I had a surgery in Gubertschrom.
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And I took, I was young, so I had to take him as prescribed
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because of my parents, you know,
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but I loved that feeling like from that time.
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But, you know, I was like, okay, whatever.
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But so what happened was like I had went through
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like a breakout or whatever and a buddy of mine,
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knew I was going through it dude.
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Like, you know, it was like, we're here, try this.
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And you crush up a pain pill and tell me to do it.
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And again, I'm thinking like, okay,
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it's from a doctor, it's not bad.
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So that's the only reason I even tried it.
spk_0
Yeah, well, I asked because like so many,
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you hear stories where people are put in that position
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where they don't know where they're just trusting the doctor
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and then, you know, they go through one,
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whatever their prescription was.
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And then they're essentially almost addicted at that point.
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And then they have to crave that.
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It's scary to think about.
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Yeah.
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So now how long have you been using crack?
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Like what's this stretch?
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And have you tried to get sober recently?
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Or are you just kind of riding this out?
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And like, are you enjoying it?
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Is this something that you choosing
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and just that you want to do?
spk_0
Oh man, it's like such a complicated thing.
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Like, so I would say probably at least like about a year
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and a half so far.
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When I say if I tried like everyone to read everything,
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no, and in the past, my past addiction,
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that's what it took, you know, but this,
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like you don't really go through withdrawals or nothing.
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So it's all mental thing.
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So I've went like a week, you know, without it,
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but then I just ended up doing it again.
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Like, and I think it's just because I don't want to yet,
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you know, so I enjoy it when I'm high, yes.
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But like when I'm not, like I just crave it like crazy.
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And when do you usually like get high?
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Like is this something that you kind of do?
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Sometimes you do it at work, sometimes you do it at home
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or you only do it at a certain place or how you do it?
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I mean, if I have it 24 or seven.
spk_0
Oh, if you have it on you, you're doing it.
spk_0
Yeah, absolutely.
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So it's the main priority of your day sort of like being able
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to acquire more a crack.
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Unfortunately, at the moment, yes.
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And you did say in the email, you called yourself
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a functioning crackhead.
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So can you just describe that?
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What is your life right now?
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Why do you use the word functioning?
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Is it because you're holding a job
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and sort of no one knows this about you?
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Okay.
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So like I say question because like I live a fairly normal
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life.
spk_0
Well, okay.
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So it's kind of complicated.
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Like when I say my day can just try to get more,
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like if I have, okay, for instance,
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let's say I have like a family dinner at the good.
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I'm gonna go to the head.
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Like I'm not gonna like, you know,
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I say it's not so because I'm on the streets.
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Like I'm not, make it, I'm not robbing
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I'm not stealing, I don't steal drugs.
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Like so it's a moment I'm not oblique.
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But I am like a skilled straights person.
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So like it's not hard for me to get a job.
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The problem is it's sort of hard for me to keep a job
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in a sense of like, I like, I have a problem
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with being late a lot of times because I'll get
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how I'm not, you know what I'm saying?
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But the thing is I can keep a job.
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It's like I'll lose a job and then like go like
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a couple of weeks and then get it over with.
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So you know what I'm saying?
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Like most people would not say it's folks can,
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but again, I'm not really doing illegal activities.
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Like I consider myself a normal life really.
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It's just to be took crack away.
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Like it really went me that different.
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I would just be able to hold a job constantly.
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And now back to the show.
spk_0
Are there, I mean, I assume there are,
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but like what are the like adverse effects
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that you feel from crack like as far as your health?
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Like is there a part of you that's sort of breaking down
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or whatever you mean, if you're on crack pretty consistently
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for over a year and a half,
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is there any sort of like health things
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that you're kind of dealing with?
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I mean, mentally, like I know it's really like
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our strong mental health anyways,
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and ultimately that is why I've done drugs
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like most of my adult lives because of my mental health issues.
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And this like just makes it works, you know, like,
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but again, if I'm like if I'm high current at the moment,
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like I'm like, okay, when I come off my mental health way worse
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than like it would be naturally.
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So it's just part of the hamster wheel to get high again
spk_0
to not be in that state.
spk_0
spk_0
Yes.
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Are you high right now?
spk_0
Yes.
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All right.
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When you're sober, what does it feel like?
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Like I imagined that you have this perception of like,
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you know, sober, you said before is boring.
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So like when you're sober, can you kind of describe
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what your reality feels like as opposed to when you're on drugs?
spk_0
Yeah.
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So like I have like severe depression and so like ultimately
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because of the current like it like I can't have
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a stable medication like I'm medicated,
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but how stable can it really be
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when you're in a list of such as so like when I'm not on
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anything, I really just want to sleep
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all the time.
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I have to see like when I say zero motivation to do it then
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I mean zero.
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Like I just want to like hide from the world.
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And again, a lot of that is depression.
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And like so the thing is if I wasn't on anything
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then I could be medicated for it and stable myself out.
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You know, so I would still be dealing with depression
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if I was on anything, but it would be nearly as bad.
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Have you ever tried that where you're sober to just try to
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work on your mental health, whether it be like therapy,
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getting medicated for that?
spk_0
Absolutely.
spk_0
So I've had periods of point top.
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Like I've never had over like 10 or 11 months.
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So like usually what would happen was like
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I'm whatever substance it was, you know,
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I would like use anywhere from say eight months
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then I'd get clean, maybe stay clean for four or five months
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for you to have use for two years.
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Be clean for like 10 months.
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You know what I'm saying?
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It's like the owner and all thing.
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And during those times, my mental state is stable.
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You know, and like usually I'm doing therapy
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and counseling and stuff like that.
spk_0
Yeah.
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So you mentioned before that you sort of get bored,
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but is it more than that?
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Like if you're a clean for say, you know, eight months
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working on yourself, focusing on your mental health,
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what really draws you back into the cycle of using again?
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And when you do, do you feel shame or anger for doing that?
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So the ultimate,
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ultimate answer is lack of coping mechanisms.
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So usually what leads to relapse is something
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happened in my life.
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For instance, a loss of a vampire all going.
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So this is, I mean, I hate it.
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Like I hope I can say this with that.
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Like, so I got a girlfriend that I want to keep the baby
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she getting she had an abortion that calls it relapse.
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Stuff like that.
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You know what I'm saying?
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And yes, I hate myself for it like every time it happens.
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But because I have the shame, anger, all that,
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it leads me to keep you.
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So.
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And do people in your life know that you're addicted to drugs?
spk_0
Oh, yeah.
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Yeah, I mean, like this is a little different than in the past,
spk_0
but in the past like so, like in the past,
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I did not live a functioning life.
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Like I was a pretty big time drug dealer and they knew that.
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Like, you know, I got charges and everything else,
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but this has a little different, like they know I do it,
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but they just don't always know when and how often, you know.
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Does this affect your ability to keep friendships,
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make new relationships or, you know,
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maintain relationships with family?
spk_0
Yeah, like anytime I'm on anything,
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it does put a strain on my family's relationship.
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And again, that leads to shame and anger,
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but still which is just such a cycle, man.
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And it's such because I have like such a close relationship
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with my family when I'm sober.
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And as far as like friendship, like, yeah, I don't isolate,
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like all the time.
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That's another way that a lot of people can tell
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if I'm using a lot, I completely isolate.
spk_0
Okay.
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So even when you're high,
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this is something that it still kind of pushes you
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to like be by yourself.
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Like I don't, I don't know like is it like you take crack
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and you're happy and wanna go out all of a sudden
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or you're still just going to isolate.
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So yeah, I've always, so even on stuff
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that like people would come,
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so back when I used to miss,
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a lot of people like consider me like,
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so for drug, not for me, like it never was.
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Like I just preferred to like be along anyways.
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Like I mean, no, you're not like,
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I would go out and do things,
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but like I just like to share,
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but like I don't want to share my stuff.
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You know what I mean?
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I'm being on a business like that's the main reason.
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Like if somebody wants to hang out, dude, for sure,
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as long as you got your own stuff.
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Before we wrap up this episode,
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we do have one more sponsor.
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This show is brought to you by BetterHelp.
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Have you guys ever found yourself in a situation
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where you realize that you are just trauma dumping
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or just sharing way too much with a person
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who isn't exactly qualified to give you any feedback?
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What I mean is maybe you meet a stranger at the bar,
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you're talking to a bartender,
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you're talking to your barber,
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or just a friend that you're just putting so much
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on them because it's so clear that you have something
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that you want to get off your chest,
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you have a huge decision or a life change
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that you want to talk about
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and you seek guidance for it.
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And you're kind of just dumping it on everyone,
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but the truth is what would really help in that case
spk_0
is talking to a licensed therapist.
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Now back to the episode.
spk_0
And how are you maintaining this habit now?
spk_0
I think you mentioned you're currently unemployed.
spk_0
Yes.
spk_0
Hold on, hold on, let's check it.
spk_0
spk_0
So I guess, well, I guess technically I am doing legal stuff.
spk_0
So I can't get into like specific details
spk_0
because I don't want to give away my like who I am.
spk_0
But for instance, okay, for instance,
spk_0
I'm prescribed the medication and I sell it.
spk_0
That's what I do.
spk_0
So that's how, that's the easiest way.
spk_0
So okay, so you are getting money illegally too.
spk_0
Yeah, I didn't think about that honestly.
spk_0
But if I'm working on it, don't do that.
spk_0
Right, right.
spk_0
Yeah, but I mean, because it sounds like you know,
spk_0
your just main goal is not necessarily like,
spk_0
you know, I'm trying to build a drug empire
spk_0
or sell drugs like or anything.
spk_0
I'm just trying to get drugs so that I can,
spk_0
I mean, I'm trying to get money so I can buy drugs.
spk_0
Now I used to, so like backing the path is like,
spk_0
you know, probably like seven years ago,
spk_0
I did want to be like the biggest,
spk_0
but like I said, I got in a lot of trouble,
spk_0
got charges, a lot of charges and that's why now I'm like,
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okay, I'll just get out of my cell plate.
spk_0
None of that.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Do you have like close friends that are also,
spk_0
you know, that do drugs with you?
spk_0
No, like that's a funny thing.
spk_0
Like I don't like hanging out with people in the drugs.
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I like normal people.
spk_0
Drug people get on my nerves.
spk_0
They get on your nerves.
spk_0
They do, man, because they be acting weird.
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Like I can act, like I know that sounds funny.
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Like I make it a little different.
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But I like, I don't, I don't add like a cracket.
spk_0
You know what I'm saying?
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Like like you know the stereotypical like cracket,
spk_0
like that's for, I've never had like that ever.
spk_0
Like I'm not like, you know what I'm saying?
spk_0
You know what I'm saying?
spk_0
Like yeah.
spk_0
No, I mean, that's why this is so interesting.
spk_0
And when you emailed kind of wanting to talk about it
spk_0
and you know, calling yourself functional in that sense,
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like there obviously is a stereotype
spk_0
and an image associated with, especially the word cracket.
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Like maybe they're homeless, not working.
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And then you know, we get on with you
spk_0
before we start recording and you're like,
spk_0
oh, a huge fan, like I've watched all the episodes.
spk_0
I've done it.
spk_0
And it's, I don't know, it's just interesting
spk_0
to hear that you are still living, you know,
spk_0
a big aspect of your life is quote unquote normal.
spk_0
If you saw me, I promise you would never, ever, ever too.
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Like never.
spk_0
Like I'm not like some skinny per, you know what I mean?
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I look nothing like.
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So it's funny, man.
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So, but that just goes to show you can't,
spk_0
you can't always, it's very time to not always true.
spk_0
So do you have like a plan for like your future?
spk_0
Like I mean, I mean, I'm kind of alluded to it before,
spk_0
but is there any part of you that's like, man, one day,
spk_0
I'm gonna get clean.
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I'm never gonna turn back.
spk_0
Absolutely, man.
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Like I own that for myself more than anything.
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It's just, I've just got to want to a point to where
spk_0
I get through the hard part, you know?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
What do you think it would take just you truly
spk_0
give more effort to it, checking yourself into rehab?
spk_0
Like what are the kind of actual logical steps
spk_0
you think you could take to get clean
spk_0
and then hopefully stay clean?
spk_0
I just gotta get tired of it,
spk_0
because like I am broke all the time.
spk_0
Like I'm not almost out, but like, I'm broke, I can't.
spk_0
Like my hobbies have been put on whole and stuff.
spk_0
Like, because I, you know, again,
spk_0
I live in a little white woman's lane.
spk_0
Like, and I have hobbies and stuff like that.
spk_0
And like, well, anytime I'm like, I do the reason.
spk_0
Like obviously I'm on many goods today.
spk_0
So I was gonna get the point where like, dude,
spk_0
I'm ready to be able to buy things alone again
spk_0
and stuff like that.
spk_0
Do you think you would still need more than that
spk_0
because you could get to that point,
spk_0
but then what happens if there's, you know,
spk_0
another traumatic or hurtful event in your life
spk_0
or what if you get a job and you're making really good money
spk_0
and then you feel like you can still spend money
spk_0
on your habit, but also have money left over.
spk_0
Like do you think you'd still find yourself
spk_0
in back to a place where you consider using?
spk_0
So ultimately I think I've got to get my coping mechanisms
spk_0
like on point in case, let's say,
spk_0
you know, my life does get straightened out
spk_0
and everything is just peachy-kinging out
spk_0
and like, and then something does happen.
spk_0
Like I've been in there before, but I've never really
spk_0
put all my effort into it.
spk_0
You know what I'm saying?
spk_0
Like, so that's what I've got to do.
spk_0
So if something's right, it does happen.
spk_0
I'll be able to handle it, you know,
spk_0
without using any substances.
spk_0
Yeah, no, 100% like to have that self-awareness
spk_0
knowing what the moments are that have derailed you
spk_0
in the past is important.
spk_0
But, you know, I am curious too before we wrap up.
spk_0
Just what is your view on addiction?
spk_0
How do you describe addiction?
spk_0
I know there's such a debate of like addiction
spk_0
as a disease versus people who just believe like a person's
spk_0
not trying hard enough.
spk_0
Like what's kind of your perspective on this?
spk_0
Yeah, like I'm never gonna say like,
spk_0
I don't know if it's a disease.
spk_0
I don't know.
spk_0
But I'm gonna be honest, like I have like a such a hatred
spk_0
for people that are so like,
spk_0
just hateful towards addicts.
spk_0
And don't get your own doing like people
spk_0
in that addiction can do some grimy,
spk_0
discuss something, but it's not the insecure is the way
spk_0
out of scrub addiction to people.
spk_0
Imagine, so just think of a computer, okay?
spk_0
And say there's like a little USB thing, all right?
spk_0
And you plug it into that computer as a virus.
spk_0
And it infects that computer.
spk_0
That's how addiction is.
spk_0
But the thing is if you remove it back out,
spk_0
let's say it goes back finally, you know what I'm saying?
spk_0
Like that's how I see addiction.
spk_0
Like you've just got to keep it separated from your,
spk_0
like you know what I'm saying?
spk_0
Like don't use and it won't kick back in.
spk_0
I don't think that makes sense.
spk_0
Like, and it makes sense, I think for sure.
spk_0
And I don't say I'm curious too.
spk_0
I mean, just for anyone that could possibly be listening
spk_0
because it sounds like you're self aware of the things
spk_0
that, you know, bring you back into addiction
spk_0
and you keep talking about, you know, coping mechanisms,
spk_0
I think that's an important part.
spk_0
But if there was someone listening who, you know,
spk_0
wanted the advice and, you know, from someone who's been clean
spk_0
for 10 months and then has relapsed and know why they have relaps,
spk_0
like, is there any sort of advice you can give
spk_0
that you kind of give yourself maybe,
spk_0
that you could give to other people of how to stay clean?
spk_0
Yeah, I mean, just to do the work, man, like,
spk_0
like a lot of people do hang out with, you know,
spk_0
other addicts and they go around places with that change
spk_0
everything, like you have to change your whole life.
spk_0
And ultimately, that's kind of what's made it hard for me
spk_0
this time is because my life's normal.
spk_0
And, but like, yeah, man, just do the work.
spk_0
Like, it's not worth it.
spk_0
It's really not like, you know, it just sucked for a little bit.
spk_0
And that's like it sucks that I can give this advice
spk_0
and I know it works.
spk_0
I'm just not good at taking them all in my life.
spk_0
But, yeah, just do the work.
spk_0
Go to therapy.
spk_0
Like, there's free, like there, you know,
spk_0
there's free help out there.
spk_0
You know, if you need, or you have good, or you have to do it,
spk_0
forget the stigma, forget the judgment.
spk_0
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
spk_0
Like, I, who cares if you need help?
spk_0
Like, you're not weak, like, you know what I'm saying?
spk_0
And because I can admit, like, you know, I need help.
spk_0
Like, I do.
spk_0
And I just don't know what I'm saying.
spk_0
But, so yeah, just don't be afraid, man.
spk_0
Just do what it takes.
spk_0
Like, it's not worth it.
spk_0
Because here's the thing, depending on what something
spk_0
you're on, or I guess really any of them,
spk_0
there's no guarantee that, you know,
spk_0
either the first time you are, or what you say is the last time
spk_0
you are, that may be the last time of anything.
spk_0
Because you never, ever, ever know what you're putting
spk_0
into your body.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
So, is your life worth it?
spk_0
I mean,
spk_0
yeah, man, I mean, that's, you know, super helpful
spk_0
and insightful.
spk_0
And, you know, we, we can sense the real struggle here
spk_0
that you're going through.
spk_0
And, you know, we hope that sooner than later,
spk_0
you can find yourself in a place where, you know,
spk_0
you're taking that advice and you're sticking with it.
spk_0
And we really wish you the best of luck with all of that.
spk_0
I appreciate it.
spk_0
I apologize.
spk_0
I know there's wasn't like some crazy, like, exciting,
spk_0
like episode or anything.
spk_0
But like, I don't know, maybe somebody can help out of it.
spk_0
If like somebody can, that's like all that matters to me.
spk_0
I just want to help other people,
spk_0
even if I can't help myself.
spk_0
Yeah, I mean, I honestly also don't think that it's, you know,
spk_0
quote unquote, boring episode or anything like that.
spk_0
I actually think that a lot of people do with addiction
spk_0
and they know people that do with addiction.
spk_0
So, hearing, you know, the perspective from the source
spk_0
because, you know, I mean, agreement with you.
spk_0
I think a lot of people think of addicts
spk_0
as these like disgusting and grimy people.
spk_0
But I mean, I personally do not see it that way at all.
spk_0
And I think it's important to kind of put that perspective out there
spk_0
so that we can kind of loosen the stigma a little more.
spk_0
So I think that would actually be very helpful
spk_0
because I think addicts, if they felt like they weren't
spk_0
such a bother to people or they weren't this like second class citizen
spk_0
or something like that, then it would be easier for them
spk_0
to try and get help as well.
spk_0
So I think this is an important conversation, actually.
spk_0
Most of us are just hurting.
spk_0
You know what I'm saying?
spk_0
Like, there's a reason why nobody becomes an addict on purpose.
spk_0
And that's what I wish more people would say.
spk_0
Yes, did we make everybody say,
spk_0
well, you make it choice to use for person?
spk_0
Yeah, like, but you know, my thing is not everybody has.
spk_0
And that's the like question of the disease.
spk_0
I don't know, but not everybody has anything to personality.
spk_0
Like the augment people that can smoke a cigarette a thousand times,
spk_0
but when they want to lay it down, they can't.
spk_0
So it's like, well, you know, did you ever try something one time?
spk_0
Just because you didn't get hooked on it.
spk_0
It doesn't mean that it was a frame for having frame.
spk_0
You know, right?
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
Well, again, thank you so much for taking the time and talking to us.
spk_0
We really appreciate it.
spk_0
All right, man.
spk_0
Thank you all.
spk_0
Appreciate it.
spk_0
All right.
spk_0
That's a lot easier.
spk_0
I mean, just the echo that I was saying, man,
spk_0
I think it's a very important conversation to have.
spk_0
You know, I've, I've rubbed shoulders with addicts in the past before.
spk_0
And I feel like before having like firsthand experience with that,
spk_0
you don't really understand what it's like to kind of deal with that
spk_0
or watch someone go through it and how hard it is.
spk_0
Because it's so easy to everyone else to just be like, just stop.
spk_0
Right.
spk_0
Like just don't, and it's like, it's, it's well beyond that type of thing.
spk_0
And I think it just, you know, empathy goes a long way.
spk_0
It's not just like, oh, don't make sure they don't feel bad.
spk_0
And then, you know, why are we enabling this behavior by being nice?
spk_0
It's not really about that.
spk_0
I think just like as a society, when, if people, you know,
spk_0
didn't look at addicts as these like fucking sewer people or whatever the
spk_0
fuck, then like they're more likely to talk about it and try to get some help
spk_0
or like look for outside, you know, help.
spk_0
Because a lot of people feel like they don't want to be a burden.
spk_0
And it's like, I know I'm doing something wrong.
spk_0
And if I bring this up, I'm just going to get yelled at.
spk_0
And I know what the right thing to do is, but I can't for some reason.
spk_0
It's a chemical imbalance.
spk_0
Like it's fascinating how what he said at the end was insightful of like,
spk_0
sure, you can take the accountability of like, I chose to try this.
spk_0
I chose to do this.
spk_0
But it's fascinating how it then kind of affect an individual so much
spk_0
differently than, than someone else.
spk_0
You know what I mean?
spk_0
But yeah, no, I mean, just, yeah, I know he's definitely not a boring episode.
spk_0
I mean, that's just such an interesting perspective.
spk_0
I mean, he is like on crack talking to us, but also very self-aware.
spk_0
And it's, you know, always easier to kind of give advice to others than take your own
spk_0
advice. And like we said, I just, he, he seems self-aware.
spk_0
He seems like he has experience being clean.
spk_0
And I really hope that he can get to the point of just like really putting in the
spk_0
work like he said and taking those steps and following through with it.
spk_0
Yeah.
spk_0
And for anyone else out there,
spk_0
they'd like to be a guest.
spk_0
Hit us up our emails, OPL podcast at gmail.com.
spk_0
Just send us your story and we'll get back to you.
spk_0
Yeah, follow us on Instagram and TikTok at OPL podcast and new episodes every two
spk_0
weeks. And also, yeah, I mean, don't, don't, don't do crack.
spk_0
Don't try crack.
spk_0
If you haven't or any drugs, good advice.
spk_0
Greg, we'll see you guys next time.
Topics Covered
functioning crackhead
addiction recovery
daily drug use
pain pill addiction
heroin and meth
crack cocaine
mental health and addiction
drug tolerance
substance abuse
rehab experience
drug cravings
normal life with addiction
addiction stories
drug use and society
cost of crack cocaine
drug use and employment