Impulse Control or Drug Addiction?
Question by Robert Jackson: Impulse control or drug addiction?
Okay, so this is a question to the general community–especially anyone versed in mental health.
Here’s my story, I’m a male teen (17 years old) and I recently went into the ER for a drug overdose. My mental history is this: I was depressed when I was 15, so much so that I ended up in a psychiatric hospital for attempted suicide. I went to therapy for about 6 months and have been feeling happy ever since.
My girlfriend of four years (yes, four) broke up with me winter 2009, I was obviously sad over this and dealt with it in a healthy manner–going to the gym for five months until May 2010, when I started smoking marijuana. I smoked a lot over the summer, but cut back during the school year. I still smoke on and off, but it doesn’t effect my school or extra-curricular activities (student government, ect). I smoke primarily alone, although I love smoking with friends. When I buy marijuana, I usually will smoke it until I run out–although, I make sure I complete my student duties before doing so.
Now I entered therapy again at the end of the summer, because I believed I was havin drastic mood shifts–which in retrospect were probably due to the amount of weed I was smoking. They put me on 50mg of serequel as a mood stabilizer and to help me sleep. I was on that from October 2010 until February 2011 when I went off of it because I felt it was dampening to much emotion.
Now, this past weekend I ended up trying ecstasy for the second time in my life (I first tried it about two months ago,) I then proceeded to go on a drug binge for three days.
Friday: Ecstasy & Weed
Saturday: 700mg of benedryl (hallicunogenic)
Sunday: 600mg of benedryl
Monday: 14oz of 15mg DMX (two and a half bottles of cough syrup)
I’ve never done any of the drugs I listed here aside from what I mentioned and I honestly don’t know why I did it. I ended up in the ER because I overdosed on the DMX and had a heart rate of 170, I had managed to hide most of this from my parents until I had to call them to call the ambulance.
I was still in therapy for the possible mood issues (even though I felt like they had pretty much cleared up) and when I went on Thursday my therapist immediately pegged me as a drug addict. He told me point blank “You’re going to do this again, because you haven’t hit rock bottom yet.” This really bugged me because I *don’t* want to do this again and I’ve never done something like this before.
Now, I’ve never felt like a drug addict. I don’t buy that much weed, I rarely drink except at parties, I’ve never done any drugs like this before and the only time I did ecstasy before I did it with friends. I feel like I have an impulse control issue, or maybe a mood disorder–I don’t feel like an addict and I don’t have a desire to end up almost dying in an ER again. I brought this up with my therapist and he seemed to brush it off. He’s a primarily adult therapist who sees a lot of drug addicts, but not many teens. I feel as if I should get a second opinion, but I wanted to see if anyone else views this as a classic case of drug addiction or something else.
I’m not taking anything here as solid medical fact and I will continue to see my therapist and follow his advice, I just want to see if anyone else had something to say about this. Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated.
*As a note, I come from a loving and supportive family background. I’m also reasonably intelligent and know exactly how dangerous taking that much medication is. I just brushed it off when I was taking it–something that is *not* like me.
Sorry, I meant DXM (dextromethorphan) and the benadryl is diphenhydramine.
Best answer:
Answer by myfamilyiseverything
Believe it or not there is a simple answer but there is no simple way to handel this issue. First off let me start out by telling you that I too have struggled with depression and anxiety since I was vary young. I started experimenting with drugs and such when I was only 11 years old, and that I have been a pot smoker for the better of 15 years. By what I can tell is you could become a full blown addict in a blink of an eye. the only reason I say you are not one right now is simply this…. Addicts never admit their addicts. That’s why your dr said something about hitting rock bottom. What he doesn’t seem to get is you are aware of your actions and you are seeking help. Addicts first rule of thumb is denial and lying of course normally about their addiction. But see your different right now you have a small window of opportunity to stop being so destructive with your life which is more Fragile then you know. My only advise to you is this “You have to do everything you can to keep yourself away from drugs and situations that you know you give into. Not so much the pot but everything else for sure. Even though I am a Pro-Pot person I do believe that pot is a gateway drug and when that high does not get you the high you want you turn to other drugs that can easily kill you if you mean it or not. Good Luck to you and I hope my insight helps you in anyway it can 🙂
Answer by BAMF
I’ve been in a very similar situation. In no way are you an addict you haven’t done anything to wind up that way. Don’t look to your mind for things like this. It doesn’t seem as if you have an issue with anything other than a little self control in this situation. My advice is to stick to the green. When you are on things like Ecstasy the idea of taking other drugs is more appealing especially when it’s kind of wearing off but you are still tripping. Just take it easy man. Keep your head up. Smoke some green it’s not physically addictive and talk to your therapist and trust him (He knows what he’s doing.)
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