Baker Act/Marchman Act....

rockin'robin said:
yes, SallyLou, you hit that on the nail...take someone who did "recreational drugs" such as pot in their young years, then sort of "graduated" to the harder stuff....committed a crime(s), sent to prison...then come out with low self-esteem, a record preventing them from finding a decent job...so easy to get right back into drugs all over again.
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Not only easy, actually predictable. We need to start treating these issues at the core instead of trying to place a band aid on them.
 
The only way addicts can continue to use is by either: trying to fool the people in their lives, or ignoring them, or avoiding them.
 
rockin'robin said:
There are people who have no outward knowledge of trauma in their lives, no mental health issues that are visible to others. Sometimes, it's just the "feel good"/"everybody else is taking them issue."....If it makes them feel good...then "why not" is their way of thinking. Some even believe that they can control, even believe they can quit at any time they choose. Sadly, their choice of the drug eventually begins to "control them", and they wake up every day, thinking of that drug before anything else.

It was my perspective for many years, that drug addicts/alcoholics were "weak people", who just did "not give a damn", who could care less what their addiction was doing to them and their loved ones....Even they (themselves) knew the drug was controlling them, but were too ashamed to admit it to themselves.....and when confronted over their addiction, they deny and lie...not only to others but to themselves.
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I'm not saying that they're weak people or anything like that. I DO know all about the self medicating theories. It's just that in this case it's a complete and utter question mark as to WHY my friend got into trouble. Like for example, I could totally understand her self medicating if for example, she had been the victim of really bad trauma or bullying, or a dysfunctional family or had an organic mental illness, I could understand..But she was pretty much normal before she started. I dunno if maybe her drug use basicly damaged her brain. Back when we were hanging out, she was basicly a total drug burn out. I remember one time I talked with her parents abt how her severe behavoiral issues were driving me NUTS. Like basicly just wanting to lie in her bed all day "regrouping" They talked to her, and she made a concerted effort to get better....and then tried to get me to pay for a script she'd forged?!?!?!
 
deafdyke said:
I'm not saying that they're weak people or anything like that. I DO know all about the self medicating theories. It's just that in this case it's a complete and utter question mark as to WHY my friend got into trouble. Like for example, I could totally understand her self medicating if for example, she had been the victim of really bad trauma or bullying, or a dysfunctional family or had an organic mental illness, I could understand..But she was pretty much normal before she started. I dunno if maybe her drug use basicly damaged her brain. Back when we were hanging out, she was basicly a total drug burn out. I remember one time I talked with her parents abt how her severe behavoiral issues were driving me NUTS. Like basicly just wanting to lie in her bed all day "regrouping" They talked to her, and she made a concerted effort to get better....and then tried to get me to pay for a script she'd forged?!?!?!
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I see some red flags in what you say that would lead me to do specific mental disorder screenings. You just don't see them because you are too close to the issue.

Addiction can be a stand alone disorder, or the individual can be dually-diagnosed with one or more co-morbid mental disorders. Stop trying to diagnose your friend.
 
I think so many drug addicts are so used to being able and have honed their talents of conning and lieing to their friends/family about their usage. They will say "I've been off drugs for 6 months now!", and never want to go back....The family/friends let them come back into their homes and within a week or so, it's right back to the same old story....denial....stealing...crying and even threats.

Sometimes, even hitting "rock bottom", such as being homeless, eating out of dumpsters, they continue to use, even committing crimes/prostitution to support their drug habits whenever their families/friends will not enable them anymore.
 
jillio said:
I see some red flags in what you say that would lead me to do specific mental disorder screenings. You just don't see them because you are too close to the issue.

Addiction can be a stand alone disorder, or the individual can be dually-diagnosed with one or more co-morbid mental disorders. Stop trying to diagnose your friend.
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Do you mean in what I say about my friend? Maybe that's true......I mean I'm not an expert or anything like that....and I'm not trying to diganose my friend...it's just that it can be very puzzling as to why she ended up that way you know? I haven't had contact with her in a couple of years, ever since she went off to rehab.
 
jillo, how do you tell if it's a stand alone disorder vs. a "self medicating" sort of thing? I mean I know in cases like sceizophernia self medicating, it's kind of obvious. But I would think that it is super hard to tell the difference between organic depression or depression caused by drug burn out. It does seem to be a chicken or the egg sort of thing in some cases. But then again, in your experiance do most drug abusers tend to try to self medicate even relatively mild trauma?
I'm curious that's all....After witnessing my friend's experiance I have NO desire to ever try even pot. Ugh seeing someone so burnt out....It is kind of interesting how you look at one person with a history of significent trauma (say sexual abuse by a teacher) and a lay person would be all " Oh that's why they've got issues with drugs. But then you look at another person with realtively mild (say mild family dusfucntionality or being bullied or whatever) issues and it kind of befuddles the mind about how they're self medicating..Like you can understand at a base level.....but at the same time...you know?
Also, do you know of any research that indicates whether or not non smokers have an easier time dealing with recovery as opposed to smokers?
 
deafdyke said:
jillo, how do you tell if it's a stand alone disorder vs. a "self medicating" sort of thing? I mean I know in cases like sceizophernia self medicating, it's kind of obvious. But I would think that it is super hard to tell the difference between organic depression or depression caused by drug burn out. It does seem to be a chicken or the egg sort of thing in some cases. But then again, in your experiance do most drug abusers tend to try to self medicate even relatively mild trauma?
I'm curious that's all....After witnessing my friend's experiance I have NO desire to ever try even pot. Ugh seeing someone so burnt out....It is kind of interesting how you look at one person with a history of significent trauma (say sexual abuse by a teacher) and a lay person would be all " Oh that's why they've got issues with drugs. But then you look at another person with realtively mild (say mild family dusfucntionality or being bullied or whatever) issues and it kind of befuddles the mind about how they're self medicating..Like you can understand at a base level.....but at the same time...you know?
Also, do you know of any research that indicates whether or not non smokers have an easier time dealing with recovery as opposed to smokers?
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Assessment. No, no such research.
 
Yesterday did not go so well....our relative did not show up in Court.

There were a lot of tears and frustration. So the Judge has ordered a warrant for arrest, and we will try the Baker Act route. Next court date is Oct. 10th.
 
rockin'robin said:
Yesterday did not go so well....our relative did not show up in Court.

There were a lot of tears and frustration. So the Judge has ordered a warrant for arrest, and we will try the Baker Act route. Next court date is Oct. 10th.
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The world of addiction is filled with such moments. Hang in there. :hug:
 
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