Day 20

Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.

Let's start with alcohol, because it's an easier one. First off, it's legal to consume alcohol if you are of age. In moderation, I have no issue with alcohol. Personally, I LOVE a great glass of wine or a cosmo. Interestingly, I do like the taste of alcohol straight. It's gotta be masked in something fruity. I have always been this way and only began enjoying wine outside of zinfadel, which let's face it...is not "grown up wine", in the past 10 years. I can honestly say that I don't "crave" a drink at the end of a hard day...chocolate is my "vice".

My issue with alcohol is when it becomes a problem. When a person can't get through the day without it, when it detracts from personal relationships, when it is the only way a person can cope. Binge drinking also really concerns me and honestly, I just don't get it! I don't like much...maybe three glasses of wine a month on average, so it's doesn't take much for me to feel tipsy. I hate that feeling of being out of control. Of saying stupid things that I KNOW are stupid but I can't stop. I HATE that feeling. I also HATE vommitting. I HATE it! I can't imagine purposely consuming something to the point that I am sick. I have never been sick from drinking nor have I ever had a hangover. I don't ever plan too. My sister will say, "You don't PLAN to drink that much, it just happens." OK, sure, I guess...but then I would be completely out of control, and I HATE that...so no, not me.

Drugs...a new blog. I have a major issue with drugs. It stems back to when I was 12. I had this neighbor, Courtney, she was my best friend from the time I moved into my house in her neighborhood when I was 7. She was a year older than me, but we were super tight. I worshiped Courtney. She was an only child so I was included with her family in outings all the time. I had a pesky little sister who didn't play at Courtney's. Courtney ROCKED! She was in eighth grade and she started hanging out with the "bad kids". She started sneaking cigarettes. Then she started smoking pot. She snuck alcohol from her parent's supply and would drink. Courtney completely changed and no longer wanted to hang out with straight square me. I lost my best friend. I was devasted. It completely turned my off on drugs and alcohol. I wanted no part of it and I was scared about how she changed and how she acted. I never drank in high school outside of the sips I was allowed at home for special occassions. I had no interest and actually had an aversion.

Freshman year of high school I was pissy. I really wanted to attend Holy Name High School in Worcester. My new best friend was going there. My folks had moved to Northboro because of the great schools. They had no interest in PAYING for an education that may not have been as good as the one they were paying taxes for. As a parent I get it, but as a sullen 13-14 year old, they ruined me!

I played soccer for years and made the JV team freshman year with the girls I had playing with for years. They became the "popular crowd". There was a Halloween dance at the high school. A bunch of the soccer team was going and our parents were car pooling. We were dropped off and I was surprised to see how many baby costumes there were. When I was invited to head to the woods to partake of the "bottles" I realized why and I was terrified. I could go with them and be cool and accepted to the popular crowd or I could draw my line and reject them...I was 13! I decided to take the "coward way" and I let my "friends" know I was not feeling well and would call my parents to be picked up. (My grown-up self realizes that this was genius and I would recommend my daughter do the same.)

I head to the bank of pay phones, because this was WAY before cell phones! The phones were in a public place which afforded NO privacy. I called home and my dad answered. I had been gone maybe an hour and now I am whining to my dad that I feel sick and I need to be picked up. He became defensive figuring that I was still trying to avoid public high school and proceeded to remind me I was fine an hour ago. I continued to insist I was not feeling well and REALLY needed to be picked up NOW! He did finally relent and came to get me a short time later.

I know he felt positively awful when I got in the car and proceeded to tell him I wasn't sick, I just needed to leave because of what my "friends" were heading out to do. He assured me he would never again question me if I called for a ride. My mom chewed him out too...poor dad!

Drugs are illegal for a reason. We have a drinking age for a reason. I understand that in other countries where drinking is allowed there is little alcohol issues. That is not the case in the US! Marijuana is currently illegal. I don't have a strong stance either way...I have never tried any substances other than alcohol and perscriptions that are perscribed for me. (Ok with a borrowed muscle relaxant when I am in spasm or a vicoden when I was between perscriptions for my broken ankle. I was able to get prescriptions for both.)

I have seen, first hand, the destruction alcohol and other drugs leave in their wake. I've interviewed folks in the ER for overdoses and those seeking treatment for addictions. Their lives are in shambles. Marijuana is ABSOLUTELY the "gateway drug". Once you cross the line, the excuse to not cross isn't there. Suddenly trying cocaine, crack, heroin, prescription drugs is not as taboo.

My best friend was verbally abused by her alcoholic father who even in death continued the abuse with his will which purposely stated "his daughter" was to recieve nothing and proceeded to talk about his "beloved son", her brother.

The family who was our long-time next door neighbor almost lost their son to heroin. This was a good family. The "kids" and my sister and I grew up together. We had similar backgrounds. He is clean and healthy now, but he lost everything in the destruction, including missing his only brother's wedding, a celebration he can never get back.

I have strong opinions on alcohol and drugs. I make no excuses for these opinions. They are mine and I willingly stand by them! I do apologize if I offended anyone, I hope I explained why I have them.