Questions about "ice"

[Chenoa]

Hopefully someone can help me out here. I know a bit about some drugs, but not ice. My brother in law is badly addicted, things are VERY bad, I am VERY concerned and I need some info and opinions.

Is ice as bad a crack? Meth? Whats the difference, that it is smoked?

I know what cocaine does. I believe ice has a similar effect. So if my brother in law is spaced out, incoherent and not sure he is on the same planet as everyone else at certain times, is this the ice, or could he be doing something else as well? Or is this a sign he might be ODing? Also, he does it alot, but is not losing weight... wouldnt he be losing weight?

Dont get me wrong, he is definitely on ice, will admit as much. I am just concerned he may be using heroin, which is another drug I know nothing about.

He is already at the point where he cannot keep a job, actually wont even look for one even though he has 1 baby and another on the way. He and his girlfriend live with family... go back and forth when people get tired of them. He has sold his cars, stereos, everything he owns in order to buy drugs. If he doesnt stop soon I fear he will end up dead.

(Christian note... He came to church with me a few weeks ago and seems responsive to God, I pray he will reach out and let God help him out of this mess.)

How much does it take to kill you? He has stayed awake 4 or 5 days straight... I dont know the full extent of the drug use as I am not around him too often, but I know what he has told me, and my mother in law has told me some as well, they live with her ocassionally.

The main reason I am so concerned right now (other than the BIG OBVIOUS) is that my mother in law told me of some strange incidents at her house. Lets just say he has had some odd bathroom incidents. I wont go into details, but apparently he was "going" in the wrong place and making nasty messes like an insane person. She said she thought he must have just gotten confused. He is 23. This reminded me of things that happened with my father, who was 86, had alzheimers and lived with us.

Are such things "normal" for one who is doing ice?
Sorry to rant on, thanks to any who listen, hopefully someone will have some advice/info. I'd appriciate it.


Chenoa

 

[Melchior6911]

'Ice' is another name for Methapmphetamine, hers some quick info:
---
Methamphetamine (also known as speed, meth, crystal, crank, tina, and sometimes confusingly called ice) is a chemical widely known for its stimulant properties on the human body. It is frequently confused with other drugs that share similar effects, including amphetamine, 4-methyl-aminorex, ephedrine, caffeine, and other chemicals, both legal and illegal.
---

 

[Melchior6911]

i know little of effects, but from observation it seems that alot, if not most
of the damage is done by the fact that wile the drug's effect is stimulating,
once it wears off it leaves the person very tired.
with haitual use that means that the person is tired about half the time he is awake,
wich leads to depression.

this depresion ofcourse compounds the problem and i believe plays a key role in the
destructive effects an addcition to this drug could have.

 

[Chenoa]

Thanks for the replies.

i know little of effects, but from observation it seems that alot, if not most
of the damage is done by the fact that wile the drug's effect is stimulating,
once it wears off it leaves the person very tired.
with haitual use that means that the person is tired about half the time he is awake,
wich leads to depression.

I hear that some family have seen him and he seems incredibly tired and can hardly stay awake. Perhaps this is why. One in-law had mentioned heroin, and I tend to take some stock in her opinion on this because she used to do many drugs when she was younger, so I figured she would know, but if she isnt familliar with ice, it could just be the exhaustion and she may be mistaking it for something more.

Methamphetamine (also known as speed, meth, crystal, crank, tina, and sometimes confusingly called ice)

Ok, I suppose I really am confused now. What does this mean? "Confusingly called ice?" My brother in law calls it this, and unlike crank or speed, he smokes this. I am sure this is a methamphetamine as well, of course, but does the fact that he smokes it make it different?


Chenoa

 

[Melchior6911]

well i myself am somewhat edverse to stimulants in general so i cant say much about effects.
but the way of administering does effect the experiance with any drug,
and with alot of substances the composition is somewhat changed by the burning,

i cant post any links yet so ill see if i can PM it for u...

 

[Melchior6911]

now that i think about it, i have herd the word 'ice' associated with heroin
a longtime ago.
if i remember correctly it was a more concentrated from of heroin that never got very popular due to being too expensive.

i posted a link to your guestbook, heres a quick quote on potential problems:

PROBLEMS
Methamphetamine use generally increases the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and rate of breathing of the user. Chronic use can lead to what is called 'Amphetamine Psychosis', resulting in paranoia, auditory and visual hallucinations, self-absorption, irritability, aggressive and erratic behavior, and picking at the skin. This can be magnified by lack of sleep which often accompanies heavy use of meth.

Methamphetamine is an anorexant, meaning it causes most people to lose interest in food. This is considered a benefit for many light users, but in regular or heavy users can lead to malnutrition. Methamphetamine is also believed to be neurotoxic.

Addiction Potential
Methamphetamine causes significant tolerance, as well as psychological dependence. This combination can be particularly bad because the user is likely to have strong cravings for more meth, while at the same time being unable to reach a satisfactory high. Withdrawal from high doses can produce severe depression.

Contraindications

• Do not take Methamphetamine if you are currently taking an MAOI. MAOIs are most commonly found in the prescription anti-depressants Nardil (phenelzine), Parnate (tranylcypromine), Marplan (isocarboxazid), Eldepryl (l-deprenyl), and Aurorex or Manerix (moclobemide). Ayahuasca also contains MAOIs (harmine and harmaline). MAOIs and Methamphetamin are a potentially dangerous combination. Check with your doctor if you are not sure whether your prescription medication is an MAOI.
• Individuals with heart disease (i.e. erteriosclerosis, hypertension) should be extremely careful as Methamphetamine use can be hard on the heart.
• Research shows that amphetamines used during pregnancy may decrease the birthweight of the baby as well as increasing the likelihood of cardiac abnormalities (heart problems) and possibly other birth defects.
• Methamphetamine is believed to be transferred through breast milk, so use while breast feeding is a bad idea.

 

[Chenoa]

Thanks alot for that link, theres alot to learn on there. Its much appriciated!



Chenoa

 

[Melchior6911]

My pleasure

 

[huk]

I am a recovered alcoholic (been sober a long time).........

Are such things "normal" for one who is doing ice?

.....Ice, crack, meth, coke, bozze, it does not matter. That is not the problem. Those are just symptoms of the REAL problem. Your brother is a junkie, flat out......The real problem is that he is spiritually bankrupt. Addiction/Alcoholism is gangrene of the soul, nothing else...........

He is already at the point where he cannot keep a job, actually wont even look for one even though he has 1 baby and another on the way. He and his girlfriend live with family... go back and forth when people get tired of them. He has sold his cars, stereos, everything he owns in order to buy drugs.

..The problems that he and those around him are sufferring are a direct result of his behavior. If he is close to a bottom, call AA/NA...get him to a meeting, get him a sponsor,who will not worry about his feelings and will start working the steps w/him......If not, the kindest thing you and yours can do is to distance yourself from him and let him hit a bottom. Your just enableing him now........

If he doesnt stop soon I fear he will end up dead

That's a distinct possibility

 

[Melchior6911]

"If not, the kindest thing you and yours can do is to distance yourself from him and let him hit a bottom. "
this is a comfortable illusion isnt it?
it must be nice to be able to shed your responsibility to your fellow man
that easily... but no u dont do anyone any favors by abandoning your friends.

dont give him any money, or allow him a chance to steal from you (wich he will, dont take it personaly) but dont shun him.

 

[elvenstar]

I know nothing of any of this, but I'll be praying for your family.

 

[Chenoa]

"If not, the kindest thing you and yours can do is to distance yourself from him and let him hit a bottom. "

this is a comfortable illusion isnt it?
it must be nice to be able to shed your responsibility to your fellow man
that easily... but no u dont do anyone any favors by abandoning your friends.

Part of me agrees with both of you, but mainly because its a moot point. My brother in law does not come around anymore. If we were using drugs, or if we were ok with his using, he'd hang out all the time, but he knows how we feel about it, knows it wouldnt be wise to show up all tweaked, so he avoids my husband and I like a plague.

My mother in law had been seriously enabling him. She would give him "gas money" or whatever he needed money for, she found money missing and dint confront him, she had bought him a nice car.... (with mommy providing all, who needs a job?) But now that he has sold the car and she is realizing just how serious this is, she has stopped. Oh, she will still help buy clothes for the baby, but thats about it.

The thing is, you dont have to "abandon" a person like this. I think once they are this far gone, and they have no use for you.... you cant help them get the drug, you disapprove, they abandon YOU.

I know nothing of any of this, but I'll be praying for your family.

Thank you, all prayers are much appriciated. Even moreso now, as things seem to be spiraling out of control with him. He has been avoiding my mother in law now... not coming out to visit, he and his girl were halfway living there, now nothing. My mother in law has now found out why. He was caught making out with a drug dealers wife, now he has people looking for him in that neighborhood. Now theres also another girl who may be pregnant with his child.

Its all so sad. He is so messed up right now I dont even think he can comprehend the consequenses of his actions, nor does he care.

Spiritually bankrupt? Yes, great way of putting it. The day he went to church with us he seemed so excited, I think God really spoke to him, he seemed to want to listen at first, now he has pushed God aside again. Please pray.

Thank you all for the input.


Chenoa

 

[josiahoftenn]

Honestly I think the best thing you can do for him is get him arrested.If I remember correctly he will be forced to go into rehab.

 

[fly high]

I have been addicted to crack. The only way I got free was because of the total support of my mum. The same thing has happened with my sister. So pray for him and wait untill he hits rock bottom because that is when you have to goto god or a family member that leads you to god because you dont have anything else. It wont be easy for him but its possible. I pray for you and your family in this situation.