TDS Don't know what to think.

[brandonh354]

I come to you guys on this subject because I don't know alot about meth. I have a friend who has been using for 3 years but these past six months it has gotten scary.

He recently switched to I'v and has been using so much he has to make his own.
I'm worried because everytime he's been up for days he'll call or text asking why I'm fucking his girl (I wouldn't touch her with your dick) and says I'm on his roof watching him brush his teeth. Just crazy talk that doesn't make sense. Last week he came over and he told me he shaved every hair on his body with a razor arms legs eyebrows head because of "them" he also came over with 10 needles so I kicked him out he ended up in jail that night he's out now and I don't know how to bring him back to reality

My question is this normal for a heavy meth user? How can I talk sense to some one who's in a different world 24/7

 

[Sepher]

My question is this normal for a heavy meth user?

For stimulants in general, yes, not just methamphetamines. Amphetamine psychosis is very common, especially once you start pushing into day two, three, etc when you're in what would be come-down territory but for the extended use. Quite similar to schizophrenia with hallucinations ( visual and auditory ), delusions, paranoia all being very typical.

How can I talk sense to some one who's in a different world 24/7

Not sure you can, not while they're using and in that state. The user will quite often distort anything you do and say in such a way as to incorporate it into their delusions, it's difficult getting through to them just how irrational their thinking is. It's not an easy thing to watch I know.

Good news is it's most often simply an effect of the drug and most will recover once they've quit their run on it and come back to reality right as rain, though I have seen a psychotic break with one of my own friends that persisted for quite some time even after they'd quit using uppers, he was positively a danger to himself and others for a time. Amphetamine psychosis can bring out underlying psychotic tendencies that may have previously escaped notice, I believe that was true in his case. Cases like that are very much in the minority though.

 

[ArtVandalay]

I had a psychotic break after a long run on meth/mdpv. Even though I was well aware of amph psychosis, I didn't realize that's what was going on. It took about two months on klonopin to bring me back to reality. Then another year of therapy. It will be difficult to get through to your friend when he's on a binge. And possibly dangerous. Be careful. Talk to him when he comes down.

 

[Serotonin101]

sepher nailed it right on the head. back when I was in college, I had been up for 4 days already on meth, cocaine, amps, various pharm uppers and ate some LSD. I was convinced "they" were scanning my water to see if I was using drugs (checking my toilet water, shower water, etc going down the drain for metabolites). for the next day or so I only bought things to drink and checked the containers to make sure "they" weren't trying to poison me. I took showers in the gym, and used the bathroom outside. yeah I was psychotic. thought my roommate was informing "them" about my mew tactics to evade "them" and changed up my routine multiple times a day. peed outside in a different place everytime, chose a different drink to buy so they couldn't just poison all of juice "x", and went to shower at odd hours during the day. also thought people were putting thoughts into my head, I was being followed, the government was out to get me, thought people were stealing my drugs/personal belongings (I had just misplaced them), and suspected everyone of being a narc. goddam I was fucked up...

 

[brandonh354]

Thanks for the replies I appreciate. I just can't get to him he never comes down I want to give up on him but at the same time I've known him since 3rd grade if I surprise him even if he's fucked up with a intervention would do more bad than good? He's getting worse and worse and all the meth heads I know after awhile end up turning gay and wear panties (I know 6 people who are like it)

 

[spork]

When I was at my worst with meth, my best friend chose to walk away from me. Walking away doesn't necessarily mean giving up on the person, but it may actually help the person to realize that they have a problem and inspire them to get help for it. That's the way it was for me. I didn't talk to my best friend for 2 years. We talked about the time where we didn't talk afterwards and she told me she just couldn't bear to see me like that anymore. I let her know that what she did helped me get off meth more than anything else and thanked her for it and we hugged it out and are still friends to this day. I know it's difficult, but it might be what's best for both of you right now.

 

[Serotonin101]

^^reminds me of the shinedown song "second chance"... "sometime goodbye is a second chance". and that's the truth. my friends abandoned me except phone calls and texts when I was really bad with heroin. now that I'm clean, those who are my real friends are back in my life today.

 

[fifleman]

Brandon:

This isn't about him. This is about you. If this relationship is having a negative effect on your life situation, then you have the right to cut the cord. This doesn't mean you don't care. In fact, to me it would be seeing the whole picture: you have to take care of yourself so that when he does get better, you can welcome home the dude you knew with outstretched arms. His problems are not yours. It may take him to jail again, institutions, or his death. However, you have no influence on derailing him from any of these. Being there as a positive support when he reaches out for help is the best avenue one can take for an active drug addict.

I know in my state (NE), we have welfare checks. You could call the local police station and see what their policy is. Here, a welfare check consists of officers showing up at the house, seeing what is needed, and going from there. Usually, if someone is drunk or high, it consists of a trip to the psychiatric ward of the hospital. It could be a start. I do not know of any possible repercussions of possible drugs or drug paraphernalia on their person or at the house during one of these checks. It would be common sense that nothing can be done since that is not the reason for the visit, but I do not know.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I know in my state (NE), we have welfare checks. You could call the local police station and see what their policy is. Here, a welfare check consists of officers showing up at the house, seeing what is needed, and going from there. Usually, if someone is drunk or high, it consists of a trip to the psychiatric ward of the hospital. It could be a start. I do not know of any possible repercussions of possible drugs or drug paraphernalia on their person or at the house during one of these checks. It would be common sense that nothing can be done since that is not the reason for the visit, but I do not know.

It's important to know your experience with things like this is going to vary, and not to expect a certain outcome if you take this route.

 

[Spadez87]

I come to you guys on this subject because I don't know alot about meth. I have a friend who has been using for 3 years but these past six months it has gotten scary.

He recently switched to I'v and has been using so much he has to make his own.
I'm worried because everytime he's been up for days he'll call or text asking why I'm fucking his girl (I wouldn't touch her with your dick) and says I'm on his roof watching him brush his teeth. Just crazy talk that doesn't make sense. Last week he came over and he told me he shaved every hair on his body with a razor arms legs eyebrows head because of "them" he also came over with 10 needles so I kicked him out he ended up in jail that night he's out now and I don't know how to bring him back to reality

My question is this normal for a heavy meth user? How can I talk sense to some one who's in a different world 24/7

He is in meth psychosis man, and yes with prolonged/extreme use it is common. Get him help if you can.