<p>I’m a freshman in college, i’m a fairly well known member on CC but i changed my username to make this post.</p>
<p>Since being at college even though I’m an athlete I feel like I’m heading on the wrong path altogether, I drink heavily most nights and am now starting to experiment in hard drugs more than the once or twice I used to do them in the past. I don’t think that I’m addicted, but I’m going in that direction.</p>
<p>No one else really knows the problems I’m having apart from my roommates but they don’t really see it as thier on the same path as me.</p>
<p>Can I stop this myself or do I need to see someone?</p>
<p>Is it possible without my coach finding out?</p>
<p>10 Steps dude…fast as you can get there. You say you have used before so you already know this. Sorry for the relapse. It is all part of the problem as you also know. Get a plan.</p>
<p>See someone. Immediately. While it may be possible to do it on your own, if your roommates are also on that path, you will not have support for change around you. And you NEED support.</p>
<p>Usually counselors have a policy of confidentiality, so what you say should be private.</p>
<p>You are doing well to realize the problem. Now get help!</p>
If true, and you’re concerned about maintaining privacy, why not PM some of the regular parents you’re used to dealing with to help you with this problem. Instead of duping a bunch of very kind, well meaning people just to amuse yourself. This kind of post ticks me off more than any other. This isn’t TPR thread-land, kid.</p>
<p>Counselors, dr’s and psycholigists should be able to help/support you. If you are worried about confidentiality just ask before you tell them anything to put your mind at ease.</p>
<p>You have done the most important thing and that is realising that the path you are on is not in your best interest (that can be a hard thing to convince people of until its too late sometimes). </p>
<p>You are asking us if you can stop yourself, i dont know if anyone can answer that for you. I know people who have stoped drugs after they realised the way it was impacting on thier life but i know others who realised it but seemed to be in denial about it and did have trouble beating the temptation. Being a student means there are networks around you that are in place to help you, you may as well make the most of them… </p>
<p>Think it through … do you think you will be able to say no or is the temptation too strong?
Are you able to change roommates to try and gain a bit of distance from the scene? sometimes although people are not physically addicted they are psychologically addicted and that can be tough to get around. </p>
<p>Ultimately it is your life and your choice what you partake in. If you want out you can get out (of course addiction would make this more difficult but you stated that you are not addicted). If your friends are true friends they will respect your choices. This is all part of growing up and learning to judge what is best for us. I think its great you are aknowledging this, alot of people sense there are heading for rocks but just keep going down the path. Lets face it, the further you go the harder it is to get out. Best of luck with your choices :)</p>
<p>Ps: if this is a joke thread then i dont really see the joke. However alot of students may be having similar issues so hopefully it will be of help to someone out there.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>See the health services office at your school, and/or see a counselor.</p></li>
<li><p>Consider moving to a substance-free dorm assignment</p></li>
<li><p>Find some social groups that are not party-related. These can be volunteer groups, political groups, religious groups-- whatever.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I applaud you listening to your inner voice. If you are not comfortable with your use of substances, then you absolutely need to make a change. </p>
<p>I knew kids who drank/used in college and yet seemed to clean up and transition to normal adulthood relatively unscathed. I also knew kids whose using escalated-- and ultimately killed them. </p>
<p>sid19 this isn’t a joke, I made up a different user name because from previous posts it would be obvious who I was and what college I was an athlete at.</p>
<p>I feel ashamed and don’t want other parents that I met on this bored to feel the same way. I live at a very small campus and in a very small town and some of the things that have been listed aren’t available on my campus.</p>
<p>Tonight I just bought some more drugs but haven’t touched them yet, in a way i want to throw them away, but at the same time i want to take them.</p>
<p>On the outside I still look like a good athlete, I go running and practice every day even though I’m in off season and am in excellent shape, but I wonder how long this will last if I continue what I’m doing</p>
<p>The struggle won’t last long because you will give into the addiction. Your performance may be affected right away and might not be affected for some time. Many people run daily and abuse daily for long periods of time. </p>
<p>I think you are telling us that no counseling center is available on your campus? You cannot get confidential treatment/therapy? I am worried about you because you have months until the seasons begin…that is a long down hill slider.</p>
<p>Ok sorry ohhhh, i am not glad you are going through this but i am glad the thread is not a joke. </p>
<p>What does it serve to have the drugs there? What do you feel you are gaining? I mean it sounds like have a wonderfully healthy body and a strong mind. It is a big risk to take. You have already acknowledged the risks, I am not trying to preach at you. </p>
<p>Your campus does not have counselling or drs? Does the town have anything available to you? </p>
<p>I am not trained in dealing with these sorts of issues, i am only going on what i have seen happen around me. In my experience it becomes much easier once you make up your mind, once you decide on a course of action… In your first post you sounded like you had decided you really wanted to quit but in your last post you say you cant make up your mind. </p>
<p>There is no need to feel ashamed (IMO), however i do understand your need for privacy. most people from time to time do something they regret. You just now are facing the choice in how you will procede from here.</p>
<p>Is your primary concern how you are gonna deal with being found out by either “testing positive” or other behaviors and the consequence? Facing the ultimate consequence is a valid concern.</p>
<p>I have not heard of any school that doesn’t have MD or other “program” support. How small a town that it has not meetings? You apparently don’t know where to look. </p>
<p>So if the worst happens what is your plan? Where will you go?</p>
<p>I find it hard to believe that there is no counselor or health services at your school… if you got injured there is surely a doctor somewhere? Even in dinky towns, there is usually AA.</p>
<p>[ul][li]your college heath center should be able to handle your issues confidentially.</p>[/li]
<p>[li]handle your business responsibly before you are faced with any drug testing for the sport you play.</p>[/li]
<p>[li]if you have a good relationship with your coaching staff, talk to them before the media does. They will respect you in the long run.</p>[/li]
<p>[*]distance yourself immediately from the negative influences (this is by far the biggest hurdle) in your life![/ul]</p>
<p>Ohhhhh you may need to consider getting permission to take a ‘medical leave of absense.’ It’s going to be very difficult for you to break the habit when you’re surrounded by friends and a campus culture that fosters your using. You can probably take the rest of the semester off, get treatment and start again in the fall.</p>
<p>There are also some schools that have sobriety programs that you might consider transferring to.</p>
<p>Go to your college counseling center, and do this immediately. I have worked at such centers, and they are used to seeing students with drug/alcohol problems. The counseling center is bound by the usual rules of patient-therapist confidentiality and will not tell your coach or parents. </p>
<p>Also call Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, both of which are listed in your phone book. Ask the volunteer (who’ll be a member of the organization that you call) about where you can find an “open meeting” (this means anyone can visit, even people who don’t think they have a problem) group with a lot of young people around your age. </p>
<p>Such groups are anonymous. People go by only their first names. It’s OK to even use a fake first name. </p>
<p>Check out their web sites, too. </p>
<p>Good luck to you. It is possible to turn your life around. I used to work in the field, and saw many young people who did that. Usually, though, it’s next to impossible to stop compulsive use without the help of therapy and/or a support group.</p>
<p>Even if I used a fake first name I would be easily recognisable I’m on a very successful college team, that is well known around the community.</p>
<p>Obviously we have a trainer, but he always reports back to coach. I don’t think I need to go that far yet and get myself kicked off the team, I still have some control at the moment.</p>
<p>I think I have an addictive personality and in the past I had a problem with working out too much which made me burn out, as soon as I saw what was happening I stopped. I’m hoping this is what I can do here.</p>
<p>So, what did you do with those drugs you acquired last night? Perhaps I jumped the gun earlier. Now I’m concerned, too. Did you snort/smoke/swallow/inject them? I hope you took the good parental advice here and flushed them down the toilet. Did you? Whatever you do, don’t resell them—that will land you in jail. Just get rid of them, and try to re-start your work-out addiction. It’s much better than drugs, even if it can have its own dangers. Oh, and stay away from sex, the internet, and video games if you’re concerned about having an addictive personality…those can be big trouble, too. Please keep us posted. We’re here to help!</p>
<p>If you are worried about stigma when you seek counseling. Don’t. People will talk but you will also earn respect for taking constructive action. Speaking from a parent view, I know that is scary to admit a weakness but all of us have dear friends and dear college friends and colleagues who have had compulsive dalliances with drugs that didn’t turn out well. Many of our friends are now free of this struggle after admitting that compulsions led to loss of control in many areas and they worked to gain insight and tools to make different choices. The sooner the better before you pay a bigger price. You need to ask about confidentiality and get to a counselor for some perspective on this before you have unwanted consequences. Good luck. Remember…that many many great adults have a history of compulsive issues. This does not mean you are out of the game of life, but it is a challenge you need to address. It is a matter of getting to know yourself well and learning how to live your life well with what you know. Takes time and work for all of us. Respect yourself and take the steps needed to address this problem. Life is full of problems that require a clean and sober self. And you don’t want to waste these key years when you need to be focused on getting your education.</p>
<p>If you’re for real, you CANNOT do this by yourself. If you aren’t comfortable going to a school counselor or infirmary, check to see what is available in the community through churches, synagogues, local mental health centers, there are people out there who can help you and you need to find them. If the first place doesn’t work, go to the next and the next and the next. There also are toll free help lines that you can call that will find a help for you. but do it now.</p>
<p>Mystified,
You are exactly right. Substance abuse and addiction are serious problems in any community, and seeing them pop up among our kids at college is especially troubling. There are many avenues of help out there…if campus services aren’t acceptable, government and community services can be found in any Yellow Pages. I’ve become convinced that Ohhhhh is telling the truth, because anyone who would come to a parents forum such as this and play the exposed heartstrings of caring individuals for their own amusement would be the vilest form of rotting scum imaginable. So, let’s put our heads together and do our best to help Ohhhh as if s/he were our own suffering child.</p>
<p>“Even if I used a fake first name I would be easily recognisable I’m on a very successful college team, that is well known around the community.”</p>
<p>People who go to groups like AA and NA are not going to “out” anyone but to deal with their own problems and the problems of their family members.</p>
<p>If you don’t feel comfortable going to such a group, at least call them and talk to someone. You don’t have to give any name. </p>
<p>And use your college counseling center. Their records are confidential. If you don’t believe me, ask them. They are bound by professional rules of ethics.</p>
<p>There probably are people whom you know very well who are going to the counseling center and support groups to handle their own problems – problems that you have no clue of. They won’t be out to get you, but will be interested in supporting you as you deal with your own struggle.</p>
<p>Getting help also will keep you from doing what apparently you have done in the past: solved an addiction problem by starting a different addiction.</p>
</p>