A Good Reason to Stay Away From the Drug Scene

[Timber Wolf]

Hi Everyone,

As I've noted in other posts, I live in one of the worst neighborhoods in Grand Rapids, Michigan, right next to a drug house. Every day I'd hear yelling and fighting over there. I always expected someone would get shot, or stabbed, or something. It just seemed a matter of time.

Last night I arrived home from work to find police all over the place. I even had to cross a police line to get into the place I live, as it was inside the police line. At first I thought it might be an overdue drug raid. But then I started hearing talk of a body inside the drug house next door. Thier daily fight blew into a shooting. One of my favorite shows is Law & Order. I had Law & Order going on right outside my door, right down to officer's going door to door asking if we saw or heard anything.

An active addict going to thier dealer's house never really knows what they might be walking into. It's been 10 years since I've done so. It's a real reminder.

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Stay away from it!

Lots of love,

Timber Wolf?

[Charlize]

Thank you for your share Timber Wolf. I'm glad you are ok in the midst of such waste and human tragedy. Being sober has kept me safe in ways i rarely see. I have noticed that so many of the crimes committed against the trans* community are also related to the use of alcohol and drugs.

Definitely just one more reason to keep going to meetings and doing the work that keeps me sober.

Hugs,

Charlize

[tracy_j]

A harsh reminder of the realities of life in some circles!

I hope you soon have the good fortune to be able to move to a better area Timber Wolf. It would be far too easy to be dragged into something you want none of with such nasty people so closeby

Tracy

[gennee]

Excellent advice.

[Briana]

Timber Wolf - you said it short but sweet; "stay away from it." Perhaps easier said than done but sound advice for sure. It was told to me once that people that are recovering or have recovered sometimes feel like they can control "it" now; they can step away if they want. This person went on to say that it's like boxing, like having all this confidence and getting in the ring feeling you can do at least one round against Mike Tyson and then get out. It's just one round - 3 short minutes. But we all know what happens, right? You can weave and bob around and dance your little heart out but before you know, POW! You're out...down on the mat again. Like you said - stay away from it.

[VickySGV]

We never fully recover from addiction, its when you think you have that you are in serious danger, that like in this case can turn deadly. If you are in recovery from addiction, stay in touch with reality, and keep people around you that know how "cunning, baffling and powerful" the chemicals can be.

[Charlize]

I had a friend in the rooms of Aa who was certain after getting some months of recovery that he could go to the clubs he loved and simply drink soda. He is long gone. I faced that problem when i started into sobriety. The only place i had found where i could be myself, comfortable and accepted was at gay bars. I was lucky .....i listened when they said stay away from people, places and things. Later i found i could be honest and sober at the same time and live my life as myself without those places. Sobriety helped me to learn that i didn't have to live in a dingy place while using to be myself.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Ravin]

When I was an extern for a criminal court judge in law school, she told me that the majority of home invasions and violent crimes that were not domestic violence were drug related. In my work now, I see that a whole lot of domestic violence has alcohol and drugs mixed up in it, too.

You are entirely right that engaging with the black market is dangerous even without factoring in the hazards of addiction.