From once again normal and functonal ... Daryl

I'm currently in a methadone research program @ the University of Texas Health and Science Research Institute. It's a 6 month (free) research program w/free counseling and medication for heroin and cocaine abuse. It is a Godsend for me ! Not only do I get free counseling and med's. but they also pay me to attend ...$30.00 a week plus bus fare !!! In the begining I was there mostly for the free methadone and the 30 dollars a week for their research. But as I attended the counceling sessions I started to realize that I really did want to stop using heroin! and cocaine! For many reasons.

#1 Street drugs are dangerous (I've lost many freinds to overdosage-including myself almost)

#2 They are illegal and you could lose you're freedom-go to jail ! rhymes with hell!

#3 It kept me broke - too expensive!

#4 I'm tired of the madness of chasing the drug and some of the things that go with the pursuit of obtaining it - such as shoplifting and other madness that I would not otherwise do !

#5 The trashy people involved with illegal activities.

#6 I could go on all night but those are the `main 5 reasons.

Anyway I Loved the way methadone changed all that! I don't have to worry about getting busted anymore 'cause methadone is legal. It also is much safer due to you always know what you're getting. I can afford it so I don't have to steal and such crap that I used to do to support my illegal habit (I hated doing those things}!!! I now feel like a different person!!! I like myself again! I don't feel trashy anymore! I don't hang out with those trashy people anymore! I don't steal any more! (I never did like shoplifting - it scared the hell out me!!! But sometimes I did it to get well. Know what I mean?) Thanks to my methadone program I am a honest functioning member of society again! If it was not for my methadone program I would still and probably forever be involved in illegal activitiy that I hated but could not get around from. I tried to quit doing all drugs , it's what I really wanted , I tried hard but I always went back to opiates and pain killers. I now realize that there is something wrong with me, that will never allow that to be. I just don't feel good naturally! I don't understand why? But I know it will ALWAYS be my cross to bear -so to speak.

So I thank GOD that I found a way to live a normal functional life in society without involving myself in crime and undesireable company! I will be able to accomplish this by what is called methadone maintenace. I thank GOD and the federal goverment for allowing me to live a life without crime and to be a functional person in society! Thanks for allowing me to get treatment for my uniqe and real crisis!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!