Saturday, February 5, 2011

Yes Darlin' Dope Can Kill You

The extended family got a little smaller today.

Timmy was 48. Nearly a lifetime of drug abuse did him in. Meth, coke and prescription pills up the nose for years on end will do that. Moderation was an unknown concept for him.

About 3 years ago in a drugged stupor he fell out of a deer stand and broke himself up pretty good. He was also busted with a bag of pharmaceuticals in his pocket that the law found as they picked him up from the ground but he received a suspended sentence for that.

Disability was next, along with a unending supply of taxpayer supplied painkillers.

Not content with swallowing them, Timmy would crush them up and snort them for that quick rush.

About three weeks ago he passed out and was taken to the hospital where the doctor said his lungs were destroyed from all the painkiller 'nose candy.' A hole was cut in his throat for a breathing tube and he was being fed through his nose. Unable to talk, he was asked a few days ago if he wanted to die and nodded affirmatively. Divorced, he leaves behind a 14 year old son and the 80 year old very nice and now very devastated mother he was living with.

This brings me to the point of this story. I've heard that one of the rages among the local teenagers is stealing parent's painkillers and other drugs and snorting them. It's a dangerous situation in more ways than one. The economy may be a factor. Kids programmed to think getting high is cool but without money for weed and alcohol will try what they can get their hands on.

RIP Timmy ... maybe, just maybe, as your story is passed around it will give a kid pause before he possibly destroys himself too. Maybe no one will ever care.

I've seen more than my share of dope causalities, both from illegal and legal drugs, from Vietnam vets to the youth to grandmothers ... it's always a waste ... and it's always a helpless feeling.


  1. Deeply sorry to hear that, Kenny. My prayers go out to him.

  2. Sorry to hear that Kenny. Im a casual reader here and rarely comment, but Ive lost family to drugs as well.
    Life is a hard road and harder for some.
    My deepest reguards.

  3. I've had countless friends become addicted to pharmaceutical drugs, Oxycotin in particular. Terrible stuff.

    I'm sorry to read this, and send my deepest regards to you and your family.

  4. My condolences Kenny. To all reading, this may not be the best advice but if you must do some sort of drug stick to marijuana. Pills are bad news, really no less dangerous than heroin and coke in most cases.

  5. Sorry, Kenny. I have a little brother who is captured by opiates and can't seem to stop.
    I keep expecting a call in the middle of the night.
    Damn it.

  6. Thanks for all of the comments.

    In these kind of situations, there seems to be little we can do. The warning signs are there but we just watch and wait.

    anon's comment on sticking to marijuana brought on a memory of an old friend.

  7. The "potent pot" story is right on. Medical marijuana COULD save many lives in my opinion and could in fact keep at least some(certainly not all) people from hurting themselves worse with harder drugs and pills of various sorts. Marijuana is too easy to grow though so its a no go for big pharma and government. I for one know that if it wasn't for pot I would likely be an alcoholic or worse.


    War crime warrants have been issued for Bush and company in Switzerland as Bush cancels trip. This is the first president in history to have travel limited by Nuremberg laws similar to Mussolini and Hitler.

  9. My deepest condolences Kenny. RIP