Drug Money Debt

[boosami]

I've decided to check myself into a drug rehab center using the money that I do have that I should pay the dealer. If I can stick with it, the treatment lasts 3 months where he won't be able to get to me. I realise that by doing this I may violate my parole, but I'm hoping by taking a proactive stance that they will look kindly on me. That will give me 3 months to try and figure out a way to come up with the money I owe the dealer.

I know this isn't a perfect plan, but it's the best of the poor choices I have. I'm not sure if I will have computer access in treatment so that I can update here, but I will if I can. If not, then I will when I'm released.

So now my debt question has changed. I have 3 months to come up with $10,000, but I'll be in treatment where there is very little I can do since it will be highly restricted. Any thoughts of how I can do this?

I know everyone here is being cynical, but truthfully I think going to rehab is the best thing you can do. Congratulations on making that realization, and I wish you luck.

[disneysteve]

I know everyone here is being cynical, but truthfully I think going to rehab is the best thing you can do.

Drug rehab is usually a joke because most people in rehab have no desire to be there and aren't committed to getting off of drugs. Many people are there because a judge said they had to be. That doesn't make the person ready or willing to quit. Drug use in rehab is rampant since most of the people don't want to be there and from what I've seen, the security and monitoring for abuse is minimal.

As for the OP, it sounds like the only reason he is going to rehab is to escape the guy he owes money to. That doesn't sound to me like a recipe for a successful rehab stay.

[boosami]

Drug rehab is usually a joke because most people in rehab have no desire to be there and aren't committed to getting off of drugs. Many people are there because a judge said they had to be. That doesn't make the person ready or willing to quit. Drug use in rehab is rampant since most of the people don't want to be there and from what I've seen, the security and monitoring for abuse is minimal.

As for the OP, it sounds like the only reason he is going to rehab is to escape the guy he owes money to. That doesn't sound to me like a recipe for a successful rehab stay.

True, but maybe it will work. My cousin was forced to and went to court-ordered rehab. He had no intent to recover, but saw the light and was able to put his life back together. He's been sober for years now. It can work... Hopefully it will for OP even if the reasons to go in aren't quite right.

[ea1776]

Sometimes a church is the best place to ask for help. They sometimes know of better places to go than a court-ordered type rehab facility. When my dad was recovering from a 30+ year alcohol problem (he tried many times but this place finally got him on track, and he's been sober for 2+ years), he went to a place that pretty much was a church. It was community oriented and everyone had responsibilities. Everyone had to go to church. They had 3 AA meetings a day and everyone rotated with chores. It was also cheaper than typical rehab, and the people there were usually those that had loved ones who cared enough to research and find a good place to go. I'd recommend that route for sure, for any recovering addicts. Might not be the best for your particular situation, as a place like that wouldn't have the kind of protection a court-ordered facility would have.

[disneysteve]

True, but maybe it will work. My cousin was forced to and went to court-ordered rehab. He had no intent to recover, but saw the light and was able to put his life back together. He's been sober for years now. It can work

That's great. Trust me. Being in the medical field, I can tell you that your cousin's experience is by far the exception unfortunately. Most addicts bounce in and out of rehab. Some go through it 4 or 5 or more times without success. Others get off one addiction only to end up hooked on something else.

[DebbieL]

DH says going to a 3 month live-in drug treatment program was THE BEST decision he ever made in his life. It was not an easy choice to make at the time because he had an extremely lucrative job offer as a chef at a fancy place in Whistler at the time, and he had to turn down that opportunity when a bed opened up in treatment. He figured the great job wouldn't do him much good if he ended up dead from cocaine abuse, and there would be more opportunities for him in the future if he was clean and sober.

He did relapse after about 10 months living on the outside after the program. However, he cleaned up his act again after meeting me. He hasn't touched drugs or alcohol since we've been married (almost 3 years now). He still uses the tools that he learned in rehab in many aspects of his life. It taught him a lot about himself.

For the original poster - you are in a real pickle. I'm afraid there is no easy answer for this. I do think getting (and staying) off the drugs is your best hope ultimately. As for the $10,000? I don't think that's going to happen. I'm not sure what to advise you to do, because we can't turn back the clock and tell you not to do this thing you've already done.

[arthurb999]

Next you could consider doing porn. Lots of people with drug problems end up in the porn industry. There are other qualifications, but you'll have to evaluate your prospects yourself.

You might be on to something here... I bet ghey porn pays even better... might be something to look into.

[Well Spent]

You should go to rehab. Even though you're going to avoid facing the dealer, rehab can stilll do you a lot of good. A lot of people don't want to go to rehab but it ends up being successful for them. Relapsing is is part of recovery from drugs.

I hope no one here is seriously advising porn. That is harmful and dangerous and will make matters worse for the original poster. You can't undo a choice like that. I hope no one here would sell their bodies to pay debt. And I say this as someone who REALLY NEEDS sex right now.

[neatdesign]

So now my debt question has changed. I have 3 months to come up with $10,000, but I'll be in treatment where there is very little I can do since it will be highly restricted. Any thoughts of how I can do this?

My empathy for this person has dried up now. This is such a bunch of BS...

The OP originally said, "I need to come up with $5000 by the end of the week just to cover what I owe the dealer." Now he suddenly owes $10,000 for something else? And it has to be paid in full in 3 months?

A debt like that really smells like more illegal activity to me.

He's going to rehab NOT to get clean or change his ways, but to avoid going to jail. End of. Since this (further) violates his parole, he is assuming that the justice system will just look the other way. Meanwhile, for the next 3 months that he's in rehab (gee, the exact same amount of time that he has to come up with $10,000; coincidence?) his parole officer is going to wonder where the hell he is and have a warrant put out for his arrest.

Also, doesn't anyone else think it's weird that he's airing all these details on a public forum, for anyone in the world to read?

But I guess since he's going to rehab now so we'll just have to wait for the conclusion to this exciting story, if there is one...

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

My empathy for this person has dried up now. This is such a bunch of BS...

The OP originally said, "I need to come up with $5000 by the end of the week just to cover what I owe the dealer." Now he suddenly owes $10,000 for something else? And it has to be paid in full in 3 months?

A debt like that really smells like more illegal activity to me.

He's going to rehab NOT to get clean or change his ways, but to avoid going to jail. End of. Since this (further) violates his parole, he is assuming that the justice system will just look the other way. Meanwhile, for the next 3 months that he's in rehab (gee, the exact same amount of time that he has to come up with $10,000; coincidence?) his parole officer is going to wonder where the hell he is and have a warrant put out for his arrest.

Also, doesn't anyone else think it's weird that he's airing all these details on a public forum, for anyone in the world to read?

But I guess since he's going to rehab now so we'll just have to wait for the conclusion to this exciting story, if there is one...

I understood it to mean that he is planning to spend the first $5000 he made from the sale of half his supply on the 3 month rehab program. The total he owes his supplier is $10,000. If he spends on rehab the $5000 which he does already have he will have to come up with that plus the other $5000 as soon as he gets out of the supposedly protective environment of rehab.

Oh I'm also thinking this fellow has some sort of insurance to kick in on the rehab program because I cannot imagine that a 3 month program would cost so little as $5000.

He also does acknowledge that rehab is not where his parole terms ask him to be, but he thinks they might acquiesce. I should think he would call in to his parole officer and perhaps visit the parole office even while in rehab. The rehab program would probably also provide a letter as to his residence there.

His issues will not be anything new to a drug rehab program. That includes the possibility that a dealer would follow him there for retribution. Violence does sometimes take place in rehab.

[DebbieL]

Yes, the original poster has $5,000 of the $10,000 he owes, and is spending the $5,000 on the rehab program. I believe that DH got his 3 month rehab for free (we are in Canada), but I'm not sure since it was before we met. Rehab is costly though if it isn't covered under your medical.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I was on jury duty the last two days and, OMG, let me just say I hope our OP gets out of this drug business....and not just for his own sake.