> I agree with some of what it is saying except for the whole "for ever" part. I believe that no matter what a person does they can always turn over a new leaf and start again, it may be hard at times but there is always the chance. Some people miss this chance, that is true, but lots of people overcome addictions every day.

That's very true indeed. That poem really hit me deeply because my former best friend is struggling with a drug problem. Not heroin, but marijuana. I thought about sending it to her, but decided not to. I am extremely concerned about her well-being, and I wish I could be right there helping her, but since I stopped hanging out with her, I can't really help her too much. I stopped hanging out with her because the people who are her "friends" smoke all the time at lunch and between classes and they are always concerned about drugs and sex and talking about how far they've gone and what drugs they were on when they did it. It was not a glamorous thing at all, and the short time I spent hanging around those people was too long. They were bad influences on me, and while I did not partake in their lifestyle, just hanging out with them made me feel like I'd flashbacked to 8th grade, where I was depressed all the time. It really hurts me to know that people are harming themselves like that. I mean, it's hurting my emotional health, to be honest with you. I haven't been really depressed since the beginning of 9th grade, but Monday and Tuesday I was very depressed and I didn't know why but I think it's because subconsciously I've been worrying about my friend and those people. I care about people a lot, and it's terrible that I can't do anything. I feel bad that I don't hang around them, but what else could I have done? I prayed about it, and God clearly told me that I shouldn't be around those people anymore. I'm tired and have a cold...I don't quite know what I was just trying to say. Ah, yes, why that poem struck me or something. Up until last year, I didn't personally know anyone involved in drug usage, but I understand now...kinda...how they feel. Drugs are all they think about. Well, drugs and sex. That is really sad...I have cried and prayed about those things many times because I know I can't help them. I have friends who come up to me a lot, telling me about this new drug they tried or how I don't know what I'm missing, and while I tell them calmly that I really don't think they should be harming themselves like that (I get nasty glares sometimes after saying that), I really want to scream, "YOU'RE RIGHT!I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M MISSNG, AND I DON'T WANNA FIND OUT!" I can't do that, though...it would make things worse, and I'm too small to yell that loud. Anyway...umm...yeah.

~Den-"had to get that out, I guess"Kara