A WISE DECISION

 

I interviewed Gabor, a 19 year old Dutch Bachelor student in Business and Communication. He will be graduating next year. He is in the third and final year. The private school he is in is located in Hilversum, The Netherlands; its named High school Notenboom. The course he is following is various and requires challenges but he admits that sometimes he has a big amount of work to furnish. But as he says it’s all the charm of doing something you like.

Me: - “ Good afternoon Gabor.

Gabor: - Good afternoon Jennifer.

Me: - As you already know, I am going to interview you about the experience you had. I will ask you specific questions, which are what you prefer right?

Gabor: - Yes I do. That’s the best manner to obtain what you want isn’t it?

Me: - Absolutely. So Gabor, you encountered some problems with drugs, how long did it last?

Gabor: - Yes indeed for a period of actually 3.5 years I have been smoking and using marijuana almost every day.

Me: - You started at a young age, what made you start?

Gabor: - I remember in the first year, I used marijuana for fun with friends even with my father from time to time. In this period I was 15, 16 years old.

Me: - How did you manage to obtain some drugs as it is quite costly?

Gabor: - I could not finance it myself but I got it mostly during weekends from my friends. We all had a great time with it, it was a fun experience but progressively we required more and more of it. This made some of my friends choose to do even harder drugs than me.

Later on, around the age of 17,18 I noticed I thought I had troubles sleeping so I used the marihuana to help me to sleep. As it did not became a problem for my work or school in the second year I could finance it for myself. But at this point, I felt I started to abuse from it. This really became a problem for my study end 2007 and start of this year 2008.

I manifested these problems in my social life.

Me: - Do you call it a drug abuse?

Gabor: - No, it is not an addiction nor an obsession. I have not proceeded in a next ‘stage’ of drug abuse as it is called. Although, I did need it everyday, it was the illusion. But there were many days where I could not use it for example if I was out of money at some points or when I was out of my country as it would have been illegal to have pod outside my country.

I notice that since I have quitted, almost two months ago now I do not find it a lot of trouble but I have to stay focussed and sincerely keep myself busy.

Me: - What pushed you to stop to consume it?

Gabor: - I did not see a reason for it anymore and I got tired of using it. The trouble I had to get my shot of drugs sometimes was idiotic at the end. There were several moments at that time where I thought deep about it. At a sudden point I was ashamed of everything I had done during the last years and how I in fact lied to the people I love.

Me: - So you decided to quit from one day to the other? Do you have a treatment to follow?

Gabor : - Yes, I made this decision in a week time. I was beyond the point of problems; I got thrown back on myself. In the end I quit because I didn’t wanted to destroy my relations with others but more importantly because it would just have destroyed me. I think and feel that I mostly lied to myself. I made a fool of myself.

No, there is no treatment for it. The addiction is not physical, just mental.

Me: - Talking about relations, did your school and family know about what you were living through?

Gabor: - I must say that I had some arguments about it with my parents but I managed to keep my studies and parents separated. I also got passed my exams but it was mostly how I was feeling during time of college hours and when I was doing my work. I was out of energy and the only idea that could keep my mind focused was to get stoned again…Which took me even more energy to try to resist against the time. It was a circle. My main aim is to prove to everyone I love that I am off the drug and that trust will take its time to come up.

Me: - Did you have a daily dose?

Gabor: - There was no dose, I bought it and smoked it. On monthly basis I can say that I would have spent about 3 to 400 Euros on weed. There was a variety from time to time in how much I smoked on an evening or week.

Me: - Which memory will you keep of this stage of your life?

Gabor: - I will keep every single moment of it but I am trying not to think how it feels for now and till I feel that I am totally safe. For now, I keep in mind that I don’t want to tire myself up anymore like I used to do.

Me:- Gabor, it is the best decision you can make. It is true that will play a huge role in the decision you made. You have a strong character.

Gabor: - Thank you.

Me: - I congratulate you for climbing the slope gently. Which piece of advice could you give to the young generation?

Gabor: - I am not against drugs so I won’t say just don’t use it. It is not bad to know what it is like and how it feels. But you have to remember that it can also be destructive. Know your limits and don’t cross them for if you will cross them you can answer the same questions as I just answered.

Me: - It’s a philosophical reaction. Thanks for having answered me. Have a nice end of the day. Bye

Gabor: - It was my pleasure. Bye”

By Jennifer Ruffier

EJC 1