100 days
I’ll reveal my substance as I tell my story, because it’s not a typical one, and nutshelling it, but feel free to ask any questions in the comments and I can elaborate.
It started in the mid-90’s with phen-phens. They made me very sick. I wouldn’t eat the entire day, just typical speed. I got off of those, and then someone introduced me to some weight loss supplements, and I was back in it. I couldn’t find the supplements (that are now banned, along with its precursor ma huang), but discovered ephedrine in the gas station. 100 pills for $10. That’s when I got really hooked, was up to 18 pills a day. Then they removed those, but I discovered Bronkaid at a drug store. 60 pills/box and I was going through them like water. Then the meth epidemic hit, and they moved them behind the pharmacy counter and put limits on how much you could buy a month. I knew I couldn’t sustain, so got myself off again. That was 2004.
Fast forward to Covid, I bought a couple of boxes and stashed them away just in case. In 2022, after being clean for 18 years, I broke them out. Got addicted again, as well as started drinking again after three years sober. Been fighting the monkey ever since, but today I’m clean for 100 days, and I feel okay. I’m a 51F, and had a real fear of stroke, and now that’s about the only thing keeping me on the path. I should also add that I’m ADHD, and they really helped me focus and achieve tasks that felt overwhelming otherwise. I’m still in a limbo state, but I just accept that’s part of the process.