You love them so, this they know, but how to respect that is something they don’t know.
There will always be the need for extra money,
the excuse is always good somehow their requests are coated with honey.
They will sell their clothes and their belongings and if they can they will sell yours.
They have no conscience, until maybe after the act when it is too late and they have time to think and pause.
Always they need , always they want . You will never sate their thirst.
The need for the needle, the bottle or the gamble is ever present and that will always come first.
Hide your purse, hide the cash, hide the car keys or you will loose them.
Then when that happens they will cover up and lie and swear on your life.
After the lies comes remorse.
The food can go from the cupboards, presents and toys too,
furniture, clothes nothing is sacred they have no choice the demon in them drives them to.
They loose care and love for family and friends. They will take from anyone,
anything they will break your heart and it never ends.
Is there hope, well there is some, but so much hard work must be done.
Recovery is hard so very hard, even when they are counting the days, weeks or years
you never can relax you are never out of the woods.
The thought of the demons’ return is ever here, an ever present fear..
You love them so, you help, you sort them out time and time again.
They will bleed your bank dry and bleed your heart dry they will cause you so much pain.
With any request for money the fear is always there,
do they need it for what they say or are they off the rails again….. OH! if only I did not care.
willowdot21 
Jan 08, 2013 @ 20:51:27
so hard to read on here but got the gist yes addicts will take and take withno regard for others and it plagues nearly every family!!
Jan 08, 2013 @ 21:28:39
Sorry about the scheme I think I have it readable now . please try and read again . Addiction is a terrible curse
Jan 08, 2013 @ 21:35:59
LOL I have done the same many times just wanting a fresher look and then found it was not conducive to reading! I was amazed at how many ‘liked’ the post but never told me it couldn’t be read! 🙂
Jan 08, 2013 @ 21:55:16
They need to take a leaf out of your book and Zendictive’s too better to be honest than not able to read!! Thank you for your candour.
Jan 09, 2013 @ 11:57:48
Addiction is terrible, the lies, the danger, the suffering inflicted unawares on others. You really do feel it, and obviously know it first hand. Thanks
Jan 09, 2013 @ 15:20:00
The sad thing is that the addict does not think of family or friends just themselves nothing else is of any importance to them.
Jan 09, 2013 @ 22:55:45
Until later – if you are lucky!
Jan 09, 2013 @ 23:01:47
The addict knows no later they live in the present only.
Jan 12, 2013 @ 01:19:29
Hello, I’ll confess I read your poem critically, and perhaps too literally … It is beautifully written but a few objections! Hope you won’t mind me saying that the addict you talk about is misunderstood. When considered a demon, a misfit by those near and those afar, by family and society alike, when considered a criminal and institutionalized, even before it is too late … I don’t blame him. It is as much his fault as is ours. He won’t suck you dry, he is sucking himself dry. Recovery is not hard, but the transition between addiction and recovery is indeed difficult. But the demon is never too far and you are right about the fear too … When I got to the end of the poem I thought, Ah there it is, codependence! All the best and thanks for making me think
Jan 12, 2013 @ 12:12:46
Hi thank you for your comments I always value criticism. I am so pleased to hear that you read my post and it gave you food for thought. I do know that codependancey happens but not to everyone. I can also tell you that addicts will bleed you dry of money, belongings and most importantly of emotions. You are correct they do bleed themselves dry but they don’t see the damage they inflict on the people around them. You need to live this to understand.
Jan 12, 2013 @ 18:14:07
I am so glad you understood where I was coming from. I realize I haven’t been on the receiving end of the terror of addiction. I have lost friends to it and I find my self very empathetic … Thanks for responding
Jan 12, 2013 @ 20:10:15
Yes I do see where you are coming from , it is important that we all talk how else can we learn. I am sorry for your losses do keep your empathy it is a great quality. keep well and happy. 😉 xx
Jan 12, 2013 @ 23:11:40
Thanks 🙂 Have a great day
Jan 14, 2013 @ 00:18:41
I can’t begin to tell you about my addiction to Zen, I search every day for a Zen filled wisdom, as if sleep drains my cup and it needs filled daily and if
I don’t find it I feel empty and re-read some of my past tales fill my need, like a vine needing to grow and need watering. I watched a family member destroy their life for the need of drugs… That was a tragedy… No matter how hard I tried to help they just couldn’t see the light… This write of yours most deffinetly touch’s everyone in some way… Of course you always do (*_*)
Jan 14, 2013 @ 07:59:42
Thank you Art I always try to touch at least one soul even better if
I can help even one reader with my posts. I truly empathise with your experience with your relative I speak with experience myself on this subject watching some one you love destroying themselves and everything and everyone around them is like cutting yourself over and over with a sharp knife. As for your Zen addiction I pray that is your worse vice and a penence you must spread your knowledge around. Teaching us in your beautiful and kind way. 🙂 xxxxx
Jan 23, 2013 @ 15:53:59
This is written so well. You are right about the demon always lurking, and waiting. I was a using addict for many years. I still am an addict, I just don’t use any more, but that demon is always right there. He tries to temp me whenever I am feeling down, confused, sad, scared, mad. One of the biggest things that has helped me is taking responsibility for my actions. At this point in life I am watching my oldest daughter deal with addiction, and it breaks my heart. I also know that part of it is because of how she grew up. Her father is still using and is the one who got her using. Makes me so mad. I do not understand how a parent can inflict such pain and misery on their own child.
Jan 23, 2013 @ 16:15:27
I do admire you it is so difficult to cope with an addiction , I have only had to watch from the outside as you are now watching your daughter fighting her addiction. You say her father got her hooked ? That is so sad…. I hope he feels sorry about that. The addiction I am talking about is gambling and I am afraid that it is every bit as horrendous as drug addiction and it hurts so much. well you must know. The more I read about you the more I respect you. Keep well.
Jan 23, 2013 @ 16:33:32
Thank You. My addiction was Meth, but I know a few gambling addicts and it is no different. I feel the that gambling addicts have a harder time coming to the reality of it, A drug addict puts poison into their body, where a gambling addict does not.I feel the best thing we can do is not enable it.This is hard because we want to help our kids, we want to take the pain away, but fighting an addiction this does no good. They have to feel the pain. Really feel it. It is the only way they will be able to fight it. The best part of feeling the pain is once you allow yourself to go through that pain, (and I am tell you from experience it really is painful) and take responsibility for your part. Life becomes better in every area. I know as a mother this is one of the hardest things to do but it is the only way. Feeling the pain, really feeling it is what will help them get sober and stay sober. Pain makes change and when it comes to addiction any addiction what I have learned it pain is the only thing that gets us to change. Sad But True….Good luck and remember that saying no is not a bad thing.
Jan 23, 2013 @ 16:50:12
Yes this is so true. I am learning that hard lessen and is breaking my heart but I know you are right. I do not know what else to say this very raw right now . What I do want to say is Thank you so much for listening and talking to me. There is no reason why you should of shared so much with me but you have and I am grateful.
Jan 23, 2013 @ 17:11:12
You are welcome….The reason I am so willing to share is this is not something any of us can do alone. We need support. Because I know the pain first hand, I am able to say it was worth going through it, because today I am happy. I have a lot of friends who are still struggling because they refuse to go through the pain to get to the other side of it and they are unhappy today. As mother to mother, I feel your broken heart, this is not easy. This is not your fault either. Please do not beat yourself up, because that will do him no good. We are all human, we all make mistakes. There comes a time in all of our lives where we have to take responsibility for the choices we make. He will need to do that to over come this addiction. He may try to blame you, that is ok, do not take it personally, ( which is way easier to type than do) pain makes us lash out at the ones we love the most. And if he does point out one of your faults, admit it to him, do not try to justify it just let him know he is right and you are sorry. See for me and where I came from that is all I ever wanted from my parents, was just the acknowledgement that they made mistakes. I never got them, which made me struggle longer. You can do this. Stay strong and keep writing..
Jan 27, 2013 @ 11:35:23
Addiction may reach a point at which it is harmful to those person closer to them, In some point why some turn to try it and become hook on it, I guess constant communication to our child and love ones is badly needed specially influences to try it is everywhere whether it is peer influence etc.
Jan 27, 2013 @ 12:52:21
Addiction can strike at any time and come from many different places yes we must be vigilant and watchful but we cannot wrap out children in cotton wool . We can only help and lead by example. xxxxxxx