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werewolfsgirl · #1 05-22-2012, 10:53 AM

Is it true that whatever age you start useing drugs your mentallity stays at that age? Like you start takeing drugs at 16. Your brain will stop growing from that age. But,your body will get older if that makes any sense.

pixy p loves & misses her werewolf

mg113 · #2 05-22-2012, 11:54 AM

I have heard that before, I am the mother of a 24 yr old heroine addict, he started using at age 15.... and although he now has 6 months sober... emotionally I would say he is about 15.....he is in a long term recovery facility now learning the coping skills he didnt learn all those years he was using.

But I have heard that statement from various counselors he has had thru the years....

Lordbew/us · #3 05-23-2012, 04:43 PM

I was justing thinking about this sad topic this afternoon. I see how drugs have handicapped my son in his thinking and in his life.
I wonder if my son will ever become a responsible adult he has so much potential.
I do think I have heard or read somewhere that drugs do stunt the users brain. I just hope and pray that the damage is reversible over time.
Our son is 23 and has used drugs and alcohol heavily ...heroine you name it, he is currently on suboxone.
His judgement is so lacking, especially when it comes to making responsible decisions...budgeting money etc....he is very impulsive and has a hard time thinking long term.
I feel like I am dealing with a 23 year old teenager.

**sidewalker** · #4 05-23-2012, 08:11 PM

I have no idea if its true or not, but from some personal experience with folks who have used drugs>?
yeah, I think it tends to be pretty true

This is only my opinion and not fact in anyway, shape or form.
Its just what I think I have observed.

GuerosMama · #5 05-23-2012, 08:43 PM

Idk if they stay at that age forever. But I do now drug use inhibits correct and timely development of the frontal lobe- which is decision making center. So in a way it definitely affects development and maturation. I think there are things that can be done to help them learn those skills which didn't develop naturally but if the use was excessive, there is a lot that they never developed, And never will. :/

tripsgirl · #6 05-23-2012, 08:50 PM

Not true!

I was a meth addict for a year and a half..
I've been clean & I see clearer now that I ever have.

I'm sure for LONG LONG time users it can effect the way their brain works but definitely not every user!

werewolfsgirl · #7 05-23-2012, 09:03 PM

Ok,what if your mother drank while she was pregnate with you? But,your not showing visial signs of fetal achol sysdrome. Dose it affect your age?

pixy p loves & misses her werewolf

Real Checker · #8 05-23-2012, 09:30 PM

My experience points to the assumption being true. I used to think that a person does not mature mentally while using ... not that they lose the ability to learn or think. Just doing drugs a couple of years is not long enough, really, to notice the difference it causes. Right now I have a friend who is the same age as me (50's) and he only quit using a couple of years ago. He still has the maturity of a teenager but he is getting it together now little by little. He has trouble with relationships because he tends to act like an adolescent around women. He also feels more comfortable around women half his age because he simply cannot relate in mature situations.

nimuay · #9 05-23-2012, 09:41 PM

Drugs and alcohol do seem to stop the learning process (school and emotional). Once the brain clears the effects begin to subside, but if it's been very heavy drug//alcohol use, then there may have been permanent damage.

I should add that this is also true for horses, lol. They cannot learn while drugged.

Mom'sNightmare · #10 06-02-2012, 12:12 AM

I think what most are referring to when speaking of staying at the place (mentally) where they began to use/abuse drugs, has to do with emotional maturity.

Most addicts tend to abuse drugs because for whatever reason they cannot deal with the burden of every day struggles. Whatever pain they are attempting to medicate, keeps them from having to deal with normal issues, therefore, reducing any opportunity for maturity to develop. When people aren't abusing drugs, whether illicit, prescription, over-the-counter medications, or alcohol, they deal with the issues they are confronted with and come to terms with life. On the other hand, those who are abusing drugs/alcohol often do so in order to avoid feeling pain and therefore will self-medicate in order to "numb" themselves. This creates a good feeling to replace the bad ones and of course that leads to a desire to recreate that feeling repeatedly. It is impossible to mature without facing the difficulties of life.

I hope that answers your question.

probedinfl · #11 06-07-2012, 02:09 PM

The wives' tales about the dangers of drug use are mind-boggling. But they are entertaining.

Bear in mind that I don't necessarily think using mind-altering drugs is good. But saying that it stops development of the mind at a certain age borders on the silly. There's no way to determine such a thing.

Maya2007 · #12 06-10-2012, 07:37 PM

I have heard that long time drug abuse can stunt their emotional growth. My ex started using when he was a teenager and he is 3 years older than me. When we were together, I remember him acting like a teenager whether he was on drugs or not. Based on my experience, I think its true.

Beachhouse · #13 06-10-2012, 10:54 PM

I dont know for sure if its true but my one and only experience with someone who has used drugs leads me to believe its true.

I have an ex bf/great friend. I met him when he was 23 and hed started doing drugs at 9. when I met him he wasnt doing anything and I was younger so all was well. then i noticed his cycle of doing them and then not. finally he was out of control. His drug of choice is meth. He was I guess using multiple times a day and sometimes every hour. according to another gf. he went to rehab and stayed for a year. He sounded great and I was very proud of him. When we spent some time together I realized much of the behavior I had attributed to using drugs was still there. He was stuck in his early 20s and hes now 39. So maybe he will catch up but I worry he will just fall back into it. I ended our friendship because we finally lacked anything in common except our dating history from years ago. Emotionally hes no where near 39.

bdwell · #14 06-17-2012, 01:16 PM

IMO it has so much more to do with the natural growth process than arresting the mind. Ppl who are checked out of life due to drug use, are not aware their personal interactions are not the norm. When you interact on a normal level with your mind in focus you subconsciously know when someone is happy, mad, sad etc. and you learn to react accordingly. The same scenario with someone on drugs means they also see those cues but get paranoid, or with everything else going on they are unable to see those cues at all. The interactions they are aware of usually have to do with lieing, sneaking, hiding etc. Growth as a person is stunted, growth (schooling) is stunted. I think that is why so many long term addicts get mad over simple things. They just never learned how to deal with them on a naturally occuring level as most people do on their way to adulthood. I often correct D about his spelling but he takes it good naturedly because he knows I only want him to be a better person.

anexsia · #15 06-26-2012, 01:37 AM

I've never heard of that before, that's interesting. I started using when I was 15 years old and stopped when I was about 23 years old...they say that a lot of addicts just mature out of their addiction and I think that can be true in a lot of cases...but everyone is different. I can't speak for other addicts, but I just got tired of having to spend everyday getting drugs so I wouldn't be sick, alienating my friends and family, getting locked up/going through court date after court date, and I just came to a point where I just really got sick of it all.

Lordbew/us · #16 06-26-2012, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anexsia

I've never heard of that before, that's interesting. I started using when I was 15 years old and stopped when I was about 23 years old...they say that a lot of addicts just mature out of their addiction and I think that can be true in a lot of cases...but everyone is different. I can't speak for other addicts, but I just got tired of having to spend everyday getting drugs so I wouldn't be sick, alienating my friends and family, getting locked up/going through court date after court date, and I just came to a point where I just really got sick of it all.

"Boy....I sure wish my son would get to this point!"
I keeping praying.
Good for you.

nimuay · #17 07-30-2012, 06:41 PM

Connections in the brain must be nourished. If they are not, they become useless. So the brain may physically continue, but the needed experiences that create maturity are lacking!

nonamesleftlol · #18 07-31-2012, 12:45 AM

Yes, it is true, when you start using drugs you are "stuck" at that age until you stop using drugs, then you are able to start the maturing process again. Now this is totally different than destroying your brain cells from doing drugs, that is two different things we are talking about and I think some may be getting the two confused.

Serenity83 · #19 08-18-2012, 09:36 PM

Its actually affects you emotionally! I am a substance abuse counselor and when i speak with my clients i do make it clear to them the age they started using is the age they emotionally go back too when they get clean! It does not stunt the brain and most damage done to the brain will repair itself!!! Well depending on the substance! If y'all have any other questions done hesitate to ask!!!

benignneglect · #20 08-18-2012, 09:44 PM

Mentally your brain still learns or can learn new things you are taught when you are an addict.

EMOTIONALLY your growth is stunted. So you feel (feelings) and react to those feelings at an age when you are closer to the age you started using.

Once you are sober/clean it catches up to you eventually but with counseling and therapy it will definatly speed up the process of you learning to have the feelings of an adult.

*** This mostly appies to people who start using before they are an adult

werewolfsgirl · #21 08-19-2012, 07:06 PM

Ok,thank you all. Now another question. What if your mother drank and did drugs when she was pregnate how badly dose that stunt your mental growth and grasp things. If that makes sense.

nimuay · #22 08-19-2012, 08:08 PM

That's going to depend on the drug of choice and the individual genetics of the parents. Alcohol will unquestionably affect many aspects of fetal development - Fetal alcohol syndrome. I had a foster son with FAS and the deficits are similar to Downs syndrome at the more serious/greater exposure levels.

BonniePlotkin · #23 08-21-2012, 01:17 AM

Babies born to mothers who have used drugs or alcohol during pregnancy stand a greater chance of experiencing withdrawal symptoms after birth, as well as developing learning disabilities and behavioral problems as they get older. Due to effect of alcohol and drugs fetus is not getting the nutrients it needs to grow appropriately. Some side effects can be, mental retardation, malformations of the skeletal system and other organs (brain included), growth problems, and central nervous system problems.