After a very long conversation, my wife finally admitted that she had fallen back to taking drugs.
Above is a photograph of her drug paraphernalia that she surrendered to me. A converted glass cosmetics bottle with a makeshift pipe made from drinking straws. Several disposable lighters with the tops removed to better control the flames used to cook the crystal methamphetamine and convert them to vapors that can be inhaled. There was another makeshift bottle that I threw away because it made me really sick to my stomach. The seal she had used for that particular bottle was made from one of the bottle nipples of our son.
Making all these up is not very difficult, but it takes some determined effort to get all the bits together. Every single one of the bits and pieces needed to create this kind of drug paraphernalia can be resourced from everyday household items. So trying to control and monitor the raw materials necessary to make these would be next to impossible.
She had been displaying very erratic behavior and was noticeably thinner again. Her eyes were bloodshot and she was experiencing some terrible dreams. There was also that telltale scent in her sweat, very very subtle and almost undetectable, metallic, sweet and slightly cloying.
She got the drugs from acquaintances a few days ago. They passed by our house to pay her back money she had loaned them several months back. In lieu of cash, they offered her a small packet of crystal meth. My wife is a recovering drug addict and cannot be exposed to that kind of temptation. It was simply too much for her and she was not able to fight her addiction.
I have never met these acquaintances of hers, but from what I gather this friend is the mistress of an ex-police officer who is supplying the drugs. It's very difficult to figure out their identities because everyone goes by a very common type of nickname and no real names are used.
She's now on a bus heading up country with her older brother, Khun Rin. She refuses to go back into the drug rehab center in Khon Kaen, so the best we can manage with her is for her to stay up in her home province of Sakhon Nakorn with her family.
Little Nio and I are on our own again.
