4
Page 2 -The Michigan Daily-Wednesday, February 3, 1988
Addict tells of
(Cootinued ft-om Page))
summer after his senior year. He
thought he had the problem under
control.
In 1977, his senior year, Arch
was named to the developmental
division of the U.S. ski team, which
consists of the top 60 racers in the
nation and is "the stepping stone" to
the Olympic team.
WRIGHT never went any farther
with the U.S. team. That year, he
flew to South America for summer
training. But after getting caught
partying one night, he was kicked
off the team.
Officials had noticed his
tendency to be a "wild man" during
his- year of skiing; Wright said he
often broke curfew and other rules.
In the fall of 1978, Wright
attended the University of Utah
where he joined the ski team.
Overwhelmed by the freedom at
college, he began "partying like a
madman."
HE WAS a total failure in
school. Despite his skiing talent, he
got kicked off the team before the
season started, because he seldom
attended practice. He was expelled
from school twice but managed to
get back in.
After a year at the university he
had five credits and a .1 grade point
average, but Wright remembers he
still had no desire to quit using
drugs.
"I was rationalizing all of my
problems, making excuses for the
problems that were coming up in my
life - not making it with the
national team, not making it with the
University of Utah, not making in
college and in school," Wright said.
HE ADDED that he was
unwilling to look seriously at his
problem. "The funny thing is from
ever since that coach [at Burke]
talked to me, I knew in the back of
my mind that I could have a
prdblem, and so I'd address it every
once in a while, and I'd try to
control it," he said.
Wright said he would go through'
periods of control when he wouldn't
drink. But to counteract the periods
of sobriety, the drug use would
increase. The same happened with
his drinking if he quit drugs. He did
I had every reason in the world to be
my problem objectively and say 'Thi!
you're sinking yourself,"
- Arch Wright, Business
have periods of abstinence, of
seemingly total control - Wright
said many people don't realize the
fact that addicts can sometimes go
through periods of control.
During these periods, Wright
said, addicts rationalize their
problems. If they can quit they
believe they are not addicted. An
addict can make it to through the
week or even months without get-
ting stoned, but the addiction does
not go away. It returns - sometimes
even worse than before, he said.
SKI-RACING was still an
integral part of his life, so he would
control the abuse during ski season.
But like all addicts, his tolerance
continually increased; he would
have to use more and more drugs in
different combinations to get the
same feelings.
"It took me one or two beers
when I was twelve, and in the end
literally I could not get high, no
matter how much cocaine I ingested
on a given night, no matter how
much I drank. I'd get very sick, but I
wouldn't get anywhere near the fun
type of jolly carefree attitdde that I
see all the time and that I remember
from when I was first using," he
said.
Wright's ski career continued to
develop. During the winter of 1979,
at age 19, he lined up the necessary
contracts and sponsors and turned
professional. During a time before
mandatory drug testing, drug use
was readily accepted in the pro
skiing world; the atmosphere in-
creased his drug use.
WRIGHT'S best professional
season was in 1982 when he had one
of the fastest personal qualifying
times and racing times in a
competition in Powderhorn, Co.; he
defeated racers who had top five
ranking in the country.
Wright felt he could "go
anywhere" wit
managing l
impossible; hi
wrapped up in
At this po
escalated to tv
day, sometime
night, at $10
longer able toj
prepare for s
cheated, lied
support his ha
apartment, he
apartment to
always using I
instead of payi
WORKIN
popular Salt I
Wright dealt d
said the presti
which include(
an orthopedic
him to rational
recovery
themselves to stop, but this is nearly
able to look at impossible. After reading articles
s is ridiculous, written by recovered addicts, Wright
realized he needed professional help.
He checked himself into a 10-week
in-patient treatment center.
School senior It was the most important
decision of his life.
h his racing. By 1983, THE TREATMENT was a mix
his life became of gratifying growth and agonizing
is entire identity was soul searching. Wright said he had
cocaine. no idea how to lead a normal life, be
int, his cocaine use responsible, or live without the
wo to three grams per crutch of drugs and alcohol.
-s up to eight grams a During therapy, Wright said he
0-$120 a gram. No became more aware of himself and
mentally or physically his environment.
kiing, Wright stole, "There's so much stuff that one
and dealt drugs to deals with when recovering,
abit. Without his own emotional issues and really
moved from friend's addressing the reasons why we used.
friend's apartment, A lot of it is denial, of you name it,
his cocaine as a ticket denial of problems at home,
ng rent. problems with yourself," he said.
G as a bartender in a
Lake City night spot, After treatment he enrolled in a
rugs from the bar. He community college. The 27-year-old
ge of his customers - business school senior will work at a
d a noted attorney and public accounting firm in San
surgeon - helped Francisco in the spring after he
ize his own addiction. graduates.
Although he made $8,000-$10,000 a
month by dealing, his $2,000 a week
habit made meeting expenses
impossible.
Looking for bigger thrills, Wright
said he often borrowed friends'
sports cars and rallied at high speeds
in the mountains with his mind
"blown away" on cocaine.
Also, while high on drugs, he
began participating in a dangerous
sport called gelande jumping, which
is similar to Nordic ski flying - the
jumper may travel 200 feet at a
speed of 65-70 miles per hour at a
height of 200 feet in the air.
BUT AFTER doing cocaine all
night on New Year's Eve in 1984,
Wright decided he could no longer
live a life revolving around cocaine.
He said every addict must hit a
personal bottom - a time when they
can no longer deal with the life they
lead - before considering quitting.
He flew home to Michigan
thinking he would take a few weeks
off to get his life in control. He said
many addicts think they can will
HELPING others to stay away
from drugs and alcohol has helped
Wright recover further. He has
spoken at fraternity houses, high-.
schools and junior high schools.
Also, Wright is the University's
representative for the Ann Arbor
Leaders in Prevention Task Force
board of directors. He is also a
member of the Business School
student counsel.
His recovery, he said, is a
continuing process and he is still
going through major changes and
growth.
"My life is so much better than I
ever imagined it could be. Even the
best times before, when I was at the
glory of my ski-racing, the feelings
that I have inside and how happy I
am about myself and my life now is.
no comparison to the highest times I
had before. It's like I have addressed
a problem that has made life so
much more worth living and any-
body can do that."
IN BRIEF
Compiled from Associated Press reports
Reagan lobbies for Contra aid
WASHINGTON - President Reagan made a last-ditch effort to sal-
vage his $36.2 million aid package for the Contra rebels yesterday by
promising to release money for arms and ammunition only if Congress
agrees.
In an Oval Office address shunned by three major television networks,
Reagan argued that tomorrow's vote in the House amounted to nothing
less than "win or lose for peace and freedom. It is yes or no to America's
national security."
"Our support is needed now - tomorrow will be too late," Reagan
said, pleading support for the Contras' battle against the leftists govern-
ment of Nicaragua.
It was unclear whether Reagan's last-minute maeuver would sway
those undecided about tomorrow's crucial vote.
Index drop may mean recession
WASHINGTON - The government said yesterday its chief economic
forecasting gauge fell for a third consecutive month in December, the
traditional, but not infallible, signal of an impending recession.
While some economists said the three downturns were indeed
foretelling an end to the record five-year peacetime expansion, other
analysts disagreed, contending that 1988 will feature slower growth but
no outright downturn.
The Commerce Department's Index of Leading Economic Indicators
has taken on added significance since the record 508-point decline in stock
prices which occurred on Oct. 19.
The 0.2 percent December decline in the index followed a sharp 1.2
percent November drop, which had been the biggest setback in more than
six years, and a smaller 0.1 percent decrease in October.
FBI head admits flaw in probe
WASHINGTON - FBI Director William Sessions said yesterday that
the bureau's investigation of a group opposing the Reagan
administration's Central America policy was "not properly directed" in all
instances.
Sessions said that since members of CISPES were in contact with
people from other organizations, a "limited investigation was conducted
to follow up information that was not complete. The focus remained on
CISPES, not the other organizations, and was to round out or develop
information on the scope of activities and influence of CISPES."
But the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights, which last
week released some of the FBI documents it obtained through the
Freedom of Information Act, contended that the investigation "covered
hundreds of groups and individuals who were engaged in activities
protected and encouraged by the U.S. Constitution."
Israeli army, Palestinians
clash; one protester wounded
OFRA, Occupied West Bank - A Palestinian was wounded yesterday
in new clashes with the Israeli army, Arab reports said. Jewish settlers
vowed to carry out vigilante justice if the army failed to protect them.
The Palestine Press Service and officials at al Ittihad Hospital said
soldiers shot a 21-year-old Palestinian, Said Yassin, in the pelvis after
protests in the West Bank city of Tulkarem.
The Arab-run agency also said 20 Palestinians were beaten by soldiers
during a demonstration in the nearby village of Habla.
In Washington, Secretary of State George Shultz told Congress he had
undertaken a new Mideast diplomatic initiative designed to provide "a
greater sense of political control" to the 1.5 million Palestinians who
live in the occupied territories.
EXTRAS
Punxsutawney Phil predicts
premature primavera
PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa - Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog with a
knack for weather forecasting, yesterday predicted an early spring for only
the ninth time in 101 years.
After the furry legend was plucked form hisluxury burrow at dawn, he
looked around at a crowd of reproters, photographers and several hundered
Groundhog Day celebrants. But he couldn't see his shadow in the rain.
That's a sure sign of an early thaw, according to the Punxsutawney
Groundhog Club.
Phil's closest friends in this Western Pennsylvania town of 8,000 say
his forecasts haven't been wrong in the 101 years he's been making his
predictions.
"He's been right every time - according to us at least," said William
Null, secretary of the Grooundhog Club and director of the town's Cham-
ber of Commerce. "Some people have challenged that, but that's OK."
Groundhog Day tradition has it that if a groundhog sees its shadow af-
ter crawling out of its burrow, six weeks of winter will follw. If it
doesn't, spring is just around the corner.
Phil has predicted an early spring only eight other times in the history
of the celebration, null said. They occurred in 1890, 1902, 1934, 1950,
1970, 1975, 1983, and 1986.
HY CONFORM TO THE NORM?
4
It would have been easy to play 'follow
the leader' in the technology race. But
at Tandem, we chose to venture off on
our own, with a proprietary technology
and a new set of ideals. Now in the mul-
tibillion dollar on-line transaction
processing (OLTP) market, we're the
company that's setting the pace, with a
full array of high performance low-end
and high-end systems that change the
way businesses process information.
Within Tandem, you won't be expected
to 'look and act like everyone else.' Al-
though you'll be working with some of
the most knowledgeable technologists
in the business, your ideas won't be lost
in a crowd. Small development teams
and an interactive approach to each
project ensure that you'll have the op-
portunity to apply your creativity.
Large-scale support of each project
guarantees the resources you need to
achieve.
It's easy to find a company that's more
conventional, more traditional than
Tandem. But since we've come this far
by independent thinking, we see any
other philosophy as just plain unnatu-
ral. By not conforming to the standard,
we ve been able to enjoy uncommon
success. You can too. at Tandem.
TANDEM
COMES TO CAMPUS
Finance majors and MBAs/Marketing
with an interest in a sales career, come
see what Tandem is all about. Over
refreshments you'll meet informally
with Tandem employees and discuss
professional opportunities in your
field.
INFORMATION SESSION:
4:30-6:30 P.m.
Michigan Room
Monday, February 8
ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWS:
Tuesday, February 9
For more information, contact your
Placement Center. Or, send your resume
to College Recruiting, Tandem Computers
Incorporated, 10300 N. Tantau Ave-
nue, MS55-12, Cupertino, CA 95014-
2599. We are an equal opportunity
emnlover m/f/h/v.
Vol.XCVIII-- No.86
The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday
through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the
University of Michigan. Subscription rates: January through April
-$15 in Ann Arbor, $22 outside the city. 1988 spring, summer,
and fall term rates not yet available.
The Michigan Daily is a member of The Associated Press and the
National Student News Service.
E ,ditor in Chief ........REBECCA BLUMENSTEIN Photo Editors.....................KAREN HANDELMAN
Managing Editor ............MARTHA SEVETSON JOHNMUNSON
News Editor.............................EVE BECKER
City Editor ...........................MELISSA BIRKS PHOTO STAFF: Alexandra Brez, Jessica Green, Ellen
Features Editor ............ELIZABETH ATKINS Levy, Robin Loznak, David Lubliner, Danny Stiebel, Lisa
University Editor........ ....KERY MURAKAMI Wax.
NEWS STAFF: Vicki Bauer, Dov Cohen, Hampton Weekend Editors.......................STEPHEN GREGORY
Dellinger, Ken Dintzer, Sheala Durant, Heather Eurich, ALJAN PAUL
Steve Knopper, KristinE LaLonde, Michael Lustig, Alyssa WEEKEND STAFF: Fred Zinn.
Lustigman, Andrew Mills, Lisa Pollak, Jim Poniewozik,
Melissa Ramsdell, David Schwartz, Steve Tuch, Ryan
Tutak, Rose Mary Wumnmel.
Opinion Page Edit",s..JEFFREY RUTHERFORD Display Sales Manager..........................ANNE
CALE SOUTHWORTH KUBEK
OPINION STAFF: Muzamnil Ahmed, Sarah Babb, Assistant Display Sales Manager......KAREN BROWN
Rosemary Chinnock, Molly Daggett, Noah Finkel, Jim DISPLAY SALES STAFF: David Bauman, Gail Belenson,
Herron, Eric L. Holt, Joshua Ray Levin, I. Matthew Miller, Lauren Berman, Sherri Blansky, Pam Bullock, Jeff Chen,.
Steve Semenuk, Mark Weisbrot, Mark Williams. Tamny Christie, Milton Feld, Lisa George, Michelle Gill,
Sports Editor.......................................JEFF RUSH Matt Lane, Heather MacLachlan, Jodi Manchik, Eddy Meng,
Associate Sports Editors...................JULIE HOLLMAN Jackie Miller, Shelly Pleva, Debbie Retzky, Jim Ryan, Laura
ADAM SCHEFTER Schlanger, Michelle Slavik, Mary Snyder, Marie Soma,
ADAM SCHRAGER Cassie Vogel, Bruce Weiss.
PETE STEINERT NATIONALS: Valerie Bteir
DOUG VOLAN LAYOUT: Heather Barbar,.
SPORTS STAFF: Steve Blonder, Steve Cohen, Richard TEARDOWN: Tara FotO.
T
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