(I re-ordered your post a bit in my answer.)
Amanda Toney:
I guess I should tell a little bit about myself at this point. In high school, I was kinda a goth party chick. I stopped, but my friends continued. These are the things that happened to them. Addiction to drugs, unplanned children, alcoholism, gambling addictions that developed into a massive amount of debt, depression, attempted murder, attempted suicide..
...
Not living by the precepts is a cause of stress and shall hinder my chances of enlightenment.
It's true. Unwanted children, massive amounts of debt, attempted murder, etc., would all probably get in the way of effective practice =P. I'm glad you were able to find a way to avoid all that.
Amanda Toney:
Some of the problems of worldly life are so intense that the practice needs to be kicked up by observing a basic moral code. A mind at ease by abstaining from unskillful actions is a big part of my practice.
Observing a moral code is a good start, and it seems to have worked well for you. Eventually you'll have to investigate what is causing the desire to do something that would break the moral code, so don't forget to do that!
Amanda Toney:
Not living by the precepts is a cause of stress and shall hinder my chances of enlightenment.
If enlightenment is your goal, I strongly recommend you read
Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha. The later paths differ from traditional interpretations, but the MCTB approach seems to get you somewhere useful, and Stream Entry at least seems to match up. And it's apparently easier than one would think, based on the success rate here (and at
Kenneth Folk Dharma, another forum advocating the approach in that book).
Amanda Toney:
Reading was no substitute for guidance from peers or monks. Questions about translations, or phases of practice can be addressed better by an expert or peers with more practice than I had.
Indeed! There are a lot of accomplished people on the DhO, so feel free to ask questions and one of them may be able to help you.