What are your thoughts on the ways in which the films affect the SENSES?
The only way those films affected my senses, was increasing my desire to use. I've watched both those films in a relatively "cleaned up" state, and, to a certain degree, they both had me jonesing.
Jonesing is kind of like that feeling you get in your stomach, when your old, dirty girlfriend is coming back to town. A girl you love. You know she's horrendous trouble, but you also know she's horrendous fun.
Your stomach gets a little upset. Your energy level is heightened. You get little chills, thinking about past experiences. You can try to fight the feelings and sensations off, but that usually only makes it worse.
Trainspotting made me curious the first few times I watched it. When it came out, I was very young, and was still wrapped up in bud, coke, ecstasy.
But for the last 4-6 years that I've used opiates off and on, I'll usually turn off either of those films if I'm flipping through, and one happens to be on. Trainspotting makes me want to get some dope. RfaD makes me want to get some amphet's. Neither jones is what I would term overwhelming.
The shows that do give me overwhelming cravings are all these "real life" addiction shows. Mainly "Intervention" and its ripoff, "Addicted." I can't deal with that shit, but I still find myself watching sometimes.
There was a recent episode of Addicted that made me literally sick. It was about a couple that were addicted to speedballs. The females veins were pretty much gone. I'm also at the point in my use where finding a good vein can be a major chore.
Watching her dig around, have her SO dig around for her, bleed from all the missed spots, cry, get desperate and crazy. Then, having to look at her syringe, half filled with blood from blood vessels, and her still trying, made me want to crawl in a hole, and get some dope, at the same time. Opiate addiction is a fucked up mess.
I realize this thread's supposed to be about tips. If you also have trouble finding veins and/or registering, I've found a few things to be helpful.
If your veins don't pop out, try taking a hot shower before your shot, or at least running your intended injection spot underneath hot water for a few. Doing some push-ups, or a few curls with a dumb-bell can work wonders as well.
If you have trouble registering, make sure you are hydrated. If you usually do a shot right when you get up, set your alarm for an hour or two before you intend to use.
Get up, and down a glass, or glasses of water or Gatorade. Then go back to sleep until your intended dosing time. You'll typically find hitting much easier. I find myself dehydrated a lot, and it's almost impossible to get a vein to register in that state.
Also, tie off tightly, but not too tight. I've seen people tie the tourniquet so tight that they are actually twisting their veins in the wrong direction. This obviously makes it much harder to hit.
I recommend using one of the rubberized tourniquet's that are available at any needle exchange. I know some people love to use their belts, etc. Give the needle exchange ties a try. Plus you can roll them up real small, and then they'll fit well into a little fix kit.
When you're properly tied off, pump your fist, and/or flex your arm. Doing that helps to fill the desired veins with more blood, sticking them out even more. If your veins tend to move, have a significant other, or a friend, hold the vein in place while you insert the needle. Just don't fucking poke them. Guaranteed that friend will never help you again.
Once you're in/registered, release the tie if you can. In my case, releasing the tie tends to cause the vein to roll, and I end up out again. I know this isn't recommended, but if you have the same problem, I've never had a complication with leaving the tie on, and very slowly injecting the dope. Never jam the plunger down in, cause you can rupture a vein. But if you go nice and slow, you should be fine.
Re-register, just to make sure you're still in, halfway through the shot. Sometimes, especially if you shake, you can end up going through the vein, mid-injection. Never hurts to check.
Sorry if any of this has already been gone over. I'm sure I repeated some peoples tips already. Just figured I should add something to the intended thread.