Formerly I forget

[Uncle Uncle]

Howdy, all. I had an account here a few years back, but don't remember the particulars. Didn't use it very much because of my healthy dose of paranoia anyway. I'm in the Washington DC area, found my DOC class early but sometimes fiddle around with other things, and have finally figured out how to chip successfully over the long haul and/or keep the habit under control enough to appear to be an apparently respectable citizen and professional type in a necktie. Turns out there are a lot of us, though Uncle Sam doesn't want you to believe that...

Unk

 

[podsnomo]

Just my .02, but chipping and trying to keep a habit under control is like walking a balance beam on a razor blade. One gust of wind, like something kinda shitty happening, and you fall off, get cut all to hell and wind up impaling yourself on what was your "controlled" habit. Best of luck.

 

[Uncle Uncle]

Just my .02, but chipping and trying to keep a habit under control is like walking a balance beam on a razor blade. One gust of wind, like something kinda shitty happening, and you fall off, get cut all to hell and wind up impaling yourself on what was your "controlled" habit. Best of luck.

Sure, you're right, but not everyone is the same. The first 15 years or so I was on was when all the incarcerations, NA meetings, overdoses, methadone clinics and rehabs happened. I'm not advocating that anybody do anything, but I've been able to hold down a good job and appear to be an upstanding citizen while using for longer than that.

If you do the math, there's enough dope coming in to support millions more addicts than are estimated to exist. That means that casual use is possible, and that at least some people can keep it under some kind of control. I know a lot of people who chip successfully, know how to detox themselves if they need to, etc. I've definitely caught multiple habits I didn't intend to, but was able to dial it down without having anyone find out it was anything other than a bad cold or the flu or whatever. Attrition probably has something to do with it, though, because most of my acquaintances are older and most of the folks I got high with in my youth are dead or locked up for long periods. Anyway, I like to get high and will continue to do so while always building up my stockpile of lighter stuff to wean off with, smoking instead of needles, and a healthy dose of paranoia. I certainly know the risks, and have experienced all of them (except death). That's how I know how to minimize them. There are a lot more people like me than 'they' would have you believe, with 'they' being not only the cops and the rest of the government, but all the people and corporations that make billions off of rehab/detox.

 

[honeypie3x3]

I also had account years ago...dropped out due to paranoia. Recently decided to come back. i have not heard the expression "chipping" before. I'm 45 yr old woman with a meaningful job, that pays me just enough to make the bills and to indulge into a habit or 2.
Most of my drugs are legitimate RXs. I do have health insurance, so thank goodness I pay very little for my I have rx for (180) 10 mg vicodin a month. The pain I have (slipped disc + pinched nerves) and my high tolerance to opiates keeps me looking for more.
I also have rx for 3 mg xanax and a decent relationship with my primary care doc so that if i am in a bind he will call in some phenergan. I have had to withdraw myself many times. Lately I have jumped on the Horse .... no IV...snorting and also tried plugging. I am lucky in that I have never been arrested, never ODed, never had a accident while intoxicated.
I have never been to rehab. I have done the suboxone thing a few times...but down south we have very few suboxone docs...both the ones i saw got busted for seeing too many patients. I might have stayed on it if not for the limited number of doctors and the long waiting lists. suboxone doesn't help my physical chronic pain much either. Anyway I wanted to say hi, and introduce myself. I am another 'high functioning" employed , fairly respectable citizen and drug user. I agree there are more of us than many realize!

 

[Uncle Uncle]

i have not heard the expression "chipping" before.

HP, strictly speaking, 'chipping' means IV heroin use that you stop before the habit sets in - 2-3 days on followed by a week off, something like that. Since I don't use needles (much) anymore I don't really 'chip'.

I actually quit for a few years way back when, but was hospitalized and on morphine for a few weeks. Got out with a scrip for some ridiculously small amount of vicodin and a habit too strong for that to help with. I'd been through detox so many times I decided to do it myself with whatever I could get, took my time dialing it down, and it was pretty comfortable. Since then I just have to keep myself from taking it too far, or if that fails slowly detox again, down to a manageable level.