Heroin "It's so good you only have to take it once"

[3DQSAR]

Agree, except for you CAN overdose with opium.
I know because I have.

But it's usually more the case with oral consumption or poppy pod tea, where gauging the potency accurately is impossible.
With smoking you can at least titrate and stop whenever you feel like it gets too much.

I did specifically note that it was possible to OD on opium if taken orally. Poppy pod tea isn't quite the same deal. I understand that in a few cases, it was discovered that the pods used contained high levels of thebaine which is toxic.

 

[Bleaney]

In a decade long UK study less than 1% of people who tried H went on to become habitual users.

It strikes me that opium would be a reasonable middle-ground.

Although I've only obtained opium once, I see opium as carrying less stigma than heroin, in a way.

Even though opium is basically just the natural, unprocessed form of heroin, as far as I understand it, I'd be much more interested in having more experiences with opium, than I would with heroin.

I've had limited experience with heroin, I didn't get much of anything out of it, and have no desire to go any further down that path. I think it's probably the stigma that is putting me off tbh. Obviously aswell as not wanting to end up getting addicted to something like that!

I guess some people enjoy or dont care about the stigma of being a heroin user. Or maybe dont even think about it, I don't know tbh. But personally I think the stigma varies a lot between substances, with many having very little to none, as far as I'm concerned. These are just my own views though, and I know the majority of the non drug using population, just blanket stigmatise everything, with not really any discrimination.

 

[TheUltimateFixx]

I did specifically note that it was possible to OD on opium if taken orally. Poppy pod tea isn't quite the same deal. I understand that in a few cases, it was discovered that the pods used contained high levels of thebaine which is toxic.

In my case apparently the unwashed seeds contained very high levels of morphine which caused me to OD.

 

[TheUltimateFixx]

Although I've only obtained opium once, I see opium as carrying less stigma than heroin, in a way.

Even though opium is basically just the natural, unprocessed form of heroin, as far as I understand it, I'd be much more interested in having more experiences with opium, than I would with heroin.

I've had limited experience with heroin, I didn't get much of anything out of it, and have no desire to go any further down that path. I think it's probably the stigma that is putting me off tbh. Obviously aswell as not wanting to end up getting addicted to something like that!

I guess some people enjoy or dont care about the stigma of being a heroin user. Or maybe dont even think about it, I don't know tbh. But personally I think the stigma varies a lot between substances, with many having very little to none, as far as I'm concerned. These are just my own views though, and I know the majority of the non drug using population, just blanket stigmatise everything, with not really any discrimination.

Having been a user and addict of both drugs,
I can tell you that opium compares to heroin the way a fine wine compares to a shot of neat spirits.

That's to say heroin hits harder and immediate, and also lacks a certain subtlety. Whereas a good opium high is a gentler as well as more multi-layered experience.

I mean what you do to get heroin is first isolate opium's most potent constituent, morphine, and then chemically tweak that to increase the potency and become even *more* easily absorbed. Opium on the other hand has an array of alkaloids and other components which interact in complex ways and none of which is artificially 'dialled up'.

I have enjoyed both equally. There is both a certain similarity (being essentially the same type of drug) as well as a distinct difference. Do you want to dreamily savour something, or do you want to get wiped out without preliminary.

 

[3DQSAR]

In my case apparently the unwashed seeds contained very high levels of morphine which caused me to OD.

I believe that the 'spring crop' of opium poppies in particular can contain higher concentrations of thebaine (toxic) and other unwanted alkaloids.

I think that is why opium rather than whole poppies became the form of morphine used in many cultures and for thousands of years. The latex being smoked in small pills means you smoke until you reach the sought effect.

Certainly laudanum and other forms were considered a more hazardous form because you can't titrate the dose in the same manner.

 

[Shambles]

Opium pisses over heroin as far as highs go.

That aside, I totally agree with those who point out that opioids and psyches are just plain different. Ami I more or less blissed out n XTC, LSD, AMT, Oxy or heroin? Or some combination thereof? The latter. Obviously. But I’ll take a psyche over an opi most days cos my life ain’t so bad these days. Ask me on a bad day then…

 

[DeathIndustrial88]

I find that most opioids aren't even truly enjoyable until the 2nd-3rd day of using in a row.

I think this is why doctors have been instructed to have a "cut off" point when they give people opioids after surgery.


Those first few days taking an opioid are always just blah, sedation, constipation, tiredness. It really isn't until you start to become dependent on it & then wake up on day 3 or 4 & that first hit in the morning just gives you absolutely euphoria, from going from withdrawal to feeling super well all the sudden.

So I have to disagree that anyone who tries heroin "once" is gonna get addicted that fast. Most people throw up & can't understand the fun behind heroin when they first try it.

 

[SotPoker1012]

I quite like opioids. While I agree with you that a psychedelic can create euphoria far more intense, that's mostly a matter of set and setting. It can also make you anxious, depressed - some people even get irritable on them. Heroin has a predictable, reliable and convenient euphoria. If you know your tolerance, and you know how much you're taking, you can reliably predict what you're going to feel.

Also, some people abstain from psychedelics due to underlying mental health concerns. While psychedelics are far safer than opioids for the general population, they are much more capable of triggering psychosis in someone prone to that. At the same time, though, some people have found that it helps.

My point being, I don't think you can compare them because while they're both capable of creating a euphoric experience, it is done in an entirely different way.

If you don't like heroin, that's probably a good thing.