sixpartseven
Bluelight Crew
I really do appreciate you asking. Its good to know there's a community of people who care about each others' well being around here.
Are you kidding? I hope you die.
-
OD Moderators: Keif’ Richards | negrogesic
Heroin Does heroin addiction last a lifetime no matter what??
- Thread starter The Straight Dope
- Start date
Are you kidding? I hope you die.
Atlien3
Bluelighter
Soon, thanks for asking. I'm on 1-2mg/day, so I could do it fast and easy. I have a good-sized stockpile too. I should do it within the next few months. The best thing is I have a very cool and compassionate doctor who is aware of my medical (pain) conditions and hasn't rushed me with bupe. He says he will put me on real pain meds (full agonists) when I'm off bupe, but I really don't want to take opiates so I'm trying to find an alternative (just no holistic shit).
I really do appreciate you asking. Its good to know there's a community of people who care about each others' well being around here.
wow, im impressed that you have the willpower to decline pharm opiates for legitimate pain, good for you
sixpartseven
Bluelight Crew
^ I wouldn't give him credit until he actually does it. Not that I doubt JC's awesomeness, I know it quite well in fact, but it may be harder to do when the time comes. After all, he is saying this while on Suboxone...
Atlien3
Bluelighter
lol, six are u male or female?
sixpartseven
Bluelight Crew
male, why do you ask?
Of course, I can remember some of the pleasant feelings, particularly in regards to intranasal oxycodone (my memories of IV opioids are less fond). But, I guess this feeling is overpowered by the memories of withdrawal. Of course, it has been over a year since I was completely free of opioids, and the first six months I certainly thought about opioids quite a bit more.
Perhaps it helps that I lift weights 6x a week, given the release of endorphins/catecholamines. I have always had and always will have an addictive personality, but this doesn't necessarily make me a life-long addict (or at least, not an opioid addict)....
Look dude, I was a dope addict for ten years and have been in recovery for two, it never fully goes away. I've had prolonged times away from it (i'm talking years) and it still shouts at you from the back of your mind. That's lead me to relapse a few times over the years. What I have is a peculiar mental obsession(thought that over-rides all others), and a physical allergy, as does every junkie. I can stop and have a beautiful life if a diligently work for it, but I'd be lying f I told you I didn't think about it sometimes. The only way I can keep myself from doing it is to thoroughly work the 12 step program. Believe me, I tried everything else.
Am I an addict? YES, and I will always be. I just need to remember that I'm a lot of other things too. I'm grateful for my addiction and past today because it"s made me who I am, and very few people have the ability to help others save their lives.
Plus, it's really cool to have all the knowledge of a hardcore addict when it comes to answering some of the asinine dosage questions on this site. I would never try to "preach" to someone to stop, it wouldn't have helped me back then. If they ask though, I can show them a way out. Otherwise, I'm all about harm reduction. (and moderated Kratom)
Am I an addict? YES, and I will always be. I just need to remember that I'm a lot of other things too. I'm grateful for my addiction and past today because it"s made me who I am, and very few people have the ability to help others save their lives.
Plus, it's really cool to have all the knowledge of a hardcore addict when it comes to answering some of the asinine dosage questions on this site. I would never try to "preach" to someone to stop, it wouldn't have helped me back then. If they ask though, I can show them a way out. Otherwise, I'm all about harm reduction. (and moderated Kratom)
Matt_Himself
Bluelighter
Now given, I am in early recovery so my experience may vary from those with years, but Ill share what Ive gone/am going through...
Im just shy of 100 days clean of everything right now. I live in a sober house because I simply cannot live clean at home. I attend meetings regularly, have a great support network, and do everything I can to progress.
Yet every single day is a struggle to not get dope.
Every single morning when I wake up, it is one of the first thoughts in my mind. I share my feelings with others, as it makes me feel a bit better, but it doesnt stop them. I am constantly listening to that voice scream from the back of my head. I remind myself that at the end of my addiction I was going to kill myself (had a full plan, just ended up ODing before I could carry it out) and that helps me remember that things in active addiction arent as pleasant as my mind tells me they were.
I know for me this is going to be a life long struggle. Despite every action Ive taken to move along, that voice keeps beckoning to me, trying to call me back. Heroin wants me again, and on many days, I want to give myself to it.
So will you always be an addict? I would say yes in a sense. Your not always going to be out there in the game, but I think once you have woken up that part of the brain, it becomes near impossible to turn it off.
Im just shy of 100 days clean of everything right now. I live in a sober house because I simply cannot live clean at home. I attend meetings regularly, have a great support network, and do everything I can to progress.
Yet every single day is a struggle to not get dope.
Every single morning when I wake up, it is one of the first thoughts in my mind. I share my feelings with others, as it makes me feel a bit better, but it doesnt stop them. I am constantly listening to that voice scream from the back of my head. I remind myself that at the end of my addiction I was going to kill myself (had a full plan, just ended up ODing before I could carry it out) and that helps me remember that things in active addiction arent as pleasant as my mind tells me they were.
I know for me this is going to be a life long struggle. Despite every action Ive taken to move along, that voice keeps beckoning to me, trying to call me back. Heroin wants me again, and on many days, I want to give myself to it.
So will you always be an addict? I would say yes in a sense. Your not always going to be out there in the game, but I think once you have woken up that part of the brain, it becomes near impossible to turn it off.
WhiteLinesNcoffee
Bluelighter
It depends on th person. It also depends What the fuck kind of addiction you are talking about. I know plenty of people who have been physically addicted to something and got off it fine. no problem. Its when you add the physical addiction to a personality that can allow for a psychological addiction. In that case. Your just plain fucked.
OverDriven
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2006
- Messages
- 862
They say this about EVERY drug. From alcoholics to cigarette smokers. Most "experts" say once you are addicted to anything, you are an addict for life. I think it's funny that some people here who have been clean for only 2 years or less and had a habit of much longer than that say that you never get over it. YOU'VE ONLY BEEN CLEAN 20% AS LONG AS YOU WERE AN ADDICT! You can't really say definitively at that point. Let us know after 10 clean years have gone by. I've heard from many people that kicked long ago and say it doesn't bother them anymore. They never forget it of course (just as you wouldn't forget a long term girlfriend), but it also doesn't tempt them anymore. Quitting is about making up your mind. Once you have truly made up your mind that you will never have that substance in your life again, things will get much easier. Unfortunately, that decision is often only induced by hitting rock bottom.
Binge Artist
Bluelighter
^I think this is fully analagous to love.
We remember our first "love". The chick with the big knockers in biology class who could suck a pool cue through a drinking straw. After a few years with her, when we realize she can't hold a job or a conversation, and all she does is max out our credit cards, we come to understand she's more trouble than she's worth. We fall out of love. Even though most of us move on, we still have fond memories of her from time to time. If we saw her in a bar, we might go home with her. If we are in a time of depression or desperation, we may even move in with her for a while.
I guess my point is, most of us don't sit around obsessing over old 20 years after the relationship has ended.
We remember our first "love". The chick with the big knockers in biology class who could suck a pool cue through a drinking straw. After a few years with her, when we realize she can't hold a job or a conversation, and all she does is max out our credit cards, we come to understand she's more trouble than she's worth. We fall out of love. Even though most of us move on, we still have fond memories of her from time to time. If we saw her in a bar, we might go home with her. If we are in a time of depression or desperation, we may even move in with her for a while.
I guess my point is, most of us don't sit around obsessing over old 20 years after the relationship has ended.
OverDriven
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2006
- Messages
- 862
Very very true. I've always though the same thing. My relationship with opiates has always been very much like a relationship with a girl that is just no good for me, but was also my first love.
Wow, lasts a lifetime? Ever since I took 270mg of morphine a few years back, I've stayed the fuck away from opiates altogether. Puking for 5 days and fading in and out of consciousness is not my idea of getting high. I itched like crazy like my body was covered in fiberglass, I thought I was gonna die. I've tried alot of opiates, but I'm too active of a person to enjoy em, I always end up nauseous from em no matter what. Never done heroin, and don't plan to. Argue with me about it, mon then, I dare ya
bluerob
Bluelighter
To the OP, everyone is different, and it depends how powerful the grip of the drug has over the user.
With me, I've been on IV for a while and chased it for 6 months now, decided to put it down, $140 worth every couple of days was gettin a bit stupid, besides I want to get a car now. And I'm able to put it down, say a buzz is just a buzz , it was fun but now I better get on with things, with the only lasting result psychologically to me is that I know its a nice buzz, but that's about it..
Other people the power of the hold is gets over them is so intense, psychologically and physically that they get in a real mess and get violently ill. Become addicted and dependant. That even if they got away from it the urge or the risk of doing it once will once again send there life spiraling into a life that they had before on the drug.
Probably I will always have at the back of my mind that for me it was the best buzz, but that's all it is,,,, it is a buzz. And has no power over me whatsoever, take it or leave it sort of attitude.
I probably have only been what would be called on the fence bystander, never really taking it that hardcore and can get away lightly. And am able to walk away easily after a 6 month binge, but others wouldn't and are not so lucky.
Becareful.
With me, I've been on IV for a while and chased it for 6 months now, decided to put it down, $140 worth every couple of days was gettin a bit stupid, besides I want to get a car now. And I'm able to put it down, say a buzz is just a buzz , it was fun but now I better get on with things, with the only lasting result psychologically to me is that I know its a nice buzz, but that's about it..
Other people the power of the hold is gets over them is so intense, psychologically and physically that they get in a real mess and get violently ill. Become addicted and dependant. That even if they got away from it the urge or the risk of doing it once will once again send there life spiraling into a life that they had before on the drug.
Probably I will always have at the back of my mind that for me it was the best buzz, but that's all it is,,,, it is a buzz. And has no power over me whatsoever, take it or leave it sort of attitude.
I probably have only been what would be called on the fence bystander, never really taking it that hardcore and can get away lightly. And am able to walk away easily after a 6 month binge, but others wouldn't and are not so lucky.
Becareful.
I didn't read the other replies, so I might be repeating but this is my take on the whole thing:
I think it comes down to whether you where addicted or dependent on opiates. I know a bunch of people that took opiates, liked them for a while and somehow found themselves physically dependent on them. For them the only obstacle to getting "over" opiates was the bitch of withdrawal. These are usually the people that didn't fall instantly, magically and forever in love with opiates the first time they did them.....but they felt like it was a cool way to spend a friday night. They are also the people, in my experience, that were able to save some for the morning so they wouldn't be sick...or could control themselves in some fashion if they had a script.
I know a lot of people think addicted and dependent is the same thing, but I think anyone that has lived with the all consuming love that is addiction knows the difference.
It's like leaving a lover that beats you. It might have been the best sex of your life and they might lavish you with expensive gifts but that kick in the face every morning eventually makes you hate them. Eventually they will kill you if you don't leave them....but when you do leave it doesn't mean you wont think about them alot, miss the little presents they gave you or the way they made you feel so loved and it doesn't mean you wont go back for a "quickie" every once in a while.
The trick is to either find someone else that treats you a whole lot better so you don't think about the "bad" lover as much (as in suboxone or methadone treatment) and it's easier to say no or ypu gotta find a way to make your "quickies" shorter in length so you don't end up living with the person again OR you gotta find a way to live alone without going back to the bad lover, despite feeling like your hollow inside without them.
Just how I think about it.
I think it comes down to whether you where addicted or dependent on opiates. I know a bunch of people that took opiates, liked them for a while and somehow found themselves physically dependent on them. For them the only obstacle to getting "over" opiates was the bitch of withdrawal. These are usually the people that didn't fall instantly, magically and forever in love with opiates the first time they did them.....but they felt like it was a cool way to spend a friday night. They are also the people, in my experience, that were able to save some for the morning so they wouldn't be sick...or could control themselves in some fashion if they had a script.
I know a lot of people think addicted and dependent is the same thing, but I think anyone that has lived with the all consuming love that is addiction knows the difference.
It's like leaving a lover that beats you. It might have been the best sex of your life and they might lavish you with expensive gifts but that kick in the face every morning eventually makes you hate them. Eventually they will kill you if you don't leave them....but when you do leave it doesn't mean you wont think about them alot, miss the little presents they gave you or the way they made you feel so loved and it doesn't mean you wont go back for a "quickie" every once in a while.
The trick is to either find someone else that treats you a whole lot better so you don't think about the "bad" lover as much (as in suboxone or methadone treatment) and it's easier to say no or ypu gotta find a way to make your "quickies" shorter in length so you don't end up living with the person again OR you gotta find a way to live alone without going back to the bad lover, despite feeling like your hollow inside without them.
Just how I think about it.
johanneschimpo
Bluelighter
Or so the song says. Listen for yourself: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a0/Looking_In_-_Savoy_Brown.jpgSavoy Brown said:
I don't quite buy the "for life" part, as I posted earlier. To tell the truth, I think I just want to use this thread as a chance to shamelessly plug Savoy Brown. This band/song is fucking awesome, who cares if its 40 years old?
(Thats when the good music came out, anyway.)The band is incredible, and this song, appropriately named "Needle and Spoon," is a must-listen for:
1. British blues musicians
2. Junkies
3. Anyone who likes good music!
^ This is the cover the the album "Looking In," which isn't the album this song is on, but its my favorite album and the cover has great art so I'm posting it ("Needle and Spoon" is from the album right before this). They are all gold though. Solid fucking gold. A great band.
And for the hell of it, a tidbit of rock history: The band Foghat was formed from members who broke off from Savoy Brown.
Last edited:
phr
Bluelighter
No. Plenty of people have gotten past it. Difficult, but possible.
bluerob
Bluelighter
just to add billy joel ' longest time ' is a cool old tune too and has absolutely no relevance to this thread at all.
stringtheory
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2009
- Messages
- 110
People love to spout that "lifetime of addiction" stuff. It really does seem to depend on genetics more than anything from my observations. Some people have no trouble letting things go, while others struggle with them their whole lives.
I smoked 3 1/2 packs of cigarettes a day for almost 4 years, then quit cold turkey and never looked back. That was almost 40 years ago. I used to drink over a dozen mixed drinks a day. Quit that too, and never even have thoughts or faint desire to have a drink, yet I can drink sociably if the occasion calls for it.
Truthfully, I think opiates are a bit more difficult than either alcohol or cigs to leave behind, but I still think the same rules apply. If you are not genetically disposed to addiction and you want to quit bad enough, it's a done deal. That includes most people.
I smoked 3 1/2 packs of cigarettes a day for almost 4 years, then quit cold turkey and never looked back. That was almost 40 years ago. I used to drink over a dozen mixed drinks a day. Quit that too, and never even have thoughts or faint desire to have a drink, yet I can drink sociably if the occasion calls for it.
Truthfully, I think opiates are a bit more difficult than either alcohol or cigs to leave behind, but I still think the same rules apply. If you are not genetically disposed to addiction and you want to quit bad enough, it's a done deal. That includes most people.