In terms of what though? I've seen nothing but bad come out of this drug, opiates in general actually.
The relaxation of marijuana without the paranoia and burnout. The euphoria of MDMA without the serotonin depletion and amphetamine-like (speedy) effects.
The fundamental problem the (full mu-agonist) opioids have going for them is:
- They are all controlled substances.
- They will
always cause a physical dependency to develop in long-term users, regardless of whether the user is on an opioid legally (e.g. OxyContin prescription), or illegally (e.g. shooting heroin).
I wanna clear something up - a
physically dependent opioid user is not the same thing as an
opioid addict. Every long-term opioid user's body develops a physical dependency to the drug, whereas, about one in four people become addicted. But I digress...
If an opioid addict could walk into a pharmacy and buy pure, over-the-counter opioids for around the same price it costs to manufacture them, I'm willing to bet that it would all but solve the typical lifestyle a long-term, non-doctor supervised, opioid user partakes in each day, which includes:
- waking up each morning near-dope sick, without any money, wondering how to make enough money to buy a fix
- finding a dealer (or your usual source) to buy a fix from
- using the fix to stop the dope sickness (and hopefully feel better)
- using the time while feeling better to repeat the first three steps, over and over again, around 4 times daily (for me anyways)
If opioid users wouldn't have to worry all the time about where, when, and how they're gonna get that next fix, they could begin to try and focus on rebuilding their lives.
Methadone/Buprenorphine maintenance attempts to help the user achieve this by providing him or her with a never-ending supply of methadone (assuming it's paid for). However, not everyone responds well to methadone, or buprenorphine. Some countries, such as Switzerland, realized this and now also provide pharmaceutical grade diacetylmorphine (heroin) to certain users.
What happens if a user doesn't need to worry about supply:
When I had a very long-lasting supply of OxyContin, I was content to work my ass off, accepting any overtime offered to me. Obviously I came to work high, but never so high that I couldn't focus on the job. Is it ironic that afterwards I was named employee of the month?
Without supply:
Then there came a time when I ended up missing half a month's worth of work because I was dope sick. I was warned about my absences.
The point I'm trying to make is, if I'm feeling good, I work harder. But the catch is that I depend on an opioid to feel good. Unfortunately for me, opioids are illegal to possess without a valid prescription.
Lastly, opioids help me when it comes to breakthrough pain due to neuropathic pain. I've had bad luck with getting a prescription, so I turned to the black market.
BTW, seeing people high on heroin in those pictures, especially the ones standing up, yet bent over like they're trying to stretch - I can tell you from first-hand experience that you have to take a high dose (in relation to your tolerance) to be acting that way.
