achey node
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2014
- Messages
- 6
The received wisdom for the past decade was that opiates DONT cause brain damage. How this myth has been perpetuated for so long is beyond me however. Clinical trial after clinical trial has found apoptosis, hippocampal neurogenic retardatoin, grey matter thinning and hypoxic brain cell death. The end result of this is deficits to attention span learning memory and emotional well being.
Even if one were to pursue an actively healthy lifestyle how can one recover lost growth. From 17-25 there is a period of compensatory growth and peak performance is said to be attained at 22 persisting for a further 5 years. Most opiate addicts begin the addictive cycle at around 16. I personally began at 17 and at 22 am yet to quit. I have aspergers which has inexplicably gone from reasonably mild to severe in the past few years and I mourn the loss of the "golden years" during which I should have matured and rounded out my neurological development
Ive seen many attempts to wave away the numerous studies of grey,white matter ltp of synapses apoptosis neurogenic retardation etc. The most common rationalisation would be " Burroughs/Howard Hughes used opiates so the junkie lifestyle must be at fault".
However not only is there little quantitative data on their usage (though anecdotal reports abound) many studies have been conducted in rats which would neatly sidestep that particular argument. Additionally in most cases opiate addiction tends to result in diminished productivity. Coleridge Taylor may have published Kubla Khan while in the throes of an opium habit, but towards the end of his life his work never reached former glories. Given the magnitude of his genius his later work is still superior but its widely acknowledged that he never reached his full potential. This is probably the most commonly levelled charge made at opiate addicts
The romantic image of the troubled genius afflicted with an opiate habit has seeped into the consciousness of junkies everywhere. This has happened to the extent that people believe that opiates are totally harmless "prohibition is at fault". This attitude led to me continuiong my opiate use for over half a decade. If I had access to the studies and reports that I have posted here I would have discontinued my usage years upon years ago - my life would have been substantially different. As it is I have to come to terms with the fact that I may have lost potential that I might never regain. Add aspergers/ocd to my opiate habit and the last 7 years of my life have been riddled with self harm meltdowns and suicide. Intellectually im still capable but there are a quintillion subtle signs which convince me that I may have caused myself permanent harm
Im a new member so I dont want to seem presumptuous but I think that there needs to be a sticky with studies relating to this issue. Opiates aren't associated with cognitive deficits in the same way that amphetamines are - perhaps for good reason. Nevertheless, they are undeniably and directly neurotoxic. This fact needs to become more widely known.
Even if one were to pursue an actively healthy lifestyle how can one recover lost growth. From 17-25 there is a period of compensatory growth and peak performance is said to be attained at 22 persisting for a further 5 years. Most opiate addicts begin the addictive cycle at around 16. I personally began at 17 and at 22 am yet to quit. I have aspergers which has inexplicably gone from reasonably mild to severe in the past few years and I mourn the loss of the "golden years" during which I should have matured and rounded out my neurological development
Ive seen many attempts to wave away the numerous studies of grey,white matter ltp of synapses apoptosis neurogenic retardation etc. The most common rationalisation would be " Burroughs/Howard Hughes used opiates so the junkie lifestyle must be at fault".
However not only is there little quantitative data on their usage (though anecdotal reports abound) many studies have been conducted in rats which would neatly sidestep that particular argument. Additionally in most cases opiate addiction tends to result in diminished productivity. Coleridge Taylor may have published Kubla Khan while in the throes of an opium habit, but towards the end of his life his work never reached former glories. Given the magnitude of his genius his later work is still superior but its widely acknowledged that he never reached his full potential. This is probably the most commonly levelled charge made at opiate addicts
The romantic image of the troubled genius afflicted with an opiate habit has seeped into the consciousness of junkies everywhere. This has happened to the extent that people believe that opiates are totally harmless "prohibition is at fault". This attitude led to me continuiong my opiate use for over half a decade. If I had access to the studies and reports that I have posted here I would have discontinued my usage years upon years ago - my life would have been substantially different. As it is I have to come to terms with the fact that I may have lost potential that I might never regain. Add aspergers/ocd to my opiate habit and the last 7 years of my life have been riddled with self harm meltdowns and suicide. Intellectually im still capable but there are a quintillion subtle signs which convince me that I may have caused myself permanent harm
Im a new member so I dont want to seem presumptuous but I think that there needs to be a sticky with studies relating to this issue. Opiates aren't associated with cognitive deficits in the same way that amphetamines are - perhaps for good reason. Nevertheless, they are undeniably and directly neurotoxic. This fact needs to become more widely known.
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