Addiction advice thread

[blunomore]

i knew the life expectancy of a main-lining heroin addict was about 2 years ...

What does this mean ?

 

[Nanfeishen]

I get bouts of depression and mania from time to time..but I'm on Lithium, which is a mood stabilizer and keeps the episodes mild and managable.
I've also had loads of therapy and have learned to read the signs and can stop an episode before it gets hectic...Not easy...But the Lithium has enabled me to live a normal life.

Nice to hear that.
Also the fact that you are able to recognise the signs before the onset of an episode, is so important.
I dont know about you, but my experiences, have left me with an almost hightened sense of change in my moods, and i seem to be able to recognise the subtle alterations that may lead to problems, sooner and quicker than i used to.
Thereby being able to control things better.

 

[Nanfeishen]

What does this mean ?

To inject (a drug, such as heroin) directly into a major vein.

 

[blunomore]

To inject (a drug, such as heroin) directly into a major vein.

For a quicker high, I presume ?

 

[Nanfeishen]

For a quicker high, I presume ?

Correct, however also increasing the addiction

 

[HyperBudgie]

What does this mean ?

Injecting into the vein...

 

[Sherbang]

Congratulations BipolarDude.ADHD, 7 years is a real achievement.

Just want to briefly comment on a couple of posts:

Always been Bipolar...The Bipolar caused me to make bad decisions and end up on heroin (which strangely enough kept my Bipolar under control - isn't that ironic).

In my experience almost all addicts are self medicating in some way, that's why they become addicts rather than users. Is it possible that you would not have become an addict if it didn't keep your bipolar under control, or if you weren't bipolar? The unfortunate thing with addictive drugs (both legal and non) is that at first they are helpful, they are a form of medication, but as you become addicted you need the medication just to maintain it's level so it creates a catch 22, you use the medication to prevent the illness that occurs without it. But at first you're medicating against something else, bipolar, PTSD, emotional issues, self esteem issues. Heroin may be the only thing keeping a heroin addict alive at that stage in their life.

It has been proven that some people are born with a genetic defect that makes them more open to becoming addicts...Something to do with chemical imbalance in the brain and dopamine production and hormone proteins (can't really remember)...But some people are born with what is mistakenly called "an addictive personality"....The scariest thing is that its hereditary!!!

As far as I know research has only been done on alcoholics, so we assume that it is the same with other drugs, but since different drugs have different effects on the brain we can't be sure about this. Genetics is only one factor, a child of an alcoholic is not destined to be an alcoholic and not all alcoholics have alcoholic parents, but there is strong evidence that there is a genetic component in alcoholism. For example adopted children who had an alcoholic parent, one whom they have never met even, have a higher risk of becoming alcoholic. The actual genes involved though have not been found, nor is the actual mechanism known, we don't actually know exactly what it is the gene does to person that makes them more prone to alcoholism.

Do you think that drug addicts think they're better than non users ... ?

I've always got the impression that, 'I do X, Y and Z ... I'm cool and better than you are ...'

Just curious.

On the contrary, I think mostly it's non-users who think they are better than addicts. Addicts are often seen as weak, morally deficient, useless and ethically corrupt by non-users.

I found the same thing...All the addicts I've known have either been highly intellegent or gifted in other ways such as music and art....

This is especially true for heroin addicts, I haven't found this to be the case with all drugs though.

 

[Dolby]

Addicts are often seen as weak, morally deficient, useless and ethically corrupt by non-users.

Well I know they are, but I was just chatting about perception *stir*

 

[blunomore]

This is especially true for heroin addicts, I haven't found this to be the case with all drugs though.

Really? I find that a bit of a generalisation, to be honest. SOME of them may be gifted - the Amy Winehouses and Kurt Cobains of the world, but not necessarily intelligent - to me those are two different things.

 

[Sherbang]

Really? I find that a bit of a generalisation, to be honest. SOME of them may be gifted - the Amy Winehouses and Kurt Cobains of the world, but not necessarily intelligent - to me those are two different things.

you're right, not all are gifted... what I meant is that compared with other addicts, heroin users tend to be intelligent, creative and sensitive people.

 

[porn$tar]

On the contrary, I think mostly it's non-users who think they are better than addicts. Addicts are often seen as weak, morally deficient, useless and ethically corrupt by non-users.

I think it's important here to differentiate between casual, party pill-poppers who idolise the drug using movie and rock stars; and the addicts. The former are the ones non-users think are "cool" and the latter as weak and morally deficient. More often than not, the former become the latter.

 

[blunomore]

Don't know if BipolarDude is still on the board at the moment, but I am curious: you read about the actors and rock stars being addicted to heroin or other substances - how do they function then? How do keep on making movies or doing concerts or recording?

What is a 'functional' heroin user?

Thanks

 

[Nanfeishen]

Don't know if BipolarDude is still on the board at the moment, but I am curious: you read about the actors and rock stars being addicted to heroin or other substances - how do they function then? How do keep on making movies or doing concerts or recording?

What is a 'functional' heroin user?

Thanks

Its when the individual begins to link the creative side with the substance in question.
The individual believes that what is created, music, art etc comes from the use of the substance, and without the substance that creativity ceases to exist within them.
Therefore they begin to believe they require the substance for creative purposes.

 

[Tamagotchi]

Its when the individual begins to link the creative side with the substance in question.
The individual believes that what is created, music, art etc comes from the use of the substance, and without the substance that creativity ceases to exist within them.
Therefore they begin to believe they require the substance for creative purposes.

I believed it was an addict (heroin or other) that still functions effectively in his daily life. Ie : goes to work, drops of kids, cooks etc.

 

[Sherbang]

Don't know if BipolarDude is still on the board at the moment, but I am curious: you read about the actors and rock stars being addicted to heroin or other substances - how do they function then? How do keep on making movies or doing concerts or recording?

What is a 'functional' heroin user?

Thanks

A functional heroin user is one who is able to function in day to day life. They have a job that they do well, they raise a family and function in society just like everyone else. As long as they are able to maintain their habit they can function. If they can't get heroin they will fall apart though, just like any other addict. I have a friend in Sweden who was engaged to a man, a well known and well liked successful doctor. He died from a heroin overdose. She was not even aware he was using heroin and had been for 8 years. He functioned normally, had access to a steady supply, was successful in work, etc...

 

[Tamagotchi]

A functional heroin user is one who is able to function in day to day life. They have a job that they do well, they raise a family and function in society just like everyone else. As long as they are able to maintain their habit they can function. If they can't get heroin they will fall apart though, just like any other addict. I have a friend in Sweden who was engaged to a man, a well known and well liked successful doctor. He died from a heroin overdose. She was not even aware he was using heroin and had been for 8 years. He functioned normally, had access to a steady supply, was successful in work, etc...

Yeah, we agree.

 

[blunomore]

A functional heroin user is one who is able to function in day to day life. They have a job that they do well, they raise a family and function in society just like everyone else. As long as they are able to maintain their habit they can function. If they can't get heroin they will fall apart though, just like any other addict. I have a friend in Sweden who was engaged to a man, a well known and well liked successful doctor. He died from a heroin overdose. She was not even aware he was using heroin and had been for 8 years. He functioned normally, had access to a steady supply, was successful in work, etc...

I was under the impression that, because it is addictive, you need more and more to reach the same effect and that eventually, you cannot function in society anymore ......... ?

 

[dappled]

wrt 'functional heroin users'-
Switzerland has a very progressive programme running at the moment, registered drug users can get their heroin from the government, sponsored by the tax-payers. Sounds insane, right? But the rules are quite strict- it is a 'last resort'. Users must have tried the methadone route first too. Basically this programme is aimed at keeping addicts functional. The Swiss voted for it's continuation in Nov 2008:

http://www.drugpolicy.org/library/tlcnr.cfm

The Swiss government is selling heroin to hard-core drug users. But in doing so the government isn't offhandedly facilitating drug abuse: it's conducting a national scientific experiment to determine whether prescribing heroin, morphine, and injectable methadone will save Switzerland both money and misery by reducing crime, disease, and death.

 

[Sherbang]

I was under the impression that, because it is addictive, you need more and more to reach the same effect and that eventually, you cannot function in society anymore ......... ?

This is true blunomore, regular use of heroin leads to tolerance so users need more and more of the drug to get an effect and to maintain functionality (avoid withdrawal). If they can maintain an increasing supply they can continue to function, but if not, if they can't afford it for example, it will make functioning difficult. This is also why long term users often overdose, it becomes difficult to determine how much is enough.

 

[HyperBudgie]

This is especially true for heroin addicts, I haven't found this to be the case with all drugs though.

To true..I've met some pretty dumb crack-heads in my time...
It's true what you say about alcoholism being passed down genetically...I can't remember the exact protein developed in the brain due to addiction...will find out for you..but..as far as I can recall this "protein developement" by the brain can be passed down genetically...I.E....The addicts child's brain also produces this protein...I could be wrong...will research and clarify...