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I am a heroin user. I do not have a drug problem

m.nautil.us

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Re: I am a heroin user. I do not have a drug problem

#11

Post by gundisclosed »

lqet wrote: post #2

> One of the major reasons people can’t overcome it is because we’re not very good at treating addiction in this country. I am often wondering about how addiction "feels". I don't consider myself being addicted to anything, and always wonder how an addiction actually manifests itself. Is it a pain? Is it comparable to being extremely hungry or thirsty? Slightly related: a few years ago, I overheard a conversation bet…

When source of addiction is not fulfilled for a long time it can have different effects on different individuals. It is not a generalised “feeling”.

Some people might feel a drive to do something completely non-rational, some might go into depression, some might even feel hungry.

Re: I am a heroin user. I do not have a drug problem

#13

Post by JohnJamesRambo »

FDSGSG wrote: post #7
criley2 wrote: post #3

:| > Hart presents himself as a model drug user. “I am now entering my fifth year as a regular heroin user,” he writes. “I do not have a drug-use problem. Never have. Each day, I meet my parental, personal, and professional responsibilities. I pay my taxes, serve as a volunteer in my community on a regular basis, and contribute to the global community as an informed and engaged citizen. I am better for my drug use.”…

If he can afford it, a problem may not exist. Heroin use has few if any negative physical effects in the long term.

Death is pretty long term. Pardon me if I’m pessimistic on this topic, I just watched a Janis Joplin documentary.

Re: I am a heroin user. I do not have a drug problem

#14

Post by rmac »

lqet wrote: post #2

> One of the major reasons people can’t overcome it is because we’re not very good at treating addiction in this country. I am often wondering about how addiction "feels". I don't consider myself being addicted to anything, and always wonder how an addiction actually manifests itself. Is it a pain? Is it comparable to being extremely hungry or thirsty? Slightly related: a few years ago, I overheard a conversation bet…

there could be some underlying pain or trauma or anxiety, and when you find a chemical that obfuscates it, your brain goes "oh I like this new feeling", and you start using that chemical as a way to mute the negative, often without realizing it OR realizing those underlying issues even exist.

then, the press secretary in your brain (the thing between your subconscious & conscious mind) goes into hyper-rationalization (denial) mode and you start to defend the amount and type of chemicals you use, even when they are literally killing you and those around you

If you're asking about what physical or psychological withdrawal from a drug feels like, it depends on the person, the chemical, and other variables. The worst opiates (Suboxone / Methadone) have 6 month+ withdrawal symptoms, and the faster ones are ~7 days. Hellish times. However, while abstinence frees you from withdrawal symptoms, unless the underlying mental issues are addressed it's likely you'll go back to the very same substance that got you here.

Re: I am a heroin user. I do not have a drug problem

#15

Post by aktiur »

lqet wrote: post #2

> One of the major reasons people can’t overcome it is because we’re not very good at treating addiction in this country. I am often wondering about how addiction "feels". I don't consider myself being addicted to anything, and always wonder how an addiction actually manifests itself. Is it a pain? Is it comparable to being extremely hungry or thirsty? Slightly related: a few years ago, I overheard a conversation bet…

Ever read a good book, or played a video game, and known that you have to stop now but thought "I'll just read another chapter / play one more turn"?

I would say that's basically how addiction manifests itself: even if you know that you're dealing with substance abuse, come on, one more time won't matter, will it?

And then there's also the comfort aspect: you're getting back from a hard day's work, you're feeling tired and cranky, you do deserve something nice, don't you?

N.B.: I'm not saying that not being able to drop the book or stop playing that game IS addiction, just that substance addiction might feel the same way.

N.B. 2:And I'm not talking here about the medical aspects of withdrawal, because that's not the thing an addict would usually experience (withdrawal would only happen because you're trying to stop or cannot get access to the substance you need).

Re: I am a heroin user. I do not have a drug problem

#16

Post by [deleted] »

gundisclosed wrote: post #11
lqet wrote: post #2

> One of the major reasons people can’t overcome it is because we’re not very good at treating addiction in this country. I am often wondering about how addiction "feels". I don't consider myself being addicted to anything, and always wonder how an addiction actually manifests itself. Is it a pain? Is it comparable to being extremely hungry or thirsty? Slightly related: a few years ago, I overheard a conversation bet…

When source of addiction is not fulfilled for a long time it can have different effects on different individuals. It is not a generalised “feeling”. Some people might feel a drive to do something completely non-rational, some might go into depression, some might even feel hungry.

[deleted]

Re: I am a heroin user. I do not have a drug problem

#17

Post by Xenoamorphous »

lqet wrote: post #2

> One of the major reasons people can’t overcome it is because we’re not very good at treating addiction in this country. I am often wondering about how addiction "feels". I don't consider myself being addicted to anything, and always wonder how an addiction actually manifests itself. Is it a pain? Is it comparable to being extremely hungry or thirsty? Slightly related: a few years ago, I overheard a conversation bet…

Like trying not to scratch an itch.

Re: I am a heroin user. I do not have a drug problem

#18

Post by coldtea »

aminozuur wrote: post #10
lqet wrote: post #2

> One of the major reasons people can’t overcome it is because we’re not very good at treating addiction in this country. I am often wondering about how addiction "feels". I don't consider myself being addicted to anything, and always wonder how an addiction actually manifests itself. Is it a pain? Is it comparable to being extremely hungry or thirsty? Slightly related: a few years ago, I overheard a conversation bet…

Addiction is rooted in truama. It's almost impossible to become an addicted if you didn't have to endure (childhood) trauma. So addiction is often an attempt of escaping, or soothing that pain.

>Addiction is rooted in truama. It's almost impossible to become an addicted if you didn't have to endure (childhood) trauma.

Sounds like pop psychology. There are tons of extremely addictive substances.

Try one and you will get addicted after a while, even if your whole childhood was hugs and roses and ponies.

Re: I am a heroin user. I do not have a drug problem

#19

Post by curtisblaine »

lqet wrote: post #2

> One of the major reasons people can’t overcome it is because we’re not very good at treating addiction in this country. I am often wondering about how addiction "feels". I don't consider myself being addicted to anything, and always wonder how an addiction actually manifests itself. Is it a pain? Is it comparable to being extremely hungry or thirsty? Slightly related: a few years ago, I overheard a conversation bet…

Addiction to smoking is like a mixture of itch and thirst, to a certain extent. You can get other psychological symptoms, like irritability and anxiety, or physical ones, like headache, but mainly it's this continuous need of absorbing the substance, that never goes away. A bit like when you're itching and you can't scratch, or you're thirsty and you can't drink.

Re: I am a heroin user. I do not have a drug problem

#20

Post by Geee »

FDSGSG wrote: post #7
criley2 wrote: post #3

:| > Hart presents himself as a model drug user. “I am now entering my fifth year as a regular heroin user,” he writes. “I do not have a drug-use problem. Never have. Each day, I meet my parental, personal, and professional responsibilities. I pay my taxes, serve as a volunteer in my community on a regular basis, and contribute to the global community as an informed and engaged citizen. I am better for my drug use.”…

If he can afford it, a problem may not exist. Heroin use has few if any negative physical effects in the long term.

So, what's the problem then? Why is using heroin bad?
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