EagleFlight34 101 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 Now, take the mental dependency that you two experienced with ephedrine, and add in a very real physical and chemical dependency. heroin, in particular, and other strong opiate forms, literally alter the chemical makeup of cells in the body. The cells cannot live without opiates; their chemistry is altered to a point that opiates are a vital ingredient in their functioning process. That's why dope sickness is so bad, and potentially deadly. The method of heroin use, i.e. injection, smoking, or eating determines the severity of the withdrawal and recovery process. Eating, taking heroin by mouth, results in the most severe withdrawal. When an addict is coming off, be it of his/her own doing, or againts their will, they experience a wide range of symptoms. These can include: hot flashes, cold chills, sweating profusely, shaking, hallucinations, and even spontaneous...umm...climaxes. The reason the body sweats so much when suffering from opiate withdrawal is that it is attempting to expel all of the dead and dying cells that are building up. The cells are replaced rapidly by new, non-opium dependent cells, but the process is very scary, especially if you've never seen it happen to a person. It generally takes two to three weeks to kick a habit. After that, the body is no longer dependent upon opium for survival, and the addict no longer craves the drug. However, this is time when mental addiction starts to take over where the physical and chemical addiction left off. Its a common misconception that a person can use heroin once and become addicted. Generally speaking, it takes the average person at least a month of regular, daily use to develope a habit. Its also not true that addicts cannot control their addiction and they have to keep taking more and more. Most long-term addicts maintain the same level of use for years at a time, and never increase the amount of the drug they take. Addicts, are however, very routine-oriented people. If they develope a habit of taking a shot every four hours, physically, they have to maintain that schedule. Its often refered to, by addicts, as the smack clock or other similar terms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmad4AU 0 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Now, take the mental dependency that you two experienced with ephedrine, and add in a very real physical and chemical dependency. heroin, in particular, and other strong opiate forms, literally alter the chemical makeup of cells in the body. The cells cannot live without opiates; their chemistry is altered to a point that opiates are a vital ingredient in their functioning process. That's why dope sickness is so bad, and potentially deadly. The method of heroin use, i.e. injection, smoking, or eating determines the severity of the withdrawal and recovery process. Eating, taking heroin by mouth, results in the most severe withdrawal. When an addict is coming off, be it of his/her own doing, or againts their will, they experience a wide range of symptoms. These can include: hot flashes, cold chills, sweating profusely, shaking, hallucinations, and even spontaneous...umm...climaxes. The reason the body sweats so much when suffering from opiate withdrawal is that it is attempting to expel all of the dead and dying cells that are building up. The cells are replaced rapidly by new, non-opium dependent cells, but the process is very scary, especially if you've never seen it happen to a person. It generally takes two to three weeks to kick a habit. After that, the body is no longer dependent upon opium for survival, and the addict no longer craves the drug. However, this is time when mental addiction starts to take over where the physical and chemical addiction left off. Its a common misconception that a person can use heroin once and become addicted. Generally speaking, it takes the average person at least a month of regular, daily use to develope a habit. Its also not true that addicts cannot control their addiction and they have to keep taking more and more. Most long-term addicts maintain the same level of use for years at a time, and never increase the amount of the drug they take. Addicts, are however, very routine-oriented people. If they develope a habit of taking a shot every four hours, physically, they have to maintain that schedule. Its often refered to, by addicts, as the smack clock or other similar terms. So you're saying "Just Say No" might not work? Seriously, I am intimidated by the post itself. Very impressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerbelle 5,299 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Im not going to deny that addiction has a physical component to it,but IMO its a spiritual battle.Ive seen guys get locked up,get detoxed while in jail and without access to the drug,they are not phsysically dependant anylonger.Then they often go back to the addiction,its much deeper than a physical thing Charlie Sheen needs help before its to late,prayers for him. It's called mental addiction. The severity of the addiction along with the drug type have a tremendous effect on withdrawl. Ill disagree with the one point,its a huge spiritual battle.The withdrawl isnt pretty,opiates seem to be the worst. Opiate withdrawal can be managed with Suboxone, or Subutex. It's actually not too bad if done by a medical staff trained in addiction medicine. Withdrawal from alcohol is a terrible thing to go through, and can even be fatal if not managed properly. Alcohol is actually a very destructive drug when abused. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telling tiger 156 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Now, take the mental dependency that you two experienced with ephedrine, and add in a very real physical and chemical dependency. heroin, in particular, and other strong opiate forms, literally alter the chemical makeup of cells in the body. The cells cannot live without opiates; their chemistry is altered to a point that opiates are a vital ingredient in their functioning process. That's why dope sickness is so bad, and potentially deadly. The method of heroin use, i.e. injection, smoking, or eating determines the severity of the withdrawal and recovery process. Eating, taking heroin by mouth, results in the most severe withdrawal. When an addict is coming off, be it of his/her own doing, or againts their will, they experience a wide range of symptoms. These can include: hot flashes, cold chills, sweating profusely, shaking, hallucinations, and even spontaneous...umm...climaxes. The reason the body sweats so much when suffering from opiate withdrawal is that it is attempting to expel all of the dead and dying cells that are building up. The cells are replaced rapidly by new, non-opium dependent cells, but the process is very scary, especially if you've never seen it happen to a person. It generally takes two to three weeks to kick a habit. After that, the body is no longer dependent upon opium for survival, and the addict no longer craves the drug. However, this is time when mental addiction starts to take over where the physical and chemical addiction left off. Its a common misconception that a person can use heroin once and become addicted. Generally speaking, it takes the average person at least a month of regular, daily use to develope a habit. Its also not true that addicts cannot control their addiction and they have to keep taking more and more. Most long-term addicts maintain the same level of use for years at a time, and never increase the amount of the drug they take. Addicts, are however, very routine-oriented people. If they develope a habit of taking a shot every four hours, physically, they have to maintain that schedule. Its often refered to, by addicts, as the smack clock or other similar terms. Who in the heck do you think you are posting a rational,l ;)ogical and well thought out response when the rest of us can only post dogma and belief? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerbelle 5,299 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Now, take the mental dependency that you two experienced with ephedrine, and add in a very real physical and chemical dependency. heroin, in particular, and other strong opiate forms, literally alter the chemical makeup of cells in the body. The cells cannot live without opiates; their chemistry is altered to a point that opiates are a vital ingredient in their functioning process. That's why dope sickness is so bad, and potentially deadly. The method of heroin use, i.e. injection, smoking, or eating determines the severity of the withdrawal and recovery process. Eating, taking heroin by mouth, results in the most severe withdrawal. When an addict is coming off, be it of his/her own doing, or againts their will, they experience a wide range of symptoms. These can include: hot flashes, cold chills, sweating profusely, shaking, hallucinations, and even spontaneous...umm...climaxes. The reason the body sweats so much when suffering from opiate withdrawal is that it is attempting to expel all of the dead and dying cells that are building up. The cells are replaced rapidly by new, non-opium dependent cells, but the process is very scary, especially if you've never seen it happen to a person. It generally takes two to three weeks to kick a habit. After that, the body is no longer dependent upon opium for survival, and the addict no longer craves the drug. However, this is time when mental addiction starts to take over where the physical and chemical addiction left off. Its a common misconception that a person can use heroin once and become addicted. Generally speaking, it takes the average person at least a month of regular, daily use to develope a habit. Its also not true that addicts cannot control their addiction and they have to keep taking more and more. Most long-term addicts maintain the same level of use for years at a time, and never increase the amount of the drug they take. Addicts, are however, very routine-oriented people. If they develope a habit of taking a shot every four hours, physically, they have to maintain that schedule. Its often refered to, by addicts, as the smack clock or other similar terms. Not sure I totally agree with you on the dosage level. Addicts do develop tolerance over time, and must increase the amounts they take to feel the high....which is what they are chasing anyway. That's how overdoses occur. The maintenance level, which keeps them from experiencing withdrawal will also increase as tolerance develops. Meth addiction can occur rapidly....much faster than a month of daily use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleFlight34 101 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Im not going to deny that addiction has a physical component to it,but IMO its a spiritual battle.Ive seen guys get locked up,get detoxed while in jail and without access to the drug,they are not phsysically dependant anylonger.Then they often go back to the addiction,its much deeper than a physical thing Charlie Sheen needs help before its to late,prayers for him. It's called mental addiction. The severity of the addiction along with the drug type have a tremendous effect on withdrawl. Ill disagree with the one point,its a huge spiritual battle.The withdrawl isnt pretty,opiates seem to be the worst. Opiate withdrawal can be managed with Suboxone, or Subutex. It's actually not too bad if done by a medical staff trained in addiction medicine. Withdrawal from alcohol is a terrible thing to go through, and can even be fatal if not managed properly. Alcohol is actually a very destructive drug when abused. That's all nice and good, but how accessible is the withdrawal management program? The majority of addicts can't afford treatment. When treatment is offered to them by a charitable clinic or by otherwise affordable means, the waiting list at that institution is usually hopelessly packed. I don't have numbers, but I imagine a larger percentage of real-world addicts don't detox on their own free will. Most do it in jail cells lying flat on their backs. Most city and county jails don't offer detox programs, and more than likely they don't desire to. Even if they did want to, there is no funding for such a program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleFlight34 101 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Now, take the mental dependency that you two experienced with ephedrine, and add in a very real physical and chemical dependency. heroin, in particular, and other strong opiate forms, literally alter the chemical makeup of cells in the body. The cells cannot live without opiates; their chemistry is altered to a point that opiates are a vital ingredient in their functioning process. That's why dope sickness is so bad, and potentially deadly. The method of heroin use, i.e. injection, smoking, or eating determines the severity of the withdrawal and recovery process. Eating, taking heroin by mouth, results in the most severe withdrawal. When an addict is coming off, be it of his/her own doing, or againts their will, they experience a wide range of symptoms. These can include: hot flashes, cold chills, sweating profusely, shaking, hallucinations, and even spontaneous...umm...climaxes. The reason the body sweats so much when suffering from opiate withdrawal is that it is attempting to expel all of the dead and dying cells that are building up. The cells are replaced rapidly by new, non-opium dependent cells, but the process is very scary, especially if you've never seen it happen to a person. It generally takes two to three weeks to kick a habit. After that, the body is no longer dependent upon opium for survival, and the addict no longer craves the drug. However, this is time when mental addiction starts to take over where the physical and chemical addiction left off. Its a common misconception that a person can use heroin once and become addicted. Generally speaking, it takes the average person at least a month of regular, daily use to develope a habit. Its also not true that addicts cannot control their addiction and they have to keep taking more and more. Most long-term addicts maintain the same level of use for years at a time, and never increase the amount of the drug they take. Addicts, are however, very routine-oriented people. If they develope a habit of taking a shot every four hours, physically, they have to maintain that schedule. Its often refered to, by addicts, as the smack clock or other similar terms. Not sure I totally agree with you on the dosage level. Addicts do develop tolerance over time, and must increase the amounts they take to feel the high....which is what they are chasing anyway. That's how overdoses occur. The maintenance level, which keeps them from experiencing withdrawal will also increase as tolerance develops. Meth addiction can occur rapidly....much faster than a month of daily use. You're completely wrong. True heroin addicts don't "chace a high" at all. By the time they have developed a substantial habit, the high really doesn't even matter to them. Like I stated in my first post, an opiate addict essentially cannot live without a fix. Their bodies, on a cellular level, essentially start to die when withdrawal sets. To an addict, over time, the high is rarely the goal. Living is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EagleFlight34 101 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Meth is a whole other animal. It is by far the most destructive drug to ever gain widespread popularity. I will never understand the mentality that allows a person to willingly embrace something that is so detrimental to them and everyone around them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AubieIsMyHero 0 Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 Is this the part where I say I miss the days of when I was an E-tard? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerbelle 5,299 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Suboxone treatment is cheaper than Methadone treatment in the long run, isn't open-ended, and is less expensive than an opiate habit. It costs,for one month of treatment, less than what an addict spends in one day of heroin use. And unlike drug dealers...there are payment plans available. BC/BS even pays for treatment in some cases, and covers the drug on most plans. Lots of Oxycontin addicts are employed, and Suboxone works wonders. Sometimes addicts can get on Methadone and stabilize their lives, then move to Suboxone to free themselves from opiate addiction altogether. There are little to no waiting periods in most Suboxone practices due to requirements by the drug maker. When an addict calls in our job is to get them in right away...often the same day, or with-in a week. We want them to get in and get started while still motivated to get clean. The DEA has requirements for physicians who prescribe Suboxone, and they have to be certified in addiction medicine. That's really the issue. Most of the treatment is done by psychiatrists, and there are not enough of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmad4AU 0 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I like Pizza Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easybake 0 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 We know who all of our drug users in here are.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weegle777 78 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Meth is a whole other animal. It is by far the most destructive drug to ever gain widespread popularity. I will never understand the mentality that allows a person to willingly embrace something that is so detrimental to them and everyone around them. You would be shocked at how many professionals are meth addicts, doctors, lawyers, CEO's, that stuff isn't just for typical "junkies". Horrible, horrible drug. Also, when you see over-the-road truckers with toothpicks in their mouths while driving, alot of times it's not just to have a toothpick in their mouths. Meth is really big with a large number of truckers. Many of those guys will buy several toothpicks that have been soaked in meth, dried, soaked again and the process goes on and on. From what I have heard, that stuff dries clear so it looks normal. For guys who have to make on time deliveries, that garbage is precious to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerbelle 5,299 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 It doesn't surprise me at all Weegs. I see it every day. There are functional addicts who haven't yet fallen all the way into the abyss, and many of them are professionals in positions with huge responsibilities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autigers71 0 Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 My room mate that I use to have here in bham use to be a big meth dealer. Before meth was an epidemic, He went to prison back in 98 for distribution of meth. People take it in lots of forms like weegs was talking about.....toothpicks, drink it in OJ. But the smokers are the ones that have no hope. The bad part is most people that smoke meth are pure addicts. They will go back to it. The guy who was my room mate and best friend for 7 years got hooked back up with the wrong crowd back in mar - apr of last year, by june he was back to shooting meth and cocaine and has lost everything. It is nothing to fool with....its not a glamor drug or play drug.....it will take you for everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Autigers71 0 Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 Im not going to deny that addiction has a physical component to it,but IMO its a spiritual battle.Ive seen guys get locked up,get detoxed while in jail and without access to the drug,they are not phsysically dependant anylonger.Then they often go back to the addiction,its much deeper than a physical thing Charlie Sheen needs help before its to late,prayers for him. It's called mental addiction. The severity of the addiction along with the drug type have a tremendous effect on withdrawl. Ill disagree with the one point,its a huge spiritual battle.The withdrawl isnt pretty,opiates seem to be the worst. Opiate withdrawal can be managed with Suboxone, or Subutex. It's actually not too bad if done by a medical staff trained in addiction medicine. Withdrawal from alcohol is a terrible thing to go through, and can even be fatal if not managed properly. Alcohol is actually a very destructive drug when abused. TB....the problem with Suboxone is that most people have to seek a professional (psychiatrists)to get it....and most health insurance policies do not cover Suboxone treatment, I know ours didn't and we have a pretty good BCBS policy at work. Pills are just an absolute killer today.....I know so many people that are hooked on pills and cannot get out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerbelle 5,299 Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 You also have to seek medical help to get Methadone, and go to the clinic on a daily basis for the medication....and it is just another addiction with no end in sight. It's not a decreasing dosage....it's a maintenance drug. It has a purpose, but the addict swaps an illegal street drug addiction for a legally prescribed one. It also crosses the placenta, so it's not good for pregnant women. Suboxone is not dangerous for pregnant women, and we've had several women deliver healthy, full term babies with no withdrawal symptoms. I didn't say all BCBS plans cover it....but some do. A lot of them will cover at least the cost of the medication, if not the office visits. I know this because it's what I do. The problem is that it's outpatient addiction treatment vs. inpatient, which is almost always covered if the policy has mental health benefits. Not all doctors who are approved to prescribe Suboxone or Subutex are psychiatrists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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