Ex Heroin Users wanted

[Worried Mum]

Is there anyone out there that is clean from heroin now.
Please tell me your stories to give me some hope
thankyou and Well done and God Bless you all::

[exjunky]

OK, I'll step up to the plate.

I had a serious heroin problem in the late eighties. I was able to clean-up on a methadone program, but it took me a few years to decide that I had enough of the lifestyle to really want to quit.

Here's some good news ... the average heroin addiction "only" lasts two or three years. Very few people become lifelong users.

Here's the bad news ... very few users end up clean forever. I was clean for 20 years but earlier in 2007 I had a major relapse. It just goes to prove, an addict is never really 100% safe in your recovery.

It is possible to get clean--to get to the point where one doesn't think about it at all. For the using addict however, this can seem impossible.

[Worried Mum]

Thanks for your reply..
So as a Mum - I guess I just have to stand back.
I find it so hard to "Detach with Love" when I am lied to and manipulated all the time.. I am going to FA, and Coad meetings -
If anyone can give me any other advice - on how I can help my thought process on this - I would be so grateful

[exjunky]

Well now wait a minute -- I didn't say "stand back", I've stood back and seen friends die. There are so many different depths of heroin addiction its hard for you to relate to me how bad off your loved one is.

Chances are he or she is able to get clean if they really want to. You'll hear it often said that "most addicts never get clean until they hit rock bottom", for many that is quite true. I know it was in my case.

The best argument I can give to a junky to become dedicated to quitting is this: Don't you want the freedom to not have to be a slave to heroin any more?? Don't you remember how good life was before you had to fix up 3 or 4 times a day? That kind of talk would work with me, at least eventually it sunk into my head that it's true.

But not everybody is the same, some people respond more to other arguments. But ultimately if they don't really want to quit in their heart there is no logical way to talk them into quitting.

I do wish you luck. Check back from time to time and let us know how it goes.

[hazephase]

Its must be very diffcult for you as a mother to go through this every day . I see many parents suffer cause of there kids at a age when they sould be taking rest . What is it that makes kids put there parents through all this ? is it that they feel that there angry has to be taken out on there parents /

[buttonfluff]

hi im a 28 yr old ex heroin adict,i was on it for 6 years all my friends are still on it or dead.i eventually beat it with methadone but had tried and failed many times ,the times i failed were when i was doing on familys request and not my own will, it was far too exiting at first to give up my drugs and money making scemes,i lost my partner to a related heart attack and that made me worse,or i used it as an excuse to use ,i never sought help for my underlyig problems maybe that wouldve helped.i had a good family background but a controlling father-i think i was rebelling ,trying to break free if that makes sence,my mum gave me money when i begged it saved me from shoplifting but prolonged the day i hit rock bottom(the time when givin up is more likley)i think the best thing is support a user with meals and washing etc and love ,unless they steal out your handbag then id not let them in..but never support their habit even if there paniking over withdrawls its not dangerouse and not as bad i didnt think as users scare monger new users into the myth of the absolutly unbearable wthdrawl ,it impacts your brain thinking ur gonna be deathly ill ,truth is its not nice like bad flu but u cant lie in bed still as muscle cramps are constant but in a day they are bearable,and yaning and sneezing hardly anythng compared to proper ill people.lreality is the worst symptom and panic for me.a drug support place can prescribe methadone dependant on where u live,addics argue that the meth dosent work it can be a bit slow getting it in the system but an adict would kno how to do that,it works if they ar ready to try and beat it ,simple as that ,pressure from familys can make things worse and get empty promises ,if u have money a 1500 rehab can be good ,or worth a try.a lot of heroin addits later get into crack too being more addictive there money goes more on that ,they get ill weak and eventually fed up,and there heroin habits reduced making a perfect time to stop ,i had a baby and gave up instantly with methadone script,either that or social would take my child ,im now half off the methadone i reduce a little each month and havent used for three years ,i have no visible veins left and suffer nerve damage and circulation probs but i made it..addicts arnt stupid infact to do what they do each day there very clever and have a strong will of their own ,thats just my opinion .and the thought that opium crops are or have been spryed with bio weapons is enough t keep me clean.my family disowned me but luckily ive made it all up with them,and i have a concience now ,had panic hep c tests etc,all ok. on the other hand my babys father couldnt sort it out and dosent see his son,hes 30 and a mess and i try to help him it dosent work the same for all.i feel bad but i have to leave him to it till he sees sence . i hope this helps a bit to undrstand ,the user is the only one at falt or genuinly needing help,if they ask for help i would help them,but dont let them take you for a ride...

[buttonfluff]

hi im a 28 yr old ex heroin adict,i was on it for 6 years all my friends are still on it or dead.i eventually beat it with methadone but had tried and failed many times ,the times i failed were when i was doing on familys request and not my own will, it was far too exiting at first to give up my drugs and money making scemes,i lost my partner to a related heart attack and that made me worse,or i used it as an excuse to use ,i never sought help for my underlyig problems maybe that wouldve helped.i had a good family background but a controlling father-i think i was rebelling ,trying to break free if that makes sence,my mum gave me money when i begged it saved me from shoplifting but prolonged the day i hit rock bottom(the time when givin up is more likley)i think the best thing is support a user with meals and washing etc and love ,unless they steal out your handbag then id not let them in..but never support their habit even if there paniking over withdrawls its not dangerouse and not as bad i didnt think as users scare monger new users into the myth of the absolutly unbearable wthdrawl ,it impacts your brain thinking ur gonna be deathly ill ,truth is its not nice like bad flu but u cant lie in bed still as muscle cramps are constant but in a day they are bearable,and yaning and sneezing hardly anythng compared to proper ill people.lreality is the worst symptom and panic for me.a drug support place can prescribe methadone dependant on where u live,addics argue that the meth dosent work it can be a bit slow getting it in the system but an adict would kno how to do that,it works if they ar ready to try and beat it ,simple as that ,pressure from familys can make things worse and get empty promises ,if u have money a 1500 rehab can be good ,or worth a try.a lot of heroin addits later get into crack too being more addictive there money goes more on that ,they get ill weak and eventually fed up,and there heroin habits reduced making a perfect time to stop ,i had a baby and gave up instantly with methadone script,either that or social would take my child ,im now half off the methadone i reduce a little each month and havent used for three years ,i have no visible veins left and suffer nerve damage and circulation probs but i made it..addicts arnt stupid infact to do what they do each day there very clever and have a strong will of their own ,thats just my opinion .and the thought that opium crops are or have been spryed with bio weapons is enough t keep me clean.my family disowned me but luckily ive made it all up with them,and i have a concience now ,had panic hep c tests etc,all ok. on the other hand my babys father couldnt sort it out and dosent see his son,hes 30 and a mess and i try to help him it dosent work the same for all.i feel bad but i have to leave him to it till he sees sence . i hope this helps a bit to undrstand ,the user is the only one at falt or genuinly needing help,if they ask for help i would help them,but dont let them take you for a ride...