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Posted by: Spanner on 2010-06-19, 17:12:33
Don’t know exactly how many addicts there are but yes, there tends to be a pattern. There is a misconception about heroin addicts all being down and out junkies like those in "Trainspotting " but in reality, a lot end up on that slippery slope through no fault of their own. A huge number of addicts actually started on prescription drugs such as codeine or morphine and became addicted that way (heroin is from the same opium poppy “group”) In the UK, new regulations aim to target codeine addiction and GP’s are no longer allowed to sign off prescriptions repeatedly without carrying out a full review because abuse is rife. Others might have dabbled in illicit drugs and over time, experiment with different ones or needed something that bit stronger to get them where they want to be. Heroin is the end of the line. There isn’t anywhere else you can go once you start on heroin and if, as I imagine it is, the feeling of euphoria or calmness is far greater than what you get from codeine, it’s undoubtedly going to be tempting to do it again. Most addicts die from overdose because it’s so good at calming and relaxing you, it eventually slows everything down to the point where your breathing and heart stop completely. Heroin addiction is one of the saddest, loneliest and destructive things imaginable. |