ppot drug poll v1: opiates

[nostatic]

A poll. You get to be anonymous. Just curious about the "experience" here.

[slodave]

Opium has a nice smell and we had a good time. The high is intense, but goes away quickly. Tis why so many become addicted.

Dave

EDIT: never touched heroin, never will.

[HardDrive]

Taken valium a few times without a prescription, but it was because my back was so f-ed up. Not really recreational.....

No opiates ever.

[Tobra]

Never tried them recreationally, rather have a good glass of wine or two. I have been told by more than one patient that heroin is "the best ****ing drug ever", but not as addictive as nicotine, go figure.

[Jeff Higgins]

I've made no bones about this here or anywhere else; one would be hard pressed to name anything I have not tried. Stopped short of the needle out of pure fear, but for no other reasons.

Granted, that all seems like a lifetime ago, and it more or less was. Young, irresponsible, and just having fun. I guess I must not have what is known as an "addictive personality" or anything, because it never seemed like a big deal to me. It was included in a long list of recreactional pursuits and never really took priority over any others. If I had nothing better to do, yeah, great. It was never more than that to me. Maybe that's why I walked away so easily.

I think that experience has given me a little bit clearer picture in this regard than the "all drugs are evil" set (muttered as they down their fifth martini). I can quite honestly say that the most severe drug problems I have seen in my life among family and friends have always been alcohol. Yes, it is certainly "more addictive than heroin". The folks that I was in school with, and partying with, that used the illegal drugs are almost universally "clean" today and leading happy, productive lives. The ones that had problems with alcohol at that young age pretty much still do. They carry all of the baggage that goes with it as well; broken marriages, lost jobs, DUI convictions, poor health - all of it.

I still enjoy a glass of scotch or a beer today. To be honest (given my druthers), if any of the illegal drugs were legal today, I probably would look to those rather than the occasional drink. They are safer and less addictive. The fear is gone for me; I have experienced the differences and have seen the differences in other's lives. Alcohol is easily the most dangerous drug on the list; it's amazing to me it's the one that remained legal. Talk about lobbying power...

Heroin has been a huge PR success for the DEA and alcohol industry, in this "war on (some) drugs". Demonized as instantly, hopelessly addictive. Excruciating withdrawal from even one dose, if the "addict" ever allows himself to start coming down, the pain and discomfort will drive him to any lengths to get more. Hogwash. Alcohol and nicotine are both far more addicitve, and the withdrawal from either is far more severe. More people died from alcohol detox in King County (WA) alone last year than nationwide from heroin overdose or withdrawal. This stat from a buddy who just left a treatment center, by the way.

This probably all sounds quite odd coming from one of PPOT's staunchest conservatives. Why, I should be railing on and on about the evils of illegal drugs. Sorry, I just can't. That is not a "conservative" view any more than pro legalization is a "liberal" view. I offer the point of view of some one who has "been there, done that" and sees right through the big money (alcohol and tobbaco industry, the industries supporting the "war on (some) drugs", etc.) that have a stake in this game. I see their propoganda for what it is. They continue to supply the two most dangerous and addictive drugs known to man, and demonize any and all that are less so, effectively eliminating competition from what are actually safer, less addictive drugs. All to make a buck at our expense.

[stomachmonkey]

You missed opium on the poll.

[nostatic]

yeah, I know. If you've smoked/snorted opium, check the "smoked/snorted heroin" box. Not that much difference...

[gr8fl4porsche]

I'm on a Vicodin script right now. Gotta love the opiates.

[svandamme]

smoked some smack once, didn't like it much

but everytime i got to Spain , i just go to the pharmacy for over the counter codeine cough sirop, great stuff for lounging by the pool with a couple of Mai Tai's
rest of Europe is pretty much prescription only for anything stronger then ibuprofen 300 mg

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Taken valium a few times without a prescription, but it was because my back was so f-ed up. Not really recreational.....

No opiates ever.

Same here, used the above more to relieve pain than getting happy. Course add a whiskey or three with a couple of pills and then the pain really goes away.

Had a friend who tried Heroin a couple of times. He warned all of us away from it as "it was better than the best high you have ever had." Told us it was like a 4 hour orgasm but that he stopped after trying it twice for fear that he would get addicted. Have lost touch with him and hope he was/is able to say no.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

You missed opium on the poll.

My first house was previously owned by a little old lady...

Who grew poppies... now that was interesting.

Had a scrip for codeine once or twice (broke leg, shingles)... probably took one or two more than I needed on occasion... never really liked the buzz.

[beepbeep]

Had some friends who succumbed to this crap. Only one got away. Opiate addiction is IMHO probably one of worst "diseases" ...unless you have big budget and are able to abstain from downspiraling "lifestyle" which opiate addiction most often leads to.

Wouldn't touch it unless medically needed.

[Hugh R]

Yesterday, my son went to the funeral of the 21 y/o older brother of a friend who OD last weekend from heroin. The 19 Y/O brother of the one that OD was my son's friend, he, the friend is on life support from an OD as his brother, they were apparently shooting up together. They were both found last Sunday morning at home by another friend. My son swears he had no idea either was using.

No, never did the opiates recreationally. I've had morphine a few times due to serious injury/surgery.

[juanbenae]

never did the tin man (oiling the hinges). enjoy a vicodin and a few beers now and again though.

great series by the way todd.

T$

[frogger]

The god thread appears to have a heavy dose of opiate users.

[Jeff Higgins]

That is very, very sad, Hugh. These folks are, however, dying from the unreliable supply chain that has no real control over purity. They are ingesting unknown quantitites of the drug after it has been stepped on an undetermined number of times. Just like bad alcohol during Prohibition. The Feds and other interests have quite succesfully managed to blame the drugs, when in reality, it is their interference that makes them dangerous. Imagine guzzling a beer and finding out it was Everclear; there is that broad of a swing in purity on the black market. Heroin, in known doses, is safer than alcohol.