Now Ye're Talking - to a recovered heroin user

mittimitti

Fair play to you for getting back on track

You said it was 200/250 a day to get by how did you fund that, shopping lifting has to get you caught and i guess known to security staff

Have you ever had dealers come after you / beat you up over money

great read so far, im sure you could write a good book

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA

mittimitti wrote: »

Fair play to you for getting back on track

You said it was 200/250 a day to get by how did you fund that, shopping lifting has to get you caught and i guess known to security staff

Have you ever had dealers come after you / beat you up over money

great read so far, im sure you could write a good book

Shoplifting, robbed lots of stuff. Sold lots of stuff. Scammed people, begged. Amway you can think of making money ,I did it

I've taken a few beatings for various reasons, I once used a few counterfeit notes to buy some weight and I was kicked into oblivion! Probably nearly died from that one.

I had a flat that I was renting during the middle of all this and had people I owed a lot of money to show up and take over, dealing up large batches and cleaning/playing with guns at the table. i just had to sit there and stfu

I still owe (technically) a couple of grand to people. I'm sure it's (or I'm) forgotten now, but still scared walking around just incase..

Liam McPoyle

Did you ever OD?

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA

Business Cat wrote: »

Did you ever OD?

3 times.

There was a good few other times that I went over but came out of it after

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA wrote: »

3 times.

There was a good few other times that I went over but came out of it after

I think it was cut with something to cause that though, sometimes you don't know exactly what you're getting

Liam McPoyle

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA wrote: »

3 times.

There was a good few other times that I went over but came out of it after

How does one come out of it ie is it like Renton in Trainspotting and you get an adrenaline shot to the heart?

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA

Business Cat wrote: »

How does one come out of it ie is it like Renton in Trainspotting and you get an adrenaline shot to the heart?

No, they give you naloxone which blocks the opioid receptors and then you come out of it

mittimitti

are you back to normal now after getting clean
Health wise / do you look ok / any side effects

pc7

Just another one, why do drug addicts seem to love sugary drinks?

shivermetimber

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA wrote: »

Subutex/suboxone is a better route than methadone in my opinion, not as hard or the body and it incorporates Naloxone which blocks the opioid receptors in the brain so you don't get high if you use, it does nothing for you. I guess it's too expensive here, they trialled it years ago and I was a part of it. In my book it's a miracle drug. 100x better than methadone imo.

Interesting, I never knew this existed and always thought methadone was the only option. I wonder what the costing involved is and why it hasn't been used after trials? (not necessarily a question to you directly).

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA

mittimitti wrote: »

are you back to normal now after getting clean
Health wise / do you look ok / any side effects

Mainly my teeth, theiy're pretty wrecked. Gained some weight with methadone, shedding it now and getting back to normal.

I think physically I've aged a little more than I should have, but who knows!

Everything else checks out ok!!

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA

pc7 wrote: »

Just another one, why do drug addicts seem to love sugary drinks?

I don't know really, but you do get an affinity for them. Still trying to break my Coke (a cola) habit. My last vice... It must be the energy, you don't eat much.

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA

shivermetimber wrote: »

Interesting, I never knew this existed and always thought methadone was the only option. I wonder what the costing involved is and why it hasn't been used after trials? (not necessarily a question to you directly).

I think it's just too expensive. There are no generic brands. Methadone can be made up off label in huge batches.

It's a pity because it's a much better and healthier option and stops abuse with the naloxone component. It would be my method of choice to get clean.

Also then because it's regulated, normal doctors etc can't prescribe it, it's literally been around more than 20 years, I don't know why Ireland is so behind the times on this. It would make drug treatment so much easier if your own doc could prescribe it. It doesn't get you high or anything so I don't see how it could be open to any abuse. They must have some reason

WhiteMemento9

Fair play to you for getting clean and sharing your experiences.

I am not trying to be flippant or make light of the seriousness of your situation but just to maybe lighten the mood a little. You must have the odd funny tale or good story from the whole time. Care to share one?

tantan2

I so enjoyed reading this.

Well done on getting yourself clean/ well and staying in recovery, it must be so difficult to turn your whole life around.

Wishing you the very best in the future.

You mentioned earlier you're kept awake some nights looking back on past deeds throughout your addiction. Do you not think considering the efforts you've made to turn your life around gives you a certain permission at this stage to have a good nights sleep?

I mean, let's face it, you need energy the following day to keep going and get your life back on track- staying awake all night isn't going to help. Do you think the good vibes you've got from this thread will help you relax a bit more?

justfillmein

been a great read so far. fair play to you for doing it.

with new relationships, is it something you feel you need to tell them about straight away?
or do you worry about when is the right time to mention it?

like are you able to just be you, without being you the ex druggie??
maybe it might be obvious(looks wise), but if it's not, is it something that has got in the way of any new relationships since you've been clean?


best of luck with everything in the future too:)

Gloomtastic!

Great AMA, and very well written.

You mentioned that some people who were given methodone would then sell it on. But you’ve also said how crap it is. Why is there a market for it then?

maninasia

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA wrote: »

John_D80 wrote: »

How much does heroin cost per “hit”??

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA wrote: »

John_D80 wrote: »

How much does heroin cost per “hit”??

How long did you sustain the 200/250 euro per day usage for??

Is there any one single prized possession of yours that you kept and would never have sold and or swapped for heroin even at your worst?

Did you ever commit a violent crime on an innocent vulnerable person like a pensioner in order to steal money?

€15 for one or 2 for €25, then you get more etc with bulk

Not always, €200/250 that's at max street price, so only only on the really low days would I be paying that much.

If I/we were buying stuff in bulk it would work out cheaper, sell half get yours for free, rinse and repeat.

I lost/sold every possession that mattered to me at one stage or another other than a watch my granddad gave me.

By vulnerable yes, I guess that's what you're looking for

I ripped off younger/newbie guys and sold them nothings drugs. Did confidence scams on people and got a fair bit of money at a time.

By elderly specifically, no. Not intentionally, I might have taken something from a car, but I wasn't specifically looking for that.

Most people I tapped off or hustled where young people in town, out on a night out out shopping during the day.

Spun a story about missing a taxi or money for a hostel, and could make about €100 per hour. The right people will give you average €20/30 you just have to find them.

people will give you average €20/30 you just have to find them.

At least you are being honest. I've been approached a lot in town when younger and absolutely hated it.  O'Connell Street is ruined with this behaviour. Also a lot of them were menacing, starting from asking for a cigarette and then getting very bolshie. Do many drug addicts have a sense of entitlement and bitterness to regular folk? Cos a lot of them seem to have an edge to them. I've even had them come up to me outside pubs when I'm in the middle of conversation, every 5 minutes looking for money and smokes. When they didn't get it they'd get offended even though they are the ones being bloody rude and threatening. I believe that kind of mindset gets them on the street in the first place.

What are you going to do to make up to the people you deceived? You approached what you felt to be the most vulnerable members of the public.
I don't mean you need to do it now but you definitely owe those people when you are back on your feet.

Also do the cops do anything about addicts hanging around the city center all the time or do they just basically walk by unless a crime is reported? Are there any efforts to move people on?

Sorry if I come across harshly and fair play for getting things together. I do wish you the best of luck in settling down and you are still young and that is your ace in your sleeve.

maninasia

double post

Sinister Kid

There was a couple of addicts sitting across from me on the red luas a while back, they were talking about using & comparing wounds, pulling down jeans & rolling up tops not a bother to them, showing each other. A few min later they moved to an empty seat directly behind me, one kept sketch while the other cooked up & used (My back was to them, Im assuming this is what happened based on the conversation between them)In fairness, they didnt so much as make eye contact with me.
But it was still pretty horrible & intimidating to witness imo.


Do you think the introduction of injecting rooms will stop this kind of thing?
Why do so many addicts leave their used needles lying around where innocent kids can accidentally get them... Ive seen them in parks near playgrounds! Im assuming all consideration for others goes out the window?
How long would someone be using to get open sores & wounds?

A friends mam said to me when I was younger that we are all only one bad decision away from it. That really stuck with me, I try to be sympathetic but it is difficult in situations like I described above.

downwesht

Well done on getting clean.
If you were to advise the government what would you suggest to help reduce/eliminate/sort out the drug problem?

Yester

Thanks for doing this AMA. It has been great to read such honest and informative answers. Everything I would have asked has been pretty much asked already. What were your sleeping dreams like when you were on heroin? Did you find your dreams getting more vivid and intense once you quit? Did you ever dream you were using again and then wake up in a panic and say thank feck it was just a dream?

Vojera

You mentioned that your teeth are in bad shape now. Is that specifically because of the heroin or is it because of all the sugary drinks and not caring about brushing your teeth?

Mad_Dave

Congratulations of getting clean and apologies if these have been asked before:
How long did it take before you were addicted ?
Does the effects of the drug lessen over time and did you reach a point where you're just doing it to avoid withdrawal ?
How much of a stigma have you found is attached to being a former addict ?
The thread title refers to you as a 'recovered heroin addict' - do you consider yourself 'recovered' or will you always be 'recovering', do you still attend NA meetings / counselling and what support systems are in place for people like you ?

justfillmein

Vojera wrote: »

You mentioned that your teeth are in bad shape now. Is that specifically because of the heroin or is it because of all the sugary drinks and not caring about brushing your teeth?

that's actually a good question.
(minus the need for the bolded part)

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA

Deleted User wrote: »

You mentioned earlier you're kept awake some nights looking back on past deeds throughout your addiction. Do you not think considering the efforts you've made to turn your life around gives you a certain permission at this stage to have a good nights sleep?

I mean, let's face it, you need energy the following day to keep going and get your life back on track- staying awake all night isn't going to help. Do you think the good vibes you've got from this thread will help you relax a bit more?

Thread has definitely helped a bit, a lot of it is anxiety as well as guilt. I find difficult to go out, talk to people. Replay events in my head etc, I know there's no point stressing about things you can't change wish it was as simple as just shutting off!

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA

Vojera wrote: »

You mentioned that your teeth are in bad shape now. Is that specifically because of the heroin or is it because of all the sugary drinks and not caring about brushing your teeth?

Yep mostly from neglect and bad diet, but there's a lot of gum issues and staining etc from smoking as well.

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA

Yester wrote: »

Thanks for doing this AMA. It has been great to read such honest and informative answers. Everything I would have asked has been pretty much asked already. What were your sleeping dreams like when you were on heroin? Did you find your dreams getting more vivid and intense once you quit? Did you ever dream you were using again and then wake up in a panic and say thank feck it was just a dream?

You don't really dream when you are on it, nothing you can remember. Once you start withdrawals or get clean they turn crazy vivid and feverish.

I had one really freaky one that I'll always remember; dealers in town will keep the stuff in their mouths in case the cops nab them they can swallow it. I was going through horrible withdrawals, you can't really sleep at all but I nodded off for a few minutes and dreamt that I was scoring and the guy just swallowed it. We (me and someone else, dunno who) cut him open and were rooting around in his guts looking for it. Was horrible and crazy vivid. I woke up soaked in a cold sweat and puked. That one still freaks me out when I think about it.

I had a dream about using the other night, it happens. I just disregard it like any dream. Like sometimes they can be upsetting for a few mins after you wake up, but once you get on with things you forget about it.

I'm a recovered heroin user, AMA

justfillmein wrote: »

been a great read so far. fair play to you for doing it.

with new relationships, is it something you feel you need to tell them about straight away?
or do you worry about when is the right time to mention it?

like are you able to just be you, without being you the ex druggie??
maybe it might be obvious(looks wise), but if it's not, is it something that has got in the way of any new relationships since you've been clean?


best of luck with everything in the future too:)

Yep it's really hard to work out when or if to mention it. I'm still kind of trying to work out who exactly I am at the moment, like in general my confidence has totally gone, so that makes it hard to talk to anybody. Also not drinking etc makes it difficult to socialise with most people at times. I guess I still have some work to do to build myself up properly before I'll be able to tackle all that.