"I have spent the last 3 almost 4 years researching this from the addicts point of view."
I hope that was not first hand experimentation.
IMO the addict's main task besides getting high is to attempt at appearing normal in their societal setting.
no, not from first hand experimentation. But let me explain a bit more.
I am in the process of writing a "book" that will basically try and help explain the addict. Some are just plain idiots that allowed themselves to get talked into something, other cases are more complex and were not planned by any means by the addict. As hard as that might be to believe or understand.
Like I said, I have covered from the addicts point of view, I have spent hundreds of hours sitting with and talking to addicts in their "shooting galleries" I have interviewed well over 100 different individuals during this period. I have also had the opportunity to talk to some of the dealers involved in this epidemic and have their views. Some actually think they are doing a good thing.
I have covered the physiology of the chemical on the brain and body, Ive covered the history of heroin/opiates and their original intended uses medically including products that contained the drug that at one point could be purchased over the counter. I have covered the money trail in a general sort of way.
Now as I begin to compile and organize the information from the addicts themselves, I want to begin gathering the perception from those not addicted or involved with anyone that is. I am going to complete the project with the various methods of recovery.
Now its funny that you questioned my experimentation with the drug. I have not used heroin on purpose. Let me explain that one, I was involved with an intervention that went bad fast, a scuffle broke out and I ended up getting a dose injected into a muscle. (not the proper way) although it took longer to take effect, I did end up experiencing the heroin high from it. I have to tell you, its not a bad feeling at all. Of course it then required the appropriate testing to make sure I did not contract something from the "shared" needle.
Along with that, I have also been collaborating with a friend that just happens to be an ER physician. One of the areas that I can not fully understand is the withdrawal from an addiction. Im sure you have had some type of injury that involved pain before, think about trying to convey that pain to someone that has never felt it, and think about how you can describe it well enough to make them feel it. Impossible. The most common explanation of withdrawal is that they feel like they have a bad flu. But, if you seem them in withdrawal, its not uncommon for them to be curled up and crying, this to me indicates more pain that just the flu would bring. Others have said their bones hurt.
at any rate, we have been toying with the idea as a final step in my research for me to actually under controlled environment, use the drug just long enough to create an addiction. 21 days of continuous use seems to be a fairly good average number according to research. Then, after dependency has taken its place, I would then again under the control and supervision of medically trained professionals, suffer the withdrawal cold, no chemical assistance to help. This would give me a better insight into the recovery process that will close out my work.
But like I said, Im extremely cautious of doing the experimentation, and that is mostly because of what I have learned from those that are addicted. It is not impossible that I could actually become what Im trying to cure. ( cure is not really a good word here)
So anyway, that is the reason and the basis of my original question and any answer at all is helpful.
