Heroin (drugs)

Mesrine65 · 23-12-2015 02:21PM

http://www.alltreatment.com/uploads/images/4514548023.jpg

melissak · 24-12-2015 10:42PM

It is a massive problem. I think methadone programme is failing. Not a clue what is the best solution. Very sad how many people are without loved ones at this time of year especially, due to this.

chicorytip · 26-12-2015 04:17PM

Legally prescribed medications such as anti - depressants and tranquillisers can also cause problems mentioned earlier, tooth loss, dehydration etc.

mynameis905 · 27-12-2015 01:02AM

chicorytip wrote: »

Legally prescribed medications such as anti - depressants and tranquillisers can also cause problems mentioned earlier, tooth loss, dehydration etc.

Some (mostly older) psychiatric medications cause dry mouth which I suppose over a long period of time could cause dental problems but it's far more likely that a lack of oral hygiene is the culprit - not taking care of yourself physically is a hallmark of many mental illnesses like depression & schizophrenia. Dehydration is also a common problem in that particular patient population - if you've ever suffered from depression you'll know that eating well and drinking enough water are not exactly on your list of priorities.

The main problem with the modern anti-psychotics (what you refer to as 'tranquilisers' but it can happen with some anti-depressants also) is that they induce insulin resistance and often lead to over-eating, weight gain and eventually diabetes. Like most things in modern medicine it comes down to taking difficult decisions and making the best of a bad situation. Diabetes is a rather more benign condition than say, uncontrolled paranoid schizophrenia so it makes sense to take the meds and deal with the side effects if and when they arise.

yabbav · 27-12-2015 01:03AM

It's very morish

chicorytip · 27-12-2015 01:27AM

mynameis905 wrote: »

Some (mostly older) psychiatric medications cause dry mouth which I suppose over a long period of time could cause dental problems but it's far more likely that a lack of oral hygiene is the culprit - not taking care of yourself physically is a hallmark of many mental illnesses like depression & schizophrenia. Dehydration is also a common problem in that particular patient population - if you've ever suffered from depression you'll know that eating well and drinking enough water are not exactly on your list of priorities.

The main problem with the modern anti-psychotics (what you refer to as 'tranquilisers' but it can happen with some anti-depressants also) is that they induce insulin resistance and often lead to over-eating, weight gain and eventually diabetes. Like most things in modern medicine it comes down to taking difficult decisions and making the best of a bad situation. Diabetes is a rather more benign condition than say, uncontrolled paranoid schizophrenia so it makes sense to take the meds and deal with the side effects if and when they arise.

Anti-psychotic medications such as Clozepam(I believe it's called) which are administered intravenously surely cannot be bracketed in the same category as anti-anxiety treatments such as Xanax, to name but one.

yabbav · 27-12-2015 01:30AM

Why is heroin so big in Dublin and why is the clinics all near o'connell street so the tourists only see them

mynameis905 · 27-12-2015 01:38AM

chicorytip wrote: »

Anti-psychotic medications such as Clozepam(I believe it's called) which are administered intravenously surely cannot be bracketed in the same category as anti-anxiety treatments such as Xanax, to name but one.

Clonazepam & Xanax are both benzodiazepines. All medications in this class have anxiolytic and sedative/hypnotic properties, some more so than others. They do not cause weight gain or insulin resistance.

Any drug given intravenously will kick in faster but the end result is largely the same. (weirdly enough though, heroin and morphine have very poor oral bio availability - it's why so many heroin users inject)

baldbear · 27-12-2015 01:39AM

yabbav wrote: »

Why is heroin so big in Dublin and why is the clinics all near o'connell street so the tourists only see them

Heroin is everywhere. Longford,Mullingar,Athlone,Leitrim. I'm from Longford and know 2 lads who have died from it. Decent guys too.Destroyed.

In Dublin with population and clinics located in close proximity you have addicts congregate and do business together drawing attention from tourists and everyone else. I think people from Dublin become immune to them after awhile.

They don't care who sees their carry on as that's the nature of the drug.

yabbav · 27-12-2015 01:43AM

baldbear wrote: »

Heroin is everywhere. Longford,Mullingar,Athlone,Leitrim. I'm from Longford and know 2 lads who have died from it. Decent guys too.Destroyed.

In Dublin with population and clinics located in close proximity you have addicts congregate and do business together drawing attention from tourists and everyone else. I think people from Dublin become immune to them after awhile.

They don't care who sees their carry on as that's the nature of the drug.

It's a shame but i think for tourism we should try to move clinics to Finglas or Crumlin or at least clear the city centre. Merchants Quay could be moved too.

SmartinMartin · 27-12-2015 01:52AM

yabbav wrote: »

It's a shame but i think for tourism we should try to move clinics to Finglas or Crumlin or at least clear the city centre. Merchants Quay could be moved too.

Why not to Howth or Foxrock? Just as easily accessible from the city centre.

yabbav · 27-12-2015 01:53AM

customers are likely to have to travel further distances on average. The area would be selected on best catchment areas...have to be logical

whatawaster81 · 27-12-2015 02:14AM

The government are opening shooting centres to clean up o'connell street, all the lads sitting round banging up.

lubie76 · 27-12-2015 02:36AM

yabbav wrote: »

Why is heroin so big in Dublin and why is the clinics all near o'connell street so the tourists only see them

Anywhere you have a concentration in population coupled with methadone clinics, it's going to be more obvious but believe me, heroin is in every town around the country including my own small town in the West of Ireland. Zombie faces everywhere, mostly young fellas from vulnerable backgrounds but not always.

melissak · 04-01-2016 04:00PM

Does anyone else think the injection centers are kinda pandering to bad behaviour. People who use heroin get a nice place and free methadone, which they often sell or swap for heroin, because they make a menace of themselves but people who use weed or whatever and don't cause social problems get harassed by the police in their own homes.
Why not smoking centers, Buckfast centers, extacy centers etc
Also I think it will promote heroin use. In my experience anyone who kicks heroin has to hit rock bottom first. Making it easier to be an addict will not help

qo2cj1dsne8y4k · 04-01-2016 04:07PM

Jesus they're still people, don't leave them to fester on the streets and to die in doorways using dirty needles

ScumLord · 04-01-2016 04:12PM

melissak wrote: »

Does anyone else think the injection centers are kinda pandering to bad behaviour. People who use heroin get a nice place and free methadone, which they often sell or swap for heroin

I didn't know they were handing out methadone in the injection clinics? Seems a bit pointless.

Why not smoking centers, Buckfast centers, extacy centers etc

You can drink alcohol legally in a pub, most nightclubs are ecstasy centres and I'm all for coffee shops.

Also I think it will promote heroin use. In my experience anyone who kicks heroin has to hit rock bottom first. Making it easier to be an addict will not help

It's a health issue, it doesn't promote heroin use, nothing really promotes heroin use, every one including heroin users will tell you it's nasty stuff. Bottom line is these people are desperate addicts. Sending them into the shadows so they don't bother normal society helps no one.

melissak · 04-01-2016 04:22PM

LexieOnRale wrote: »

Jesus they're still people, don't leave them to fester on the streets and to die in doorways using dirty needles

Add your reply here.
Of course they are still people but anyone who has nowhere to go should be able to avail of such a center whether their drug is heroin alcohol or wkhatever. Alcoholics on the street cannot afford to be in the pub all day
I've seen them refused entry to pubs many times

melissak · 04-01-2016 04:27PM

ScumLord wrote: »

melissak wrote: »

Does anyone else think the injection centers are kinda pandering to bad behaviour. People who use heroin get a nice place and free methadone, which they often sell or swap for heroin

I didn't know they were handing out methadone in the injection clinics? Seems a bit pointless.

Why not smoking centers, Buckfast centers, extacy centers etc

You can drink alcohol legally in a pub, most nightclubs are ecstasy centres and I'm all for coffee shops.

Also I think it will promote heroin use. In my experience anyone who kicks heroin has to hit rock bottom first. Making it easier to be an addict will not help

It's a health issue, it doesn't promote heroin use, nothing really promotes heroin use, every one including heroin users will tell you it's nasty stuff. Bottom line is these people are desperate addicts. Sending them into the shadows so they don't bother normal society helps no one.

Add your reply here.
I am not suggesting to push them aside, just that there are others on the margins of society that could also avail of such services. I believe that more people will graduate to heroin from other drugs. Christy Duignan said in his book the first time he tried heroin he was looking for weed and his dealer had none and said take this instead. It happens like that often, and this is from people I know who take heroin.

ScumLord · 04-01-2016 04:27PM

melissak wrote: »

Add your reply here.
Of course they are still people but anyone who has nowhere to go should be able to avail of such a center whether their drug is heroin alcohol or wkhatever. Alcoholics on the street cannot afford to be in the pub all day
I've seen them refused entry to pubs many times

Alcoholics can function pretty well, they're nearly always intoxicated. Heroin users can't really function when their high, they could easily die at any time, whether it's an over dose, choking on anything while they're under the influence. Injecting in dirty places will lead to infection and hospital bills. Alcohol just doesn't come with the same immediate risks.

melissak · 04-01-2016 04:30PM

ScumLord wrote: »

melissak wrote: »

Does anyone else think the injection centers are kinda pandering to bad behaviour. People who use heroin get a nice place and free methadone, which they often sell or swap for heroin

I didn't know they were handing out methadone in the injection clinics? Seems a bit pointless.

Why not smoking centers, Buckfast centers, extacy centers etc

You can drink alcohol legally in a pub, most nightclubs are ecstasy centres and I'm all for coffee shops.

Also I think it will promote heroin use. In my experience anyone who kicks heroin has to hit rock bottom first. Making it easier to be an addict will not help

It's a health issue, it doesn't promote heroin use, nothing really promotes heroin use, every one including heroin users will tell you it's nasty stuff. Bottom line is these people are desperate addicts. Sending them into the shadows so they don't bother normal society helps no one.

Add your reply here.
I am not suggesting to push them aside, just that there are others on the margins of society that could also avail of such services. I believe that more people will graduate to heroin from other drugs. Christy Duignan said in his book the first time he tried heroin he was looking for weed and his dealer had none and said take this instead. It happens like that often, and this is from people I know who take heroin
Also I wonder why people are committing slow suicide in such numbers and why we are not addressing this
.

ScumLord · 04-01-2016 04:33PM

melissak wrote: »

Add your reply here.
I am not suggesting to push them aside, just that there are others on the margins of society that could also avail of such services. I believe that more people will graduate to heroin from other drugs. Christy Duignan said in his book the first time he tried heroin he was looking for weed and his dealer had none and said take this instead. It happens like that often, and this is from people I know who take heroin.

I've never heard of any smoker using heroin as a substitute for cannabis. It probably happens, but you'd have to be pretty naive to think they're a similar drug as you stick the needle in your arm. The vast majority of drug users don't graduate to heroin, the vast majority of drug dealers don't supply heroin. In all my years, I've never once even been offered heroin, I've never even seen the stuff and I've done pretty much everything else and been to plenty of raves in my youth. These days I just have no interest in hard drugs, it's a young person's game, I can barely drink 4 pints these days.

melissak · 04-01-2016 04:33PM

ScumLord wrote: »

melissak wrote: »

Add your reply here.
Of course they are still people but anyone who has nowhere to go should be able to avail of such a center whether their drug is heroin alcohol or wkhatever. Alcoholics on the street cannot afford to be in the pub all day
I've seen them refused entry to pubs many times

Alcoholics can function pretty well, they're nearly always intoxicated. Heroin users can't really function when their high, they could easily die at any time, whether it's an over dose, choking on anything while they're under the influence. Injecting in dirty places will lead to infection and hospital bills. Alcohol just doesn't come with the same immediate risks.

Add your reply here.
That is not necessarily true. I know a few highly functional heroin addicts and several not highly functioning alcoholics. People get in a stupor and choke on their own vomit or similar regularly enough

melissak · 04-01-2016 04:38PM

ScumLord wrote: »

melissak wrote: »

Add your reply here.
I am not suggesting to push them aside, just that there are others on the margins of society that could also avail of such services. I believe that more people will graduate to heroin from other drugs. Christy Duignan said in his book the first time he tried heroin he was looking for weed and his dealer had none and said take this instead. It happens like that often, and this is from people I know who take heroin.

I've never heard of any smoker using heroin as a substitute for cannabis. It probably happens, but you'd have to be pretty naive to think they're a similar drug as you stick the needle in your arm. The vast majority of drug users don't graduate to heroin, the vast majority of drug dealers don't supply heroin. In all my years, I've never once even been offered heroin, I've never even seen the stuff and I've done pretty much everything else and been to plenty of raves in my youth. These days I just have no interest in hard drugs, it's a young person's game, I can barely drink 4 pints these days.

Add your reply here.
Heroin users usually begin smoking heroin. Over time their tolerance grows and they begin injecting. Maybe it is different now but I can just go on the experience of people I have discussed this with, who were addicts.
It is definitely a young person's game, those who don't leave it so at some point tend to die. Older people don't have the regeneration powers of young people. I used to party a lot in my youth and never had a hangover. Now a couple of pints leaves me in a heap...

kev1.3s · 05-01-2016 08:01PM

I was watching bbc news one evening last week when a story came up about the Irish government thinking of decriminalising drug use and opening supervised injection centres. The piece that followed made for uncomfortable viewing where junkies were openly smoking and shooting up just off O'connall st with lane ways and gutters littered with used needles. I'm fully aware that the footage may be somewhat sensationalised but I'm also fully aware of the true state of our main thoroughfare, I also think that given the year that's in it we should hang our heads in shame at the way we've let that situation develop.
I'm no innocent bystander by any stretch but with the current spate of burglaries in my home town ( and I could almost name the culprits) sentiment is not very high to be honest, also take a walk up any small lane or in behind the bushes in the town park and you'll find any number of disgarded syringes for children to pick up and potentially infect themselves with.
If shooting gallery's rid our streets of this menice I'm all for it.

corner of hells · 05-01-2016 08:22PM

melissak wrote: »

Add your reply here.
That is not necessarily true. I know a few highly functional heroin addicts and several not highly functioning alcoholics. People get in a stupor and choke on their own vomit or similar regularly enough

When you say "high functioning heroin addicts " , what exactly do you mean ?

Ive worked in drugs services , needle exchanges etc and would know
a large number of addicts and former addicts but I couldn't honestly say any in addiction could be called high functioning.

A few who smoke and a very rare one or two who inject might just about manage to maintain some very vague sense of normality but as another poster commented nearly all addicts start of smoking and progress to iv use as tolerance changes .

I knew a few who were managing to hold down employment for a while if smoking but without fail as iv use starts everything else goes by the wayside.

To maintain health means injecting with new needles each time , accessing needles means visiting exchanges , its hardly conducive to employment or any semblance of normality to visit an exchange regularly.

cometogether · 05-01-2016 09:55PM

Always feel so sorry for these people. And you should never judged someone until you've stood in their shoes. Some people just want to take the pain away.

mynamejeff · 05-01-2016 10:28PM

corner of hells wrote: »

When you say "high functioning heroin addicts " , what exactly do you mean ?

Ive worked in drugs services , needle exchanges etc and would know
a large number of addicts and former addicts but I couldn't honestly say any in addiction could be called high functioning.

A few who smoke and a very rare one or two who inject might just about manage to maintain some very vague sense of normality but as another poster commented nearly all addicts start of smoking and progress to iv use as tolerance changes .

I knew a few who were managing to hold down employment for a while if smoking but without fail as iv use starts everything else goes by the wayside.

To maintain health means injecting with new needles each time , accessing needles means visiting exchanges , its hardly conducive to employment or any semblance of normality to visit an exchange regularly.

I ve got to say that personally thats not my experience of heroin users .

I ve known a guy who was smoking it for about twenty years, a bag a day and maintained a job as a architect, he was in his 50 when he finally went off the rails and eventually died of a heart attack

Knew another guy who was a bag a day guy and worked as a cook died in a car crash not drugs related

teddyhead · 05-01-2016 10:49PM

Regarding the state of their teeth , what 'work' could they have done on the medical card , if they manage to get themselves off the skag? Apart from total extraction ?
Nice teeth are becoming the exclusive preserve of the middle classes. The heroin is not the sole factor here. Poverty/social class is contributing to bad dental health for many,junkies or not.

corner of hells · 05-01-2016 10:54PM

mynamejeff wrote: »

I ve got to say that personally thats not my experience of heroin users .

I ve known a guy who was smoking it for about twenty years, a bag a day and maintained a job as a architect, he was in his 50 when he finally went off the rails and eventually died of a heart attack

Knew another guy who was a bag a day guy and worked as a cook died in a car crash not drugs related

I'm always open to other peoples experience , smoking a bag a day for twenty years is quiet an achievement, firstly to keep control of his tolerance and secondly unless accessing foil purposely manufactured for smoking his lungs , throat , breathing etc must have been in a bad way.Ordinary foil is full off chemicals that are released when heated.

I don't doubt you one bit though .

Heroin (drugs)

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