Heroin addicts.

[carrust]

My nephew is a recovering heroin addict. At the moment he's taking methadone under supervision at his local chemist. As he's got the dreaded 'flu bug, I've had to pick him up & take him to the chemist myself.
When I got to the shop there were at least 12 druggies outside;arguing, fighting & trying to sponge money off passersby.
My question is: Do you think it's a good idea to take young people who are dabbling in drugs to the chemist's, to see what happens to them if they persist in taking drugs?

[Bewlay Bros]

I will give you my opinion. It is nothing personal so please do not attack me for my views afterwards.

Drug addicts, particularly smack heads are there on their own volition. Yes their life may have be so sh!tty that hard drugs were the only way out. They may come from an abusive past or have mental health issues. But all this fanny the social workers tell me does not side step the fact that it was THEIR choice to inject the filthy drug in their arm. NOT society's but theirs.

Therefore, they deserve very little help from the state. They broke the law when the possessed the drug and sgould be locked up so they can not beg, steal, rob and prostitute their foul lives away.

Why should I pay even more taxes for these scumbags?

Drug users should be left to die as far as I am concerned. A barbaric view maybe in the 21 century but if they chose to "dabble" in such filth, they should be aware of the dangers. Whilst the police and the NHS are dealing with these sh!tbags, crimes and REAL emergencies are happenning elsewhere.

Also, and this may cause argument. Lots of people do come heroin. Yes it may be tough, but surely a day, a week whatever of feeling like crap and having "cold turkey" is better than mugging an old lady for a ten bag and living in a urine infested flea pit, no?

Forget methadone, just have some self respect and prepare for a week of flu like symptoms. They made the mess, they should clean it up.

[redcrx]

do you really think there theres much that can be done once they are hooked on a drug?

Its part of the school curiculum to show children the effects of drugs, again in college, and yet we still have a problem in this country.

Those that are prone to such a thing as taking drugs, or any addiction, will do so regardless of what they see, hear or read in my opinion.

[carrust]

Bewley. I had very similar thoughts until it happened to someone close to me. I'm sure your mind would change if it happened to say your brother or sister?

[Pippa68]

I agree with redcrx.

One thing I don't like the idea of is going into the chemists and being faced with a bunch of drug addicts waiting for their methadone, as you describe carrust.

I realise there may not be any other way but it isn't very nice for the general public is it?

[Bewlay Bros]

As an only child, I would be incredibly worried!!!!!

However, I did have a friend who was involved in a car accident once and had some blood taken by the police. It turned out he was a regular cocaine user.

Let's say, he is no friend of mine now and what respect he had in our community was soon expunged.

[carrust]

Redcrx. I'm a member of a support group for relatives & friends of druggies, & some of the stories I've heard will make your stomach churn. About 50% of abusers do manage to kick the habit, but only after a lot of support & encouragement.
It all depends on where the abusers 'rock-bottom' is. Some of them kick-it within a year, others have to lose friends, family or even limbs before they see the light. There's a user who's even injecting into his eye, as he's run-out of veins to inject into.

[redcrx]

i bet they were nearly all shown the videos and statistics at school though carrust. Thats why i doubt very much seeing a group of drug users begging would change their minds. After all, many steal from family, friends etc to fuel their habits when it gets too much.

[carrust]

Pippa.I agree. I think there's a security guard on at night. I gather that it's a rare occurrence during the day.

[carrust]

red.The kids only see the celebs like Pete Docertey & Kate Moss who seem to revel in their notariaty. Taking them to coal face would make them think a bit.

[redcrx]

so youre saying they were never given any form of advice and education about drug addiction before they took drugs?? I find that very hard to believe.

[carrust]

red. I should have been clearer. They get loads of drugs education in schools...doesn't seem to be working, does it?

[bednobs]

sorry but these users have to take the methadone in a supervised way at the chemist. otherwise they would be out selling it to their friends, thats why these supervised schemes were set up. If he carries on and is making progress eventually he will be allowed to progress to having more than a day's worth at a time and not have to go to the chemist for his supervision.
to answer your question yes, because in my experience if you dont give them some sort of replacement then they are more dangerous. Btw, cold turkey is nothing like a week of the flu!

[Pippa68]

I agree it has to be supervised.

But why at the chemists ~ it can't be very nice for the old lady buying her bunion cream can it?

[redcrx]

i though they would have had the education.

What Im asking is, what makes you think that taking them to see users queuing for methadone is going to stop them getting further into drugs when seeing pictures of users (not the celebs like docherty and Moss, but average users) doest prevent them dabbling in the first place.

I go back to my original reply, those that are prone to be addicted to something will do so regardless of what is shown to them until they themselves want to quit.

[bednobs]

where else would you suggest?

[carrust]

bednobs. He's allowed to have a script for the weekend, & he's on a 40ml dose at the moment. When he gets it down to 30ml he can go on subutex.

[Pippa68]

I haven't a clue, bednobs. I don't and have never professed to have an answer for that.

I just don't like the idea of regular customers being faced with all that malarkey. Nobody should have to witness the sort of behaviour carrust describes.

[Wotsits31]

What's methadone?

[carrust]

red. By seeing what druggies turn-out like would have put me off.

[redcrx]

yes but would it have done if you were a druggie? how can you tell? all we know is that seeing it at school in drug awareness classes hasnt put the likes of your nephew off