Am I insane to be playing around with Opium?

[Taverner]

I'm sure the answer here will be a resounding "yes" - so I expect that. I have an addictive personality. I started smoking at 14, and remain addicted to Nicotine to this day (patches.) I am also addicted to coffee. My parents are both alcholics, my mom in recovery and my dad in denial.

For back problems, I started using Medical Marijuana. Never became addicted, but built up a tolerance - so every couple months I have to go off the stuff. None of the detox like symptoms, but every so often I'd think "man I wish I were high." It does help dull the pain in my back by the way, but the pain comes back after 2 weeks.

Anyway, a while back I was perscribed Oxycodone for my back. I started taking it, and loved it. One 8-hour-long orgasm. Also, the pain wasn't just dulled it was gone. As if I never had back problems in the first place. Of course, to get that 'orgasm' back I had to take more, and around the time I saw myself building a dependence I stepped down and off of it. It sucks, but I felt better stepping down off it, knowing that I wouldn't have the hellish experience of a full cold-turkey detox.

A year or so later, I got ahold of some dried opium flower pods. For the uninformed, dried poppies can be made into tea, laudanum or other things. So I made tea - MAN. That stuff was intense - kind of made oxycodone feel like a joke. So this afternoon, I brewed another pot, and am waiting to feel the effects.

I also did a lot of research, into how much it takes to get addicted, how often you should use it, etc. What I found out is that this is scary stuff. Sure it feels great, but just read this for an idea of what the tea can do to you:

http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=34614

So am I being willfully stupid as I have been known to be in the past?

[NMDemDist2]

1. Only you can answer that one Tav, but you may want to do some research

on 'rebound pain'

If you are dealing with a chronic pain condition sometimes drugs can just make it worse.

good luck and I hope you find relief :hi:

[ellisonz]

2. No.

[RetroLounge]

3. Yes.

eom

RL

[bicentennial_baby]

4. Yes...

Next time you want to do it, take a look at those beautiful kids of yours,a nd think about them. As well as your wife.

[Taverner]

5. Yes and I think "Man it would be nice to pick up the kids without pain..."

[bicentennial_baby]

6. I understand that, but, also

Would they rather have a Dad who can't pick them up, or a Dad that's hooked on opiates? I think you know the answer to that.

[FloridaJudy]

7. I think you've answered your own question.

Substance abuse runs in your family, and you yourself recognize that you have an addictive personality.

The only way I would use opiates is under strict supervision, for the same reason. I also deal with chronic pain, as do many of my friends who are in recovery. I was fortunate enough to find a doctor who was savvy about non-narcotic means of relieving pain. I now rarely - if ever - suffer from incapacitating pain, and haven't needed a trip to the ER for IV narcotics in over 5 years (knock wood!). If there is a medical school near you, call and ask if they offer a pain control clinic.

Narcotics are a godsend to people whose pain cannot be relieved by other means, but they should be a last resort. For me, I like the effects a little too well, which is why I prefer to avoid them.

[SPKrazy]

8. Sounds like you are deluding yourself

if that means willfully stupid, then yes.

sounds pretty addictive, and damn, didn't even know you could do that.

:hi:

[ismnotwasm]

9. Dunno

I suggest you don't graduate to heroin though.

And for a historical perspective, check out what happened during the Opium wars. Sometimes I think we forget addiction has a long, long history.