Neil Young Song Question

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve always wondered exactly what Neil meant by the line “Milk blood to keep from running out”. I have an idea, Which I think is obvious, but having never been a junkie or done any hard drugs, coupled with the fact that I’ve never heard a similar line, I can’t be sure. What is your opinion? If your are unfamiliar with the song or God forbid, Neil Young, the lyrics are below.
THE NEEDLE AND THE DAMAGE DONE

–Neil Young

I caught you knockin’ at my cellar door
I love you, baby, can I have some more
Ooh, ooh, the damage done.

I hit the city and I lost my band
I watched the needle take another man
Gone, gone, the damage done.

I sing the song because I love the man
I know that some of you don’t understand
Milk blood to keep from running out.

I’ve seen the needle and the damage done
A little part of it in everyone
But every junkie’s like a settin’ sun.

2

My guess is that he’s referring to people who resort to selling blood to get the cash to continue their habit.

3

As a former junkie, I can tell you that I have never heard this term. But I took it to mean that you have your last shot in the syringe, and you put it in your vein til you see the blood, then you kind of push back and forth “milking the blood” so that it takes longer for it all to be gone. I really never did this, as I couldn’t EVER wait for very long to get the damn stuff in.

Don’t start. It ain’t pretty.

I would love to be corrected, as I’ve always wondered exactly what this meant, too.