# Questions about addiction to illegal hard drugs **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 2, 2014, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384 "2014-02-02T22:38:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/21 "2014-02-03T14:32:30Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Thing is, nobody dies or has their life destroyed from a first lil taste. Tell that to Len Bias…☹ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/22 "2014-02-03T14:56:15Z")
> [@slowlearner](#): > > Drugs are fun and they make you feel good, that’s why people are always going to use them. I don’t know why I’m not an addict but my brother was an addict who died from substance abuse at 50. The average heroin addict isn’t a street junkie but someone like PS Hoffman or Rush Limbaugh or a successful professional, intelligent, arrogant, convinced they have a personal power over the drug that sets them apart from others. Even the lowest junkie has a perversely high opinion of him/herself. I’ve seen people do incredible amounts of all kinds of dope so it’s always kind of amazing to me when someone manages to od. Like SRV used to say, don’t stay too long at the party… My underlining. I worked for 11 years at a residential treatment center for indigent male alcoholics and addicts (doing grant proposals). The director used to say that everyone there suffered from “terminal specialness,” meaning, “I’m not like all those other losers… _I_ can control it.” That’s one of the reasons the first AA step is admitting that you’ve given yourself over to the substance and can no longer control your use (i.e., that you’ve made a series of choices that have now rendered you \*powerless \*over the substance). That is a very tough admission. [Not wishing to go off on a discussion of AA, so please… let’s don’t… at least not on this thread.] ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/23 "2014-02-03T15:37:42Z")
When you make a lot of money, drug pushers come out of the woodwork to give you something to “feel better.” And unethical doctors are willing to prescribe anything in exchange for cash. ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/24 "2014-02-03T15:44:27Z")
They are either in physical or mental pain (usually mental though), and they are trying to shut this pain off by taking drugs. They are in essence self-medicating. Thats the gist of it. And no I’m not being judgemental, just stating facts. Drug addiction is very difficult to treat. I did a whole thesis on it in university. Also the mental pain they are trying to dull with drugs usually stems from physical or sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is probably the most difficult to treat ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/25 "2014-02-03T15:50:27Z")
Yeah, at that level of use, no one is doing it anymore for pleasure… they are doing it to numb pain. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/26 "2014-02-03T15:56:55Z")
My uncle who went to jail for robbing liquor stores for crack money got started on morphine after an Army injury in Vietnam, which is so cliche it’s disappointing. Mostly he drank for years but he was always up for whatever pills happened to wander by. Not sure how the crack specifically started though. ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/27 "2014-02-03T15:57:05Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Yeah, at that level of use, no one is doing it anymore for pleasure… they are doing it to numb pain Yeah, I think most people who smoke weed or drink socially do it for pleasure. Thats most people! When you’re taking a strong opiate like heroin, oxycontins or fentanyl its not recreational anymore, it becomes a crutch to get through the day. I really think pills should be legalized for that reason. If people are in that much pain why not give them the painkillers so they can function?! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/28 "2014-02-03T16:21:55Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > Right, but the OP’s point is that grown adults–people in their 40s and 50s, often very successful–also develop addictions to “hard drugs”. The original sin of poor decision starts at a young age. Once addicted the decision process is compromised at any age. The harder drugs will alter the chemistry in the brain for a very long time. “Kicking the habit” should be thought of in terms of an ongoing event and not a singular accomplishment. Just like alcohol a person is chemically drawn to use again only the difference is much more apparent and sometimes fatal when they fall off the wagon. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/29 "2014-02-03T17:34:01Z")
Part of the OP is about how this happens to people with “good lives.” When a poor person gets down, I think they often say to themselves: “Of course I am down, my life basically sucks.” If they talk to friends and family they will probably get some empathy, or at least sympathy. The advice they get will probably be along the lines of “don’t let the bastards wear you down, work hard, and try to make the best of things.” They will also probably have some realistic, or even modest goals that they can see themselves progressing toward. It is not always the case, but often poor people blame the depression on their circumstances and work at changing those circumstances. When someone is successful, wealthy, comfortable, etc. and they get depressed, they may initially blame their circumstances, but will get no sympathy from anyone. (Oh boo boo…poor little rich boy has to make do with a Ferrari instead if a proper Lamborghini…) the advice the get might be “stop being stupid and cheer up” they most likely get there on their own, and conclude that they are crazy, along with a dose of “fuck this life if it ain’t making me happy…” It is really easy to beat up on yourself when you think you have everything required to be happy and you are miserable. Kids that grow up in wealthy homes are also often rather screwed if their talents and interests, etc. make the well suited to a happy blue collar life. One gets used to a standard of living that can’t be sustained on a Plumber’s wage, not to mention the pressure from friends and family. The seriously wealthy may get pushback even if they want to be Doctors or Lawyers. It is almost a cliche’ how often lottery winners flame out, but it also happens a lot when win life’s lottery even though hard work. Not every top athlete or #1 pop star flames out on drugs, alcohol, etc. but it happens enough that we tend not to be suprised. It is to the point that it is even remarkable when such people as Dolly Parton or John Elway retain the wealth they earned and sustain the success. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/30 "2014-02-03T17:49:33Z")
A good friend of mine related this story about when he was snorting coke. He said he thought with just one more gram he would be able to talk to god. He went through his entire savings before he realized that god was farther away than he thought. Fortunately he realized this and gave it up. I presume it is the same with someone shooting smack. “I like this feeling, I want to continue it, or I want to go higher”. No cite here, but IIRC a majority of people that have OD, were alone at the time. No one to say it is time to turn it off, cut down. Sometimes when you are alone, the world can be ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/31 "2014-02-03T17:51:23Z")
I’ve always seen an addiction to a hard drug kind of like an itch. Sure, it’s a negative feeling, but the temporary relief you get from scratching it is nice. If your life is stressed out and miserable, sometimes the ability to just feel _good_, to have something to bring a little happiness into your life, is worth it. Add that to the fact that most people start doing drugs as very young adults, and that that age group has a ton of peer pressure to deal with, and it can be hard to resist. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/32 "2014-02-03T17:59:07Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > The original sin of poor decision starts at a young age. Once addicted the decision process is compromised at any age. The harder drugs will alter the chemistry in the brain for a very long time. “Kicking the habit” should be thought of in terms of an ongoing event and not a singular accomplishment. Just like alcohol a person is chemically drawn to use again only the difference is much more apparent and sometimes fatal when they fall off the wagon. That assumes that they were using “hard” drugs since they were young. I think the OP is asking about times when that wasn’t the case. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/33 "2014-02-04T02:05:16Z")
I drink, more than is good for me, but do it all the same. When I was 17 drunk at a party I was offered and did some coke. HOLY SHIT! it was fucking great. Some part of my brain has never let me do it again because I can absolutly see myself wanting that again and again. Spending every penny I can beg borrow or steal to get there. Been over 25 years and have yet to give in to the urge, but I know it’s there like a monster in the closet willing to eat me if I ever turn my back. Unrelated, I got to know a guy in his mid 20’s last year. He was jammed up and about to go to jail because of dealing drugs. As a teenager he started taking oxy and other pills because they were there. Could have been pot or alcohol, pills were in the right (wrong?) place at the right time. He moved on to heroin because it was way cheaper and easier to get. He is a bright and articulate nice young man and an addict. He’s not proud of it and knows it’s fucking up his life, facing jail and will get high in a New York minute right now if it was in front of him anyways. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/34 "2014-02-04T02:17:39Z")
Saying drugs make you feel good doesn’t quite cover it. The first time I experienced quality cocaine, I thought: _That’s_ what I’m supposed to feel like. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/35 "2014-02-04T02:44:19Z")
As far as “why not just give them the drugs so they can control the pain?”: They do. I have been on ever-increasing dosages of opiates for osteoarthritis since 2005. I am using mophine as a baseline, with hydromorphone for “break through” pain. In those nine years, there have been a total of 8 times in which I have had a psychometric response. Exactly 2 of those have been severe enough to make me decide to NOT drive. Don’t care to think where I’s be if I got a typical response to these. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/36 "2014-02-04T03:13:20Z")
I think self-medicating leads a lot of people into addiction. Something like 50% of adults with undiagnosed ADHD use/abuse stimulants, legal or otherwise (usually cigarettes). As someone who’s been through multiple bouts of depression, I can tell you, there have been times when, if someone had offered me a handful of Vicodin with the warning that I stood a very good chance of turning into a junkie, I probably would have taken it, because depression hurts so _fucking_ much, and narcotics not only erase the pain but also the memory and expectation of it. The only reason I never ran the risk is because no one ever offered me any when the black dog was tearing up the inside of my skull. I count myself lucky. There are a lot of people out there with refractive depression who self-medicate with alcohol and less legal, more destructive drugs. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/37 "2014-02-04T03:24:02Z")
Don’t underestimate social pressure. It takes a special person to stay sober when everyone else at the party is drunk and high. Not only do you look like stick-in-the-mud, but it’s close to impossible to socialize with drunk and high people if you aren’t on their wavelength. And these people aren’t just your friends. They’re also your colleagues. They are directors who you’ve always wanted to work with. They are producers who might be tempted, over a few lines or puffs, to invest in your pet projects. If they can hang in there, why can’t you? And why _should_ you care? You’ve got your own driver. You’ve got your own housekeeper, nanny, butler, personal assistants, publicists. You’ve got people who are paid to hold your hair for you when you’re retching over a toilet. And because you are a “big shot”, no one’s going to be mad at you if you stroll onto set an hour late. And even if they are mad, you’re worth eleventy-billion dollars. So they can suck it. Frankly, I don’t see how celebrities can hang in there _without_ relying on mind-altering substances. Most humans just aren’t meant to withstand all that pressure and stress, not without a little help. Hell, I can’t even seem to work my easy plushy job without popping a caffeine pill. Under the right amount of stress, it wouldn’t take much to convince me that taking a bump of heroin is no morally different than knocking back a No Doze. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/38 "2014-02-04T03:45:52Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > As far as “why not just give them the drugs so they can control the pain?”: > > They do. I have been on ever-increasing dosages of opiates for osteoarthritis since 2005. > > I am using mophine as a baseline, with hydromorphone for “break through” pain. > > In those nine years, there have been a total of 8 times in which I have had a psychometric response. Exactly 2 of those have been severe enough to make me decide to NOT drive. > > Don’t care to think where I’s be if I got a typical response to these. It’s not always physical pain they’re numbing. ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/39 "2014-02-04T04:03:16Z")
> [@Tethered\_Kite](#): > > It would be interesting to know how many people were already under the influence of a mood/mind-altering drug before they tried their first dose of something stronger/illegal. I know that that’s true of heroin and krokodil. But then, that’s one more reason not to be stupid enough to try heroin: because it might make you stupid enough to try krokodil. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2014, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384/40 "2014-02-04T06:02:22Z")
I wonder just how fucking awesome krokodil must be to make people try it when they know what it does to the flesh. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/questions-about-addiction-to-illegal-hard-drugs/680384.md?page=3)