Heroin
Sonny’s personal testimony and analysis of heroin addiction.
Red Head Female Junkie
It was becoming a heroin junkie that was the cause of my most substantial downfall. The dope had caused me to suddenly blend into a low-life drug culture of poverty and lawlessness. Moreover, there were close calls with death; such as, deadly infections, multiple overdoses, being kidnapped, being double crossed by fake bosom buddies, and dodging rough-and-ready street thugs.
After easily becoming hooked on heroin, I still managed to maintain nine-to-fiver’s in the technological rat race. Eventually it was a matter of survival to remain in such adverse circumstances. As a result, at times I had to become as ruthless and conniving as the others. However, this wasn’t an attitude I could maintain for long, because of my Christian convictions.
Heroin Works (Tools)
As any current or recovered heroin junkie will attest, my priority was obtaining money or merchandise by any means in order to cop the next fix; even to the embarrassing point of revealing my dire predicament to those I attempted to befriend and/or con. One day it suddenly occurred to me that I had adopted the same scheming life style as the Harlem junkies I had so detested during my gallavanting in the ’60s while in the Air Force. At first it was like party time all the time, sort of like using a designer drug: however, it soon became a game I didn’t want to play anymore. At first I thought I was alone in my dire straits, until I found out there was plenty of help available. This was a high priority, since “Shotting heroin leads the pack of abused substances in fatalities.” [6] I contend that heroin is the most deadliest addiction.
Analysis
It was a set of traumatic experiences and curiosity that lead to my drug use, which in turn triggered my deviant behavior. Kicking the heroin habit was one of the most difficult task I ever ventured upon. The experience encroached upon my whole being; that is, body, soul and spirit. Deliverance required being fixed concurrently in all these realms: physically, psychologically and spiritually. My use of various programs of available rehabilitation treatment was an enduring effort, since I required several attempts before finally overcoming the ordeal. More specifically I had hit the so called “bottom” so many times, it could be compared to the bouncing ball in one of them ’50s era animated sing-a-longs. My deliverance required: 1) suboxone – a synthetic opiate, 2) sincere participation in drug rehabilitation programs, 3) a willingness, 4) isolation from tempting persons, place and things, and 5) embracing my Christian spiritual convictions. This procedure was necessary, since “Kicking heroin cold turkey is physically and mentally perilous” [7]
