From: pez@manhattan.com (gizmo)
Subject: Re: Kicking H
Date: 1996/06/04
newsgroups: alt.drugs.hard

Gizmo

>I have become close friends with a junkie/crackhead streetwalker. Her
>whole life is sucking cocks in cars to buy her dope and pay for her motel
>room. She lives off of dope, cigarettes, candy bars and yoo-hoos. She's
>told me that the only thing that matters to her is smack. She doesn't care
>if she gets raped, beat up, AIDs (she's still HIV- thank God), as long as
>she gets high.

>She's facing an indictment on drug and prostitution charges and will
>probably be doing some prison time soon. I told her that this could be a
>blessing in disguise...that while she's in, she'll be able to get clean.
>She's says yeah, but with what she's got waiting for her when she comes
>out, she'd just as soon start shooting again.

>Anyway...I have no illusions that I'll be able to save her. I just want to
>know if being clean for several months will get her past the physical
>addiction, and is the psychological addiction really that strong? If she
>actually had some sort of decent life waiting for her when she got out
>where she wanted to stay clean...how hard will it be for her?


The short answer to your question is this:

1.)     Yes, a few months is more than enough to get her past the
        physical craving.  Actually a few weeks will usually do it.
        The problem is the so-called psychological part of the equation.
        Which brings me to...

2.)     If she gets clean and if she has a supportive environment to
        come to when she gets out and if she is ready for something
        new (for her,) yes, there is a chance.

        The problem I have found is a matter of desires.  You have to
        really want a "new life."  Most folks who get really down and
        out with junk/crack were kinda borderline from the get go
        in regard to plugging into "mainstream life values/interests."
        So, once they have tasted the good high you get from
        Heroin and Cocaine, it's real tough to educate/re-educate
        yourself.  Good aftercare programs can work wonders, again, if the
        person really wants to make a go of it.

        I'm not sure what state your in, but if there are any 24 hour live in
        residential treatment programs that are funded by State & Federal
        money, and that have a duration of 12 to 18 months, this is your
        best shot.  In the northeast, there are lots of these type of
        programs called therapeautic communities , with names like, Daytop

        Village, Phoenix House, Project Return, etc.  The rest of the
        country, I'm not so sure.

        Bottom line, she has to really want to change.  Good luck.

Gizmo

>I have become close friends with a junkie/crackhead streetwalker. Her
>whole life is sucking cocks in cars to buy her dope and pay for her motel
>room. She lives off of dope, cigarettes, candy bars and yoo-hoos. She's
>told me that the only thing that matters to her is smack. She doesn't care
>if she gets raped, beat up, AIDs (she's still HIV- thank God), as long as
>she gets high.

>She's facing an indictment on drug and prostitution charges and will
>probably be doing some prison time soon. I told her that this could be a
>blessing in disguise...that while she's in, she'll be able to get clean.
>She's says yeah, but with what she's got waiting for her when she comes
>out, she'd just as soon start shooting again.

>Anyway...I have no illusions that I'll be able to save her. I just want to
>know if being clean for several months will get her past the physical
>addiction, and is the psychological addiction really that strong? If she
>actually had some sort of decent life waiting for her when she got out
>where she wanted to stay clean...how hard will it be for her?

>AG

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