A reflection on codeine

[Tortoise]

The following is a reflection on Swim's codeine use....

Swim discovered cold-water-extractions about a year ago and is very grateful for this, as he has had many, many enjoyable and most-importantly safe experiences since them. He is reasonably strong-willed and has never allowed himself to indulge so much that he develops a physical addiction, but despite his precaution has found himself to be very much psychologically dependant on it. He thinks about it all the time and always looks forward to his next high. He enjoys it so much that he finds it very difficult to go for more than 4 days without indulging. Sadly, he would probably give up sex before he gave up codeine...

What's more is that he has now begun sniffing around for other opiates too. Thankfully, due to a lack of nefarious friends he has not had much oppurtunity to get his hands on stronger opiates but believes that he stepped upon a dangerous path the very first time he used codeine recreationally. Two years ago he would never, ever have even considered using something as taboo as heroin. Now, if he stumbled across heroin, he would most probably try it.

Swim currently has no desire to quit using codeine or other opiates but just wishes that he didn't think about them all the time. Sadly, he now realises that from the very first time one uses opiates recreationally, they can never be the same. There will always be a desire to do it again.

[Orchid_Suspiria]

Well it sounds as if swiy is still in the early stages of opiate discovery and can put a stop to it before it goes much farther and takes swiy down a dangerous course.Swim has been as far as the opiate road goes so take this advice any way swiy wishes.

[misterboh]

My friend Bob had a doctors rx for percs over an extended time. He came to like them very much. Bob had a hard time going cold turkey when the doctor stopped his rx after a few years. In retrospect though, Bob is glad that he no longer has access to them. Bob says he thought about them all the time for months afterwards but now he hardly ever does and he is glad that he stopped when he did. Bob thinks that if he had continued to have access to them that he would have perhaps gone down a different path in life. Bob worries that you may have come to a cross roads of sorts and urges you to tread carefuly.

[SpaceCadetGlow]

Originally Posted by Tortoise

The following is a reflection on Swim's codeine use....

He thinks about it all the time and always looks forward to his next high. He enjoys it so much that he finds it very difficult to go for more than 4 days without indulging. Sadly, he would probably give up sex before he gave up codeine...

It sounds like SWItortoise has indeed developed some sort of codeine habit. I wouldn't go so far as to call it an addiction yet, but it seems to be headed in that direction. SWIM totally understands how SWItortoise feels; he's been down that path before. Opiates are also SWIM's drug of choice. SWItortoise says he has no desire to stop using opiates. SWIM thinks he doesn't have to, but he should take a few steps towards self-realization and the prevention of an addiction. If he is willing, SWIM suggests the following:

SWIM reccomends that SWItortoise try taking a break from all opiates/opioids. Two weeks would be good. SWIM doesn't know how much was used, how often it was used and for how long, but regardless SWItortoise can expect to feel withdrawal to some degree. There are many ways of coping with opiate withdrawal and they can be found in the forums.
If two weeks go by with no opiates, SWItortoise will have accomplished something that many cannot and never do.

After two weeks without use, SWItortoise's tolerance will have gone down somewhat, so the codeine can be enjoyed more easily if he chooses to do so. From that point on, it would be wise of SWItortoise to indulge in his drug of choice less frequently - maybe once or twice a week. He could instead go on binges, but this is a bit more dangerous. Opiates are truly wonderful, and they deserve a great deal of respect. Voltaire once said:

"Use, do not abuse; neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy."

Reputation Comments on this post:

Highly valuable and insightful. Thank you

[yaba]

SWIM got same feelings SWIMS ex had dyhydrocodeine 60 slow release after operation. And SWIM loves them. But SWIM has been using heroin for four years from when he was 13 till 17 and few years later again. SWIM advices DONT do heroin its fun to start and will fuck your family and friends later on. But for codeine SWIM things have fun!

[Ethyl]

Originally Posted by Tortoise

What's more is that he has now begun sniffing around for other opiates too. Thankfully, due to a lack of nefarious friends he has not had much oppurtunity to get his hands on stronger opiates but believes that he stepped upon a dangerous path the very first time he used codeine recreationally. Two years ago he would never, ever have even considered using something as taboo as heroin. Now, if he stumbled across heroin, he would most probably try it.

WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T GO WITH STRONGER OPIATES...
Stay with codeine/tramadol.

[kritikal]

SWIM has just been through a rehabilitation program that he is very grateful about. He was a hard time Meth, Opiate, Alcohol, Benzo addict. (Not fun!)
He finds Meth Amphetamine cravings the worst but something he can deal with. I dont know why but he does not have too intense cravings for opiates (unlike the meth which is like a full on rush of the drug, shaky, nervous, butterflies, etc..) but he just cant get past the cravings of Opiates. Since being out he has used CWE on Codeine on Occasion, SWIM can't explain the cravings but he just starts thinking well why not have some.

[Tortoise]

Originally Posted by SpaceCadetGlow

If two weeks go by with no opiates, SWItortoise will have accomplished something that many cannot and never do.

Well, Swit did it. He followed your advice and went two weeks without codeine, it wasn't easy (he's tried it unsuccesfully a few times before) but he got there. In actuality, he's aiming for 3 weeks but might not make it 'cause he's kinda yearning for it now.

He knows that it's only been two weeks, but is quite surprised that he's craving it even more now than he first took a break. He simply can't imagine how anybody can get off something like heroin. He doesn't imagine the desire to use again ever really disappears.