over the counter narcotics

[kasbeq]

My cat has recently moved to a country that has almost no pharmaceutical control
And almost anything can be bought over the counter.
I know many members will think yeah great…… but for someone who is really a recovered addict its very tempting and a real struggle to live a drug free life.
Temptation is extremely high because of the availability of drugs.
Swim really wants some advice – because Swim loves the job that is doing at the moment ,but thinking of leaving the country primarily for the reason of easy access to drugs .
Does anyone think that the job is worthwhile bearing in mind that on SWIMs way home is a real struggle crossing numerous pharmacies.

[OtherIsomer]

Drugs are everywhere. Whether obtainable through legal prescibers (doctors) or illegal prescibers( local dealer).

It is up to swiys cat to determine how important sobriety is to him.

If swiy likes his job, then stay and work!


Though swim understands the allure of pharmacies, good prices and pure stuff.

[kasbeq]

Thanks for your reply OtherIsomer

My cat is aware that drugs are available everywhere -but to put things in perspective –here is like picking morphine from the shelves of your corner shop …. along with bread and milk .
Anyway after SWIM posted the thread had a minute of unbalanced judgment and went to local pharmacy and purchased some opiates and benzos and is currently feeling well but SWIM knows that he is going to regret the decision tomorrow and that he is loosing his battle

Reputation Comments on this post:

Very honest.

[OtherIsomer]

Swim has had many love affairs with opiates. He understands.
With such availability swim would most probably be tempted as well.

As for losing the battle, dont beat your self up.
Do what makes swiy happy, if swiy can keep a steady job and family/friends along with a habit, then more power to swiy!

But, if he is obstaining from these substances because they are interfering with his life adversly, then he should ask himself wich is more important.

Swim knows its not easy giving up what gives swiy the most pleasure in life.

[missparkles]

In swams opinion nothing is worth giving up her recovery for. Job, partner or family. If swam goes back to gear she will eventually lose those too.
Might not be today or tomorrow, but swam will eventually crawl back into that vicious cycle once again.
Just remember opiates take everything and give sod all back.
Unless pain and heartbreak are desirable qualities, of course.
Swam would like to say "yeah..try it see how it goes" but swam is thinking "remember how tough it was getting clean, do you want to go through that again? Get the fuck out of there."
Complacency (swam used to think she could "dabble") is the real gorilla on swams back, not drugs.
Tough call. Swam wishes you luck with it.

[miggeth]

Originally Posted by miss sparkles

Just remember opiates take everything and give sod all back.

Swim can understand swiys frustration missparkles, and any outlet for rage against that which causes swiy pain is possibly useful, but it really does come off as slightly hysterical to make absolute statements like that.

Swim wants swiy to try something. Breathe in deeply and very slowly, as slow as swiy can, now close swiys eyes, and breathe out again just as slowly.

Now read that statement swiy made again, and ask if swiy truely believes that.

If swiy can manage to see that opaites are not some great crushing overwhelming force, but are actually an activity just like any other, that has positives and negatives, then swiy would stand a much better chance of finding a place for them in swiys life.

Everyone has to find a place for them. For most people it's "over there", away from them, but even then opiates are just as real and valid a part of reality as anything else. For others, that place is much closer, but the challenge of rationalizing them and finding a place for them, and for everything else, in our lives is something we shouldn't run away from.

Reputation Comments on this post:

This post has nothing to do with the discussion at hand. This is the recovery and addiction section, not the I enjoy opi...

[missparkles]

Apologies if swiy thinks the above statement was a generalisation. But swim has never met anyone who has been addicted to opiates who can go back to "recreational" use.
If swiy had only used rarely and had not had to get clean (as swiy already stated) swim would say "enjoy."
Good luck if swiy can do it.
Anger issues?
Don't know where that's coming from.
Not anger, just swims honest opinion, and personal experience.
Swim speaks with addicts every day who wish they had not gone back to using. One thing they can all agree on is that they thought they could control it.
But thanks for pointing it out.
Swim will remember to take deep breaths...frequently.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Good advice and good job answering OP

[miggeth]

Swim just gets frustrated with statements like that, he wouldn't have had a problem with it if it was kept to swiys own experiece, but it really does read like a generalisation.

Opiates have taken very little from swim and they have given him a lot.

Reputation Comments on this post:

horribly off topic. this thread isnt about you and your feelings.

[missparkles]

Originally Posted by miggeth

Swim just gets frustrated with statements like that, he wouldn't have had a problem with it if it was kept to swiys own experiece, but it really does read like a generalisation.

Opiates have taken very little from swim and they have given him a lot.

How it reads and how it was meant are two entirely different things.
It was just swims opinion, one of thousands on this forum.
And as such swim is entitled to it.
If swiy feels frustrated, deal with it. Swim didn't make swiy feel anything. Don't dump it on swim. She isn't taking it on.
Heroin gave swim a huge habit and almost destroyed her. Not something she sees as a big plus.
Just being honest.

[Mutil]

kabeq, this is a life decision and isn't really something that strangers can give good advice on. If drugs are going to interfere in Swiy's life (and it seems like they will from previous posts), a good friend to help Swiy stay clean is a good way to go.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Positive advice, clearly given.
	This is some of the best, short to the point, answer I have seen in this thread

[kasbeq]

Originally Posted by Mutil

kabeq, this is a life decision and isn't really something that strangers can give good advice on. If drugs are going to interfere in Swiy's life (and it seems like they will from previous posts), a good friend to help Swiy stay clean is a good way to go.

Mutil thank you for your input

Swim is aware that he is in a need of a sympathetic friend however easier said than done in swims case . Most of the friends swim has at the moment are people that don’t know much about swims addiction and don’t know much about addiction in general .So swim is cautious about mentioning his dilemmas and grief that he is facing to his close friends as swim thinks that it will raise questions of the type : hmmm I didn’t know that you where an addict – how long ago was that ? -and on and on, and the end result would probably some do-gooder advice that is completely irrelevant. Swim is definitely positive that he did not put this dilemma amongst strangers as swim has browsed this forum many times and thinks that he is among a community that can help, advise ,and support people with issues that I have presented

[missparkles]

Swim would like to apologise to swi kasbeq. Swims last post added nothing to the discussion and didn't help him with the problem at hand.
Swim obviously needs to learn to practise what she preaches, act not react.
Swim hopes swiy has some close friends to help him through this difficult time.
Swi Mutil is absolutely right, in swims opinion.
Thanks for reminding swim what is important.

[kasbeq]

Originally Posted by missparkles

Swim would like to apologise to swi kasbeq. Swims last post added nothing to the discussion and didn't help him with the problem at hand.
Swim obviously needs to learn to practise what she preaches, act not react.
Swim hopes swiy has some close friends to help him through this difficult time.
Swi Mutil is absolutely right, in swims opinion.
Thanks for reminding swim what is important.

Absolutely no apologies necessary Missparkles on the contrary swim agrees on everything that swiy mentioned and did take swiy’s opinion on board . The whole purpose of swims thread was to get different opinions about swims current problem.
Even in cases where swim would not agree with others opinion swim feels that he is being supported when others participate and he strongly feels that most participants will have good intentions in mind

[Dickon]

I'm glad to see we're getting back on topic somewhat. I think easy availability of drugs can be a serious problem to many, especially in difficult times and early recovery. To say one should simply be strong enough to resist all temptations although an ideal, and in some cases achievable, endpoint is not all that helpful. In early recovery, or difficult times, it is best to do everything to optimise one's chances of success. One strategy of relapse prevention is to avoid dangerous situations in the beginning and then increase one's comfort zone slowly. One can rehearse way for dealing with situations before they are encountered and avoid unnecessary difficulties, such as going to a shop where morphine is available over-the-counter.

Ultimately the need to leave where you are to avoid drugs is a decision you'll have to make based on who you are and what your individual relapse triggers are. It seems like you have just had a lapse, and you need to be really careful now that things don't spiral out of control. If that means moving back to the UK then it might ultimately be worth it, but again that is a decision only you can make.

My cat cleaned up using DF for support, so it is not strictly necessary to have real-world support, although it might prove invaluable.

I hope all goes well

Dickon

[kasbeq]

Dickons cat

The Author of : Screaming in the air – journal – swims favourite thread in this forum
Always nice to read swiys opinion

[thebige]

A bad day at work is always going to be better than a good day in opiate withdrawal.....Swim would say.
But unless swiy truly loves the job swiy is preforming at this time....
Well swim wouldn't ever hold a job in such high esteem that he would let it dictate his life or decisions in life........ever again...

Reputation Comments on this post:

great,succinct advice.makes so much sense.