ferno Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Many heroin workers manage their dose and live normal, employed, crime-free lives: heroin addicts receiving maintenance doses have found their lives to have been stabilised, and many undertake productive work. Nelson commented "Functional drug-abusing employees may work as productive members of a company for years without incident or detection. Cases have been documented of long-term heroin addicts with stable 10- and 20-year work histories." Heroin is believed to be responsible for substantial lost productivity, however the effects of the drug itself are often confused with the effects of the "junkie" lifestyle. The primary barrier to heroin addicts working is not so much the effect of the drug itself, but of the lifestyle which surrounds illicit heroin use, with the constant need to "hustle" to get funds and "score" the next hit of street heroin. This lifestyle is very disruptive, and is incompatible with most occupations - "a lifelong condition associated with severe health and social consequences." The effects of heroin withdrawal can be severe, resulting in adverse changes to mood and cognitive function incompatible with work. In a general review of the effects of painkillers on occupational health, Payne concluded "all classes of analgesics may impair... neuropsychiatric functioning, which may influence job performance in specific instances." http://www.idmu.co.uk/hemployment.htm You could work alongside someone dependent of heroin and never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferno Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Because I understand some class tobaco as the most addictive drug used for pleasure. The American Heart Association states there are similarities between tobacco and heroin in terms of the "pharmacologic and behavioral characteristics that determine...addiction." Canada's Federal Health Department also agrees. Health Canada explains that "nicotine causes chemical or biological changes in the brain," a psychoactive effect. "Although it is less dramatic than heroin or cocaine, the strength of the addiction is just as powerful." http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/tobac-tabac/body-corps/nicotine/addiction-dependance/index-eng.php Here's a thing, you know those people in the morning who say "Oooh, can't do anything before a coffee!" Or who get on a bus with a ginormous paper cup from COFFEE ADDICTS ARE US? Junkies. Caffeine withdrawal is not pretty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey19 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 You could work alongside someone dependent of heroin and never know. Like in the old joke where a wife never knew her husband drank until he came home sober one night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferno Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 You could work alongside someone dependent of heroin and never know. Like in the old joke where a wife never knew her husband drank until he came home sober one night. Remember National Velvet? Liz Taylor winning the Grand National? The author, Enid Bagnold, was a heroin addict all her life and lived a peaceful, productive and crime-free life till she died peacefully in bed aged 93. She's one of Sam Cam's ancestors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky3 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/tobac-tabac/body-corps/nicotine/addiction-dependance/index-eng.php Here's a thing, you know those people in the morning who say "Oooh, can't do anything before a coffee!" Or who get on a bus with a ginormous paper cup from COFFEE ADDICTS ARE US? Junkies. Caffeine withdrawal is not pretty. Caffeine doesn't alter perception or produce such violent reaction when weaning off. They don't compare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey19 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Like in the old joke where a wife never knew her husband drank until he came home sober one night. Remember National Velvet? Liz Taylor winning the Grand National? The author, Enid Bagnold, was a heroin addict all her life and lived a peaceful, productive and crime-free life till she died peacefully in bed aged 93. She's one of Sam Cam's ancestors! The quote has got mixed up somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spooky3 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Like in the old joke where a wife never knew her husband drank until he came home sober one night. Remember National Velvet? Liz Taylor winning the Grand National? The author, Enid Bagnold, was a heroin addict all her life and lived a peaceful, productive and crime-free life till she died peacefully in bed aged 93. She's one of Sam Cam's ancestors! There are a small percentage of high functioning individuals who can operate whilst addicted, the majority can't! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferno Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Caffeine doesn't alter perception or produce such violent reaction when weaning off. They don't compare. Yes it does. Caffeine is the world's most widely consumed psychoactive substance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadingNorth Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Well the rise in popularity isn't largely due to the illegality of it, rather the population growth and because it is highly addictive and easily available. Population growth over the last thirty years is fairly negligible. Easily available, yes - that's exactly the point. Criminal gangs supplying heroin want to supply it to as many people as possible to get them hooked - the NHS never did that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferno Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 There are a small percentage of high functioning individuals who can operate whilst addicted, the majority can't! Can you source that statement please? What's your evidence for that pronouncement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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