A person hooked on opioids is acutely aware of their situation. No outsider need warn them- they know. The first time you wake up with that sick feeling in the pit of your stomach or lack the energy to go to school/work/Outside, your plight is clearly outlined. We chose to deny this at first but the truth has a way of chopping at your conscious. You know what is going on. But does the benefits of the drug outweigh the consequences? No one else can decide this for you.I stopped Heroin many times before I finally stopped. I would break my syringes. Go a few days without using. I’d do all the speed, take a benzo, smoke weed- whatever- to delay the inevitable return to the needle. Truly, I had no reason to stop besides for the fact I hated the bag chase. I had no job, no friends, no place to live, no will to live, no life. Heroin filled the chasm between myself and the world I saw others live in. It allowed me to function with suicidal depression- until it didn’t. I got to a place, a very discouraging place, of no veins and no prospects. I wish I had an illuminating tale of how I quit drugs 21 years ago because I really wanted to. That isn’t entirely true. In many ways, the choice was made for me by a failing body and no resources left to continue my use. Things just didn’t work. So I not only quit, I stayed “stopped”.I don’t know what your situation is out there in the world. I surmise you are reading this piece because you want a little escape from the daily grind. I just want you to know that whatever your reasons, I understand them. I hope you are as safe as possible with your narcan, your clean supplies, and possibly next to a person who cares about your well being. Love to you- Tracey