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Home Page | Site Contents | About the Author | What's New | Bookstore | WWW Links
About this Website
I have a very personal interest in the debates and trials going on in Australia at the moment about what to do with heroin addicts. I am one of them. I want to make these pages a resource, not only for Australian opiate addicts, but anybody concerned with this problem: health professionals, policy makers, people who know an addict/have an addict in their family, people who have lost a family member/friend to addiction. I hope to gather a lot of information here that is useful to people with addictions and also to help non-addicts understand a little more about us as people.
None of what I say here is intended to promote heroin or say that it is good stuff. But I will, inevitably, be mentioning that often addicts, myself included, like to take it, we like to be high. That is just a statement of fact, one that some people find hard to swallow. The only acceptable way for an addict to feel is that they desperately want to get off drugs, the reason they can't is that they are ill/weak/lack self-discipline. This needs to be challenged. The main reason why methadone programs are frequently unsuccessful is that the addict misses the comfort and psychological security of the high. This has to be accepted and talked about honestly and openly.
It is over two years now since I first put this web site into operation,. The reaction to this site has been wonderful and I would like to thank my readers and everyone who has taken the time to write in.
Please check out the What's New page. This is where I chat about what's been happening in my life lately and tell you about new additions to the site.
For more detailed information about what is on this site please visit the Site Contents page. This has an orderly(I hope) list of all the pages on the site and descriptions of what is on the pages.
Here a couple of places that are a good starting point into what this site is about.
Hi. My name is Rose Whithers. A pseudonym, of course. I am a heroin addict. I am currently being treated with methadone. This is the fourth time I have been on a methadone program. I have been on my current program for nearly 3 years. I have been addicted to heroin for 14 years and have seen many different sides of the problem. I have been on the street, been in middle-class circles, mixed with dealers and smugglers. I have been near death several times, I have seen many of my friends die or just retire from life. I have seen more than I would wish on anyone. I have come through all this and now, while battling depression (which the methadone seems to keep under check), I have a beautiful family - two young children and a loving husband - and I lead a full, active life. Drop into my page, I'll be happy to tell you more.
Because of the aggressive way that drug users are treated in this society, they have to stand on their own. Having to hide and receiving no support in the recreational activity or medical treatment of their choosing, this activity has become dangerous and drug users frequently encounter difficulties. When we accept treatment, we are forced to renounce any enjoyment or benefit we may have had. We must hang our heads in shame, yes, we have seen the error of our ways. When most often the difficulties are a direct consequence, not of the drug itself, but of the effects of prohibition.
I have heard a lot in the news about proposed programs. Heard many interviews with doctors, researchers, politicians etc. but addicts themselves seem to be very much in the background of this debate. We seem to be hanging (out?) in the periphery waiting for judgement to be passed on us. This is my contribution to the debate. This is me standing on my soapbox in the most public place I can find, hoping that my voice will be heard and taken into consideration when decisions are made. My main experience with treatments is: cold turkey, doloxene capsules and methadone, but I am gathering as much information as I can about all types of treatments from rapid detox to heroin maintenance, to present on these pages. If you can help with articles about your own experiences I'd be glad to hear from you.
I welcome feedback. There are now more ways to do this. The "I'm online/not online" button above can be clicked to chat live if I'm online or to send a message if I"m not. I have started a mailing list where interested people can all talk together with me. There are no particular rules for the mailing list yet, other than 'keep it nice'. Let's see how it develops.
If you have a story to tell (and don't we all!) send me an e-mail and we'll talk about putting your story up on this website. I have been getting many requests to see more personal stories. When people read about what others have been through it makes them feel much less strange and alone.
You may want to ask questions. I will try to answer any questions, but please keep in mind that I am not a doctor or counsellor and have no qualifications in either of those fields.
I make an effort to answer all e-mail, but it may take a few days to a couple of weeks since I don't get on the internet every day. You can e-mail me at egad-dict@geocities.com.
The guestbook has been split into five because it was getting so big. I can't keep up with answering all the guestbook messages any more. I have been sending a mass mailout update to those who have signed the guestbook and left a valid e-mail address. I still read the guestbook regularly and avidly, but can no longer give individual answers to the guestbook entries. You can sign my guestbook and leave your suggestions/messages there. The guestbook makes wonderful reading, full of support, encouragement and powerful stories. Click here to read the guestbook
Email:egad-dict@geocities.com | Sign the Guestbook
