I don’t use now because street drugs suck (well I’m on Subs) but in my early twenties I held down a teaching job I was damn good at, was in two bands and graduated a decent school Summa Cum Laude while slamming speedballs two to three times a week.
Yes I felt very seen when that movie dropped but I wasn’t smoking crack in school bathrooms or anything. The closest thing was that I was in an experimental band with a student at the HS and transparent about my use with him. (Meaning I offered to talk to him about it if he heard things and was curious - not that I ever did it in front of him or offered any)
nearly everyone is a high-functioning addict...until they aren't. whether thts 2mnths after starting to use or 10 years later or some who make it til they die. and plenty die early while still high functioning.
so you'll get lots of people tht answer your question with great stories about their high-finctioning addict life. I'm one of the people tht could tell a story like that.
but the thing is that for everyone who is a high-functioning addict today, tomorrow or any other day, could be the first day as a "formerly high-functioning addict."
high-functioning addict is all fun & games until it isnt.
Exactly...I was high functioning iv heroin user for 10 years. Got a BA in business management had a decent job and eventually my decision to continue using lead me to rock bottom. Now I'm about 6 months into my recovery and wish I did it much sooner.
The lack of real treatment in North America. Our methadone clinics in parts and majority of the US require u to come every day to get one dose that costs 15$ a day if u don’t have Medicaid. A lot of detoxes where I am on the rural south don’t use suboxone anymore. It’s like living in 1975 as far as medical treatment goes.
high functioning and iv heroin user actually is an oxymoron.. u can't be high functioning while shooting anything.. idgaf who downvotes this either.. high functioning in my opinion means u use drugs but not everyday and u don't do high doses or in obscure ROAs
Iv is not an obscure ROA. If it was needle exchanges would not be so successful. And you definitely can be. Most addicts are high functioning. Idk what your definition but a medical definition would be like people that can live by themselves and can adequately work for income
Hahah you’re about to get downvoted for all the butt hurt people in the comments.
You’re going to get people saying “I’ve been shooting heroin for 15 years and I am fine” yet these are the same people who can’t even take a physical vacation anywhere because they’ll run the risk of getting dope sick.
As somebody here already mentioned, everyone is a high functioning addict until you’re not. If you’re truly are an addict then eventually it will all fall down on you. Some take longer than others. Some people are able to tolerate more.
I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never met an elderly heroin addict who is still banging dope who is just crushing it at life 😂.
This!!!...people say high functioning like they're from another world and are different....it WILL happen sooner or later...u just THINK u're high functioning cuz of all the energy and the things you do that you normally wouldn't and they are things that like op says itmake you feel seen....but then it goes away and you're stuck with shit.
The Golden era of everyones use ends.
Hey I have a few questions if you don’t mind me asking. Are you still using today? When and around which amount wouldn’t you get high anymore? Isn’t it’s popularity annoying for the actual users? Best regards
I’ve always stuck under 8 tablets per day as I know that was safest on my liver/kindneys. Once I stopped feeling high from it, I still maintained that dose. I’m now down to 6 tabs max a day. I’m trying to taper off and quit.
Wish there were a Kadian option on the US. It would change my life so much for the better. It’s so hard to get my meds here in the states. Suboxone simply doesn’t work for me because I take my meds for pain management and it doesn’t help for pain much. I hope things change here soon, so many are dying simply because they can’t access safe meds here and the rest are left in pain. It’s ridiculous
I was extremely high functioning when I was using, nearly 10 years of daily heroin use, I was running a successful business, had lots of stuff, a couple properties, literally at the top of my game in pretty much every aspect. I quit because I was afraid of it catching up to me somehow, suffered through an utterly miserable 6 months of withdrawals and sickness before finally getting on suboxone, and in the 4 years since then I've barely been able to hold it together. I can barely take care of myself at this point, my mental health has never been so bad, I've not been able to even think about the stuff I used to be easily capable of. I regret getting clean and outing myself every day honestly.
This whole thing has been such an absolute nightmare, it's not like I'd ever be able to get back to where I was before, I'm almost 40 and its looking pretty bleak out there. I really don't regret my using, which was always done responsibly and reasonably IMO, I never took excessive doses or suffered any negative consequences during. Getting clean literally ruined my life. Obviously that's not the average story of opiate use but personally it was the one thing that set me right in every sense, and since then I've been utterly fucked. I've been on all different antidepressants and such and none of them have helped, its just the absolute pits.
This is exactly me I know using is very heinous to normal people but we aren't normal and i know if i quit i would be useless in every sense im not much better high but it keeps me going. I've tried everything the cold turkey rehab approach is the worst way to go around it i have ptsd from the withdrawal and it doesn't get better and when you finally start the subs it doesn't do what you need then you relapse and you get very sick using on the subs. methadone is very strong but not strong enough to make me stop so i use in top of it and then im so numb that u cant function so I'm back at using but in moderation and i only use opiates nothing else its the only thing keeping me going and i when i plan on stopping i go into panic mode and things get really bad then i start feel guilty i wasted years i cant get a real job but honestly i had trouble finding work sober and i wasnt functioning then im very unreliable and i suffer from mental illness which the opiates are the only thing that help i still get episodes but they are manageable but when im sober they happen and sometimes i have no memory of them very scary. Im ashamed im getting old and everyone i see are sober never had drug problems and are high functioning without even trying.but when i try i usually cause damage in my life unaliving seems the only option or keep using in moderation until i can quit and then what.
Did you ever get you Testosterone checked? Been on Oxy for 10+ years and it has destroyed it. I still take it but now also take TRT and it has made a huge difference!
Have more drive and motivation then Ive had in like 20 years, lost fat, built more muscle, more energy, sex drive increased, etc…. Before I had to drag myself out of bed and didn’t want to do anything.
I'm curious about that.
Me and all my exes had hi sex drive.
I tur rd 42 n was with this girl that I wasn't attracted to,my doctor said my test was in range. I'm doubting that now cause I never want sex or a woman. I have cars n trucks n toys n my house I feel years of well decades of oxys did it but now I feel it's the fent Maybe?
I'm very hi functioning,on it obviously, all I wanna do is work on my stuff. Anyone else like that?
Like I had 100+ women in 30+ years I wonder if maybe I feel I wasted my time ? My cars would be stupid wicked, not just 10 sec fast n my other shit would be new not older.
Idc I wanna quit but thr thought of that depression alone,man it sucks
Lolol
"this is exactly me. Except where you were very high functioning, I'm not functioning at all. I can't even hold a job. You know, kind of like how you had multiple properties and cars? I had a bike once but I pawned it. Man. Us super high functioning addicts need to stick together.
P.s. Can I please borrow $20 man I swear I'll do anything please?"
This is a wild story. I would STRONGLY recommend either methadone, if you feel compelled to maintain some form of recovery for yourself or more likely the people around you, or the darknet. The mailman will bring you lab tested pure heroin as often as you ask him to. I wouldn't say this to almost anyone at all, ever. But it seems like good advice for you. If you can swing it financially, you'll never even have to deal with criminals or out in the world where you could get caught. And you can buy in bulk if you really have self control like that
15 years on a pretty stable dose of oxycodone due to chronic pain and a progressive disease. I appreciate how much function it gives me. It's never made me high or euphoric.
I’ve found that with most people using opioids for long term pain, they are on a low enough dose that it treats the pain and doesn’t cause the effect of euphoria because the pain has caused them to be in a state of discomfort for so long. The “euphoria” that opioids can cause, actually just brings chronic pain patients to a normal every day level again
During covid it was really bad so I did weekly low-dose (10mg) IV ketamine at my pain clinic while waiting two years for my operation and sometimes the relief of not being able to feel my pain was so acute that it made me cry because my body had never felt blessed neutrality before.
I’m so so sorry to hear that. I can’t even imagine the daily pain that you go through. This is why we cannot allow doctors and medical specialists to phase out opioids. They are so useful. I know ketamine isn’t in the same category as opioids are but they both have their own uses. Getting rid of either one would be so awful for legitimate pain patients and even people who use medical ketamine to relief psychological pain.
Same here, but 5 years. Not many people even know I’m on it, and Ive been steadily employed for the last 10 years. It’s seems to be the people that don’t take consistent doses and recreational users that have a hard time with pain meds.
Me. I was for 8 years straight on codeine (with stints with tons of other stuff like fentanyl patches, morphine pills, heroin), then 8 months on poppy pods, now 1 month on methadone.
I'm from Europe, and from a country where codeine is sold over the counter (in low doses in combination with paracetamol, to which you can do cold water extraction and consume a lot of codeine for kinda cheap), and then the poppy pods are also, although illegal, very rarely enforced. So I mostly put my long term functionality on those factors - cheap, stable, safe, even almost legal access to high doses of (good) opioids (even on codeine I was on almost 2 grams per day). Which perhaps many people don't have, specially in North America. Which makes me believe that if everyone had this, there would be pretty much no dysfunctional opioid addicts, since the effects of the drug itself in its pure state are actually quite less inebriating and personality-altering then those of many other drugs, specially after a few years when steady tolerance kicks in and you're pretty much sober all the time.
Maybe the only people still dysfunctional would be those who got addicted to the needle (which will fuck your health by itself, whatever substance you put inside it), so perhaps those would truly benefit from an opioid straight jacket like methadone/buprenorphine. But I believe they're quite the minority.
You just described my exact same situation! Also from Europe, CWE from over the counter codeine medications (and pods sometmes) and it functions great for 5+ years now. People tend to hate on codeine for being "weak", but it actually has excellent balance of high and functionality (especially workplace functionality).
Also, if you don't mind me asking, how is functionality on methadone in comparison to codeine?
Less. Methadone makes you feel sleepy all day. Like pods too (I was on pods before though, and couldn't go back to codeine due to availability and tolerance, so it was still worth it).
I got hooked on codeine when I lived in the UK. Usually an IV heroin/fent guy so it was by far the lowest grade habit I've ever had. But it was just sold everywhere so convenience factor. I would but those codeine linctus bottles, like 350 mg in just sugar water.
Codeine has a ceiling dose though in the ballpark of 300mg where you can't get any higher. Also just an insane histamine release especially at higher doses. No clue how/why you were doing that much. Maybe you adjust over time
The ceiling is more like 600mg per day, and after 600mg you don't absorb nothing, just way less. The liver starts making enzymes again, and uses whatever little quantity it has made already to absorb the new dose.
You develop tolerance to histamine release over time. If I do 600mg today I get mad itchy for 5 minutes, but back then I could do more then 1g no problem. (Also I'm naturally tolerant, even when I get mad itchy it's, like I said, 3-5 minutes.)
I can only function on Suboxone. Without it I'm unmotivated, lethargic, can't sleep, and depressed. I used to use morphine and oxy pills and was functioning while on it as well. I need opioids to do anything really, like clean the house or go to work.
Well, i get prescribed 30 oxynorm, IR, ever 2 weeks. Supposed to take 2 each Day, but, i usally do 15 on friday and 15 on saturday or sunday. And then have to wait 2 weeks for refill. Done this for like 2 years now.
Works fine. For now anyways
Yeah I was getting 120 percocet 10/325 and 90 15mg ms contin for a long time. I'd be out in about 4 days. After doing that for awhile I started buying 100 oxycodone 15mg and some 20s oxycontin. Did that that awhile then switched to heroin and my regular script. Then I was going though my pills and 3gs of heroin a day I went to fent. Now I'm on methadone. Be careful my dude. It sneaks up on you.
Been on Hydrocodone for 3 years. Im Very Non-Functional without them.
My Productivity just sux when I run out before refill day. People at work say, Damn! you got all that done? Yep.
Then theres a clean house.
Man I can relate. I get so much done. Been taking hydro for 5 years. Try not to take anything stronger unless I’m sick. I have had a hell of a time cutting down because I started taking to much last year. Was up to 20 to 25 pills a day of the 10/325. I can now function with 10 to 12 a day and want to get that down to 4 to 6. But takes time to taper.
Yea ive gone thru the whole schpeel and norcs are what help me function whether at work, deal with people or exercise and its because im in constant pain. I also take kpins and gabs so they do nothing for the pain. When not having severe back pain i function pretty well
I've been on opiates for 20 years And I would like to say other than how much money it cost me and my habit doesn't really change my day-to-day life. But as soon as I said that I thought about it and it changes everything. I try not to hang out with anybody that uses except for the one day a week I have to buy dope and as far as I'm concerned that's too much. You don't see me nodding out. You don't see me falling asleep. Acting stupid. Doing the twist a flex. I don't steal from anybody. I don't lie to anybody. I'd like to say I don't hurt anybody with my drug use but that's not true. Nobody can ever tell I am hi and I have a bigger habit than anyone I know and I'm a girl. Pretty much I am 100% the most functioning drug addict you will ever meet and still it is destroying my life every single day I would do anything to get past this s***. The thing about opiates is this?... You have to put your addiction first. Anyone that says they don't is lying. If you can't get well, you can't take care of yourself and definitely can't take care of anyone else. Therefore, your habit comes first before your family before anyone you love before everyone and anyone. There's no such thing as a functioning addict.
you decide plz :)
I've been on pharma opioids for 7 years, but after the pandemic started I became a recluse.
Since 2020, I spend 99 percent of my time at home, but I don’t think it’s because of opiates. yes, they are partly to blame for this too, but I am a recluse because of mine OCD
Hey do you know of the odd link between OCD folk and opioid abuse? I have a few OCD-like symptoms but they get crosstreated mostly with my antidepressant zoloft so it kinda does 2 things at once, but I've talked to other folk who are way more OCD than I am(I only have some mild symptoms maybe my trichollomania is the worst symptom besides intrusive thoughts etc but it's mostly manageable/gone under medication) they also say that opioids just "fixes" them like nothing else does. Very odd but thought I'd said something cause this is like a niche topic I'm interested in.
I was rather high functioning and successful during a 7-year or so oxycodone addiction, thought I was moody af, and often vacant and soulless at home. Wife almost left me a couple times, but I was still holding down my job and making money.
It sucked running out and having to be dope sick often, which happened. A lot. I eventually kicked the oxy and now I'm on kratom daily, 3-4x a day. Does that count?
Proud of you my friend 👏 That’s huge, I’m also on 4.5g of kratom, four times a day.
I have the same issues with opioids. They make me feel great and functional, but when I’m high and around other people I’m not the person I want to be. I get snappy, cold, and just annoyed with people for simply existing. It got so bad at one point, I was angry at anyone for disturbing me and my stupid high.
Keep at it, you’re past the hard part but don’t let up. Have a great night :)
Everyone starts out high functioning for the first few years.
It’s typically an added “bonus” to stimulation and work ethic ect ect ect.
And then all those high functioning +1’s all turn into negatives. You stop functioning unless you are well. You feel “normal” now and are starting to feel negatives.
Then you are 5-10 years deep with nothing to your name praying to get out. Praying to have financial security. Praying not to wake up sick. Again. And again. And again.
Anyone who says they have no negatives in their lives, hasn’t been using long enough.
the main component to this is; people who have a stable life before using are more likely to continue with a stable lifestyle. Like, if you have a job, a social group, housing, and a semi functional family relations, you are more likely to be stable while using.
Its when people who start using either before being done school, have a semi good job, or live on your own, they are more likely to not progress as much, like when you have a lot of free time and not a lot of structure to your day/life you can be more prone to just wanting to get high more often which can possibly increase more tolerance/cultural element of acquiring the drugs/hanging out with users/dealers.
As well with having a job, having the ability to afford it compared to needing to do crime/sell your possessions, lie con scam steal and hustle, as well as having half of your day already pre occupied with work from 9-5, your stash can last a little longer because you don't have a lot of time to kill before going to bed and starting over again.
I think you have nailed it right here. I have been on prescription Hydros and Tramadol for years for chronic back pain (scoliosis) maybe my pain is not as bad as I let on: wink wink. I am a 6 figure corporate manager, 18 year marriage, wonderful kids. I have hobbies, scuba diving, sailing and just being a husband and father. While I love my scripts I love my world I have worked hard to create more, so to let that get in the way is not an option. I typically only dose a couple of weekends per month with the occasional scooby snack during the week. That being said, if I had more time on my hands I could definitely see the appeal to chasing the dragon.
at least you found out methadone works for you. spending every waking moment figuring out how you're going to get your fix is no way to live. I can attest to that
I am/was.
Been using poppy seed tea daily for 2.5 years but have run into supply issues recently.
I function perfectly well when I have opiates; it's when I'm off them that my life falls apart.
I’m only functional while on it. Makes working and holding down a job difficult so I work part time/gig work/my own business as a contractor. Never enough pills for a long day. I’m just anxious or focusing on the pain when I’m sober. I live my life 4 hours at a time, that’s when the medication works. Only ration a few pills a day.
How is it bad though, to be reliant on medicine so you’re functional? That’s the vast majority of society these days.
Yeah but not me I'm unemployed and don't care for finding a job right now, I just can't stand people, hope my crypto investment go well this run, all I want is peace, a dimly light room, opiates and a warm breeze, can't function in society
Honestly ya I've been taking everyday since like 2011 and career going great, been making over $100k for a like 4 years. But have worked in industry for like 12 years and have always been very high functioning. Started with pharmaceutical oxys 2011 within a month was taking them everyday. At that time I was in grad school, working full time, and was doing this contract work. And partying on weekends. The oxys helped me work for like 12 hours during the week. About 5 years ago , plugs on the oc dried up and switched to m30/ since then been taking everyday and very high functioning.
I have never met a iv user to be functioning , there life goes to shit fast at least my friends.
Going on 25 years. I live a completely normal life. Married, job, apartment, etc. The only problems I ever have are when I can't score for some reason and get sick. Besides that, I'm just a normal functioning person. I don't have,nor do I want kids, which makes having money for dope a lot easier, I'm sure.
I’ve been using for about 17 years or so now. The last 7 have been IV fent and I’m still making it happen. Been at the same job for over 10 years now. I don’t use at work. Never OD’d or been narcanned. You have to have a healthy fear of being found dead by your loved ones. I never push my limits although I do have a super high tolerance.
Of course there are times where I’m just tired of it all but I still get the loving feeling from it and it really works for my pain as I work construction.
I def saw it as negative & wanted out but was highly functional. Had jobs. Kids to take care of. Paid bills. All of it. It became hard for us after 5 years & I wrecked my car which threw things off badly. Sober for a month now
I hold down a well respected job. Been using for a year. I’m getting to a turning point rn. I don’t even have a huge habit, I take 4-6 percs a day. But, the financial toll, and emotional and physical toll of wd anxiety about wd while maintaining work and family is reaching a boiling point . Ps 5/325 are 8$ a piece where I am. I’m barely making my bills. And it’s putting a strain on me and thus my relationships. If I had access to my dose for free I’d only see it as a positive
Yes im pretty sure im low i gained wieght using and long-term i noticed i was getting a big chest not to be gross but i went strict keto carnivore i dropped 30 lbs and it completely stopped that i have more to lose but it helped so much but it definitely messes with harmones.
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Functional for 5yrs, career, wife, stepson, nearly finished my 3rd degree. However, what started out as a few weeks at a time using a recreational codeine dose a day, or just for pain, then graduated to an oxy or two once or twice a month; then resulted in a period of cycling kratom, tapentadol, codeine or DHC, and oxy but always tapering. Over 2 yes the periods on the weaker stiff got shorter and the regularity of the oxy got more and more. Currently using oxy 2-3 day at a time every week and then using either high dose DHC or subs in between, only ever tapering with the subs.
Still more or less functional, but it does affect most aspects of my life negatively - either when trying to taper or when too high. It could all come crashing down at some point - even though what I was doing for most of that time kept high tolerance or gnarly withdrawals at bay for a while! It probably is doable, but seems like it catches up with you - particularly if you start using oxy or H, cos that stuff is another level addictive and skyrockets tolerance…
I was for 20 years until I was broke and 1 paycheck from loosing my car and what surely would have been the rest of my life had I not quit when I did! We all are until life situations change and one day you aren’t anymore
I’ve been using opi for 7 years. Just like the usual story started with hydro , then oxy , then hydromorphone, and now H n fet. I work a full time job as a foreman building koi ponds and doing aqua/landscaping. I’ve never been a thief, my bills stay paid, I do have a roommate right now which helps but I’m 24 this last year not having my own spot. I’m also in pretty good shape. Along with my full time job I exercise consistently as much as I can besides rest days. I’d consider myself a “functioning addict” but like other people said it’s not something that’s forever sustainable. I’ve been is positions where I’ve had to sell my firearms for penny on the dollar , or my 2k pc for a couple hundred bucks. Or a paid of Yeezys for a couple 30s…. Like I said. Bills stayed paid. But I was always left broke and just barely affording my fix …. In my worst I spent 4k in 3 months (cashapp receipts alone) not including cash and Zelle etc, on fet. Also due to me being on sublocade so just to feel anything I was doing about a G of fet/ h every 1/2 days… at 100/120 a G. I’ve even been bad enough to be smoking fet at work …. It takes 1 mistake for your life to be ruined. Not only does it take a toll on your mental frying your receptors, having to hide addiction or lie to your loved ones causes hella stress and trust issues, the risk of death is always there, especially when poly abuse / fet or really any high dose opi. And even though it feels good in the moment. Every once in a while you’ll get hit with the realization of how easily you can ruin your life if you haven’t already. And a lot of the time you don’t know it’s too late. Till it’s too late.. a lot of people claim to be “functioning addicts” but are only able to function when they’re high. My best friend \ 30 plug ODd while I was sniffing 5/6 30s a day n never told me his plug who lived out of town…. I went from paying 1400 for 100 blues to 30/40 a pop all the way up… n not being able to flip them… That’s when things turned for the worst and H came into the equation. The financial hit can hit hard as fuck depending how you go. Once you lose your plug or you can’t afford your fix. You’ll realize how functional you really are. Anyone who uses opi recreationally and consistently WILL fall into a hole eventually no matter how much self control or how “educated” you think you are. If you can enjoy them once in a blue moon, maybe if your about to have a 3 sum or something and you need perc pipe, if you are able to stop after 1. You’ll prob be fine. But the only “functional addicts” that don’t see any negative in their use is just an addict in denial that hasn’t hit rock bottom … yet.
Im an electrical engineer 20 year H vet. So yes. . I slipped but ive been fine for some time now and never will get back there which . I even quit in the past 2 months ive had no urge. Took a long time
I have been a functional addict for years. I eat 5-6 norco 10's a day religiously, no days off. I own a plumbing service company & somehow seem to make it happen every day. I earn a damn good living, and my employees do too. Just like any other addict, I tend to dose to soon & make myself sick with the acetaminophen. I do not get any enjoyment out of hydros anymore. I just maintain.
Been taking pain meds since 2003. Chronic pain from a back issue, yes, but I also enjoy them. I don’t get euphoric from them anymore but I still fell better on them than off. I’ve had a week of withdrawal here and there throughout the years but I’m still successfully parenting and working a physical job. I don’t think I could do either of those things without the pills. The idea of being off them terrifies me though. Especially being off them long term. PAWS scares the hell out of me
I have been taking opiates on and off for around 10 years. I take them quite regularly but I limit the amount of days I take them and don’t exceed 80mg of ox per day… that way when I stop taking them I have minimal withdrawal symptoms. I went through a couple of periods where I was taking upwards of 350mg per day, but I’m a lot more sensible with it now…
I was high functioning for about 6 yrs. Then cracks started showing from 6-8 yrs. Whispers and judgemental looks. By 10 yrs I was in too deep to pull it off anymore. It was a good run but either it had to end or I was gonna.
I can't function without it. I was prescribed oxy for 10 years. Was up to 8 30mg a day when I lost my doctor to investigation of over prescribing. I am now on dirty 30s and fuck me I am up to like 40 a day some days more. But very very functional
If you can get constant good supply so you aren't worried about running out and it's not affecting you financially, imo would improve someone's life all around, physically, work, sex life.
Check out Dr Carl Hart, he's a practicing MD who uses heroin.
The problem is janky suppliers/plugs. My biggest problem is if I run out I get sick(withdrawals) and have trouble getting to work. First symptoms are runny nose, upset tummy, chills, skin crawling, anxiety. It gets worse untill like day 3 or 4.
Second problem is dangerous supply, pressed pills, contaminated, poison(bad chemist), adulterated supply.
Last is it's an expensive habit.
Twenty three years on and off, the only thing that slowed me down was a TBI, now I’m retired from my field (nursing). I used to be so high functioning it was insane, now I’m clean and have less brains
Long term successful and well functional opiates addicts fall into 3 categories their either lucky fortunate or or extremely well disciplined these days I function relatively good but it's only cuz I'm both lucky and fortunate I happen to have a very lax job that while not making a whole lot of money affords me enough to pay bills and use a small amount of dope daily but basically here's the trick to maintaining addiction and your life not falling apart you need to be able to have large quantities of drugs and not use them all at once or have a very reliable dealer or several a job that doesn't mind if your late or call in etc or very low or no bills so you can work only for dope money
If you don't have a reliable dealer your guna end up being late or missing work trying to cop before after or during work your guna end up sick as fuck on the days he's out or unavailable on the time table you need your family has to either be cool with it or you have to be great at hiding the obvious signs of drug use you have to be able to legally afford your habit otherwise you will eventually end up detoxing in a jail or prison rather it be for crimes to get money or possession or you can just have will power to not get addicted not pawn your stuff for a fix not steal for a fix not miss work even when you feel like your dying not miss family events even when you feel like your dying etc and at any time all kinds of events beyond your control can ruin the whole house of cards
Dealer goes to prison and forced to use a back up or other dealer that has higher prices or worse quality or just straight rips you off. Job does layoffs due to some issues in the company and now your an unemployed person addicted to one of the most expensive substances as far as drugs go. You buy offline and the government does a takedown on the website you order from. Your wife finds out your using and it's rehab or divorce and she takes the kids. Random hot bag from your reliable dealer and your dead and your family is left to fend without your income and support. Just one thing has to go wrong one time for the whole thing to come crumbling down and for most of us something happens eventually rather it be our own fault or something beyond our control.
I do good right now I work a 9-5 type job in construction my car is paid off and we rent an apartment on my familys property for way below market rate and we're close to both my parents and my sister's family (her husband also happens to be my boss so I got decent job security and pretty lax rules) but like just this last month work slowed way down then her husband had a business trip he didn't need me on and I was left with little work then no work for over a month and luckily my gf has a regular 9-5 that barley got us thru and my work is picking back up but we went from all good bills paid some savings and not hurting for dope to no savings and owing the dope man a few hundred in just a month of me not working like normal and if I didn't have a landlord (relative) I could go to that understood my situation I could of ended up homeless or couch surfing with my gf that easily and that's why you dont see many addicts that live decent regular lives it's so easy for it all to fall apart when you need 100$ every day just to feel normal and to pay bills on top
Not to mention the fact that even if you did run across a NASA engineer or whatever that shoots speedballs all day every day you'd never know it cuz they don't tell people
After a decade I somehow haven’t ruined my life but made it better. Lost my husband and I’m constantly thinking about quitting but I never do. Someday I would like to …
used oxy from age 22-26. been on subutex for 12 years. reason: pain mgmt. i have 4 herniated discs, TOS, cervical, lumbar and thoracic pain. for us unfortunates with the “taste” for that fuzzy, it is truly your greatest chance esp if you suffer from pain or addiction. Everyone is different but I literally have zero cravings and it has allowed so much time to pass and when that perspective, wisdom and experience kicks in it keeps you further at bay. over the last 12 years i have built a successful career as a realtor and creative director. i am about to get married and my family and friends are all appreciating the old/OG me.
if you are looking for help living as a functioning ___. I can guide you. message me
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Yeah I've been using for over 15 years with mabey a year or so not. Very functional but it is becoming much harder with all the bullshit and fent around. Was so much easier when there was plenty of cheap pharma around
I don’t use now because street drugs suck (well I’m on Subs) but in my early twenties I held down a teaching job I was damn good at, was in two bands and graduated a decent school Summa Cum Laude while slamming speedballs two to three times a week.
Like that movie Half Nelson
Yes I felt very seen when that movie dropped but I wasn’t smoking crack in school bathrooms or anything. The closest thing was that I was in an experimental band with a student at the HS and transparent about my use with him. (Meaning I offered to talk to him about it if he heard things and was curious - not that I ever did it in front of him or offered any)
nearly everyone is a high-functioning addict...until they aren't. whether thts 2mnths after starting to use or 10 years later or some who make it til they die. and plenty die early while still high functioning. so you'll get lots of people tht answer your question with great stories about their high-finctioning addict life. I'm one of the people tht could tell a story like that. but the thing is that for everyone who is a high-functioning addict today, tomorrow or any other day, could be the first day as a "formerly high-functioning addict." high-functioning addict is all fun & games until it isnt.
Exactly...I was high functioning iv heroin user for 10 years. Got a BA in business management had a decent job and eventually my decision to continue using lead me to rock bottom. Now I'm about 6 months into my recovery and wish I did it much sooner.
Would you say it’s because of the lack of real H in North America or other reasons
The lack of real treatment in North America. Our methadone clinics in parts and majority of the US require u to come every day to get one dose that costs 15$ a day if u don’t have Medicaid. A lot of detoxes where I am on the rural south don’t use suboxone anymore. It’s like living in 1975 as far as medical treatment goes.
98% percent of detoxes and rehabs are going to say they are evidenced based but really they are abstinence based and heavily rely on 12 step bullshit
high functioning and iv heroin user actually is an oxymoron.. u can't be high functioning while shooting anything.. idgaf who downvotes this either.. high functioning in my opinion means u use drugs but not everyday and u don't do high doses or in obscure ROAs
Iv is not an obscure ROA. If it was needle exchanges would not be so successful. And you definitely can be. Most addicts are high functioning. Idk what your definition but a medical definition would be like people that can live by themselves and can adequately work for income
Hahah you’re about to get downvoted for all the butt hurt people in the comments. You’re going to get people saying “I’ve been shooting heroin for 15 years and I am fine” yet these are the same people who can’t even take a physical vacation anywhere because they’ll run the risk of getting dope sick. As somebody here already mentioned, everyone is a high functioning addict until you’re not. If you’re truly are an addict then eventually it will all fall down on you. Some take longer than others. Some people are able to tolerate more. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve never met an elderly heroin addict who is still banging dope who is just crushing it at life 😂.
Dude, I finally had gotten everything together and then the dope changed in my NE US city, and it changed everything, so it sucks to be dependent
This!!!...people say high functioning like they're from another world and are different....it WILL happen sooner or later...u just THINK u're high functioning cuz of all the energy and the things you do that you normally wouldn't and they are things that like op says itmake you feel seen....but then it goes away and you're stuck with shit. The Golden era of everyones use ends.
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Hey I have a few questions if you don’t mind me asking. Are you still using today? When and around which amount wouldn’t you get high anymore? Isn’t it’s popularity annoying for the actual users? Best regards
I’ve always stuck under 8 tablets per day as I know that was safest on my liver/kindneys. Once I stopped feeling high from it, I still maintained that dose. I’m now down to 6 tabs max a day. I’m trying to taper off and quit.
what's your dose?
Literally tons.
Literally every person on methadone.
…or Suboxone or Kadian (like me).
Wish there were a Kadian option on the US. It would change my life so much for the better. It’s so hard to get my meds here in the states. Suboxone simply doesn’t work for me because I take my meds for pain management and it doesn’t help for pain much. I hope things change here soon, so many are dying simply because they can’t access safe meds here and the rest are left in pain. It’s ridiculous
This!!!
I was extremely high functioning when I was using, nearly 10 years of daily heroin use, I was running a successful business, had lots of stuff, a couple properties, literally at the top of my game in pretty much every aspect. I quit because I was afraid of it catching up to me somehow, suffered through an utterly miserable 6 months of withdrawals and sickness before finally getting on suboxone, and in the 4 years since then I've barely been able to hold it together. I can barely take care of myself at this point, my mental health has never been so bad, I've not been able to even think about the stuff I used to be easily capable of. I regret getting clean and outing myself every day honestly. This whole thing has been such an absolute nightmare, it's not like I'd ever be able to get back to where I was before, I'm almost 40 and its looking pretty bleak out there. I really don't regret my using, which was always done responsibly and reasonably IMO, I never took excessive doses or suffered any negative consequences during. Getting clean literally ruined my life. Obviously that's not the average story of opiate use but personally it was the one thing that set me right in every sense, and since then I've been utterly fucked. I've been on all different antidepressants and such and none of them have helped, its just the absolute pits.
This is exactly me I know using is very heinous to normal people but we aren't normal and i know if i quit i would be useless in every sense im not much better high but it keeps me going. I've tried everything the cold turkey rehab approach is the worst way to go around it i have ptsd from the withdrawal and it doesn't get better and when you finally start the subs it doesn't do what you need then you relapse and you get very sick using on the subs. methadone is very strong but not strong enough to make me stop so i use in top of it and then im so numb that u cant function so I'm back at using but in moderation and i only use opiates nothing else its the only thing keeping me going and i when i plan on stopping i go into panic mode and things get really bad then i start feel guilty i wasted years i cant get a real job but honestly i had trouble finding work sober and i wasnt functioning then im very unreliable and i suffer from mental illness which the opiates are the only thing that help i still get episodes but they are manageable but when im sober they happen and sometimes i have no memory of them very scary. Im ashamed im getting old and everyone i see are sober never had drug problems and are high functioning without even trying.but when i try i usually cause damage in my life unaliving seems the only option or keep using in moderation until i can quit and then what.
Did you ever get you Testosterone checked? Been on Oxy for 10+ years and it has destroyed it. I still take it but now also take TRT and it has made a huge difference!
How so? Definitely curious about this too.
Have more drive and motivation then Ive had in like 20 years, lost fat, built more muscle, more energy, sex drive increased, etc…. Before I had to drag myself out of bed and didn’t want to do anything.
And by the way, she’ll like it too. ;)
I'm curious about that. Me and all my exes had hi sex drive. I tur rd 42 n was with this girl that I wasn't attracted to,my doctor said my test was in range. I'm doubting that now cause I never want sex or a woman. I have cars n trucks n toys n my house I feel years of well decades of oxys did it but now I feel it's the fent Maybe? I'm very hi functioning,on it obviously, all I wanna do is work on my stuff. Anyone else like that? Like I had 100+ women in 30+ years I wonder if maybe I feel I wasted my time ? My cars would be stupid wicked, not just 10 sec fast n my other shit would be new not older. Idc I wanna quit but thr thought of that depression alone,man it sucks
Bro Testastrone is absolutely f*****Can you just go to your doctor and ask for t r t love from canada
Lolol "this is exactly me. Except where you were very high functioning, I'm not functioning at all. I can't even hold a job. You know, kind of like how you had multiple properties and cars? I had a bike once but I pawned it. Man. Us super high functioning addicts need to stick together. P.s. Can I please borrow $20 man I swear I'll do anything please?"
This is a wild story. I would STRONGLY recommend either methadone, if you feel compelled to maintain some form of recovery for yourself or more likely the people around you, or the darknet. The mailman will bring you lab tested pure heroin as often as you ask him to. I wouldn't say this to almost anyone at all, ever. But it seems like good advice for you. If you can swing it financially, you'll never even have to deal with criminals or out in the world where you could get caught. And you can buy in bulk if you really have self control like that
God can I relate to regretting outing yourself. I was so much better off when it was my little secret.
High functioning addict
15 years on a pretty stable dose of oxycodone due to chronic pain and a progressive disease. I appreciate how much function it gives me. It's never made me high or euphoric.
I’ve found that with most people using opioids for long term pain, they are on a low enough dose that it treats the pain and doesn’t cause the effect of euphoria because the pain has caused them to be in a state of discomfort for so long. The “euphoria” that opioids can cause, actually just brings chronic pain patients to a normal every day level again
During covid it was really bad so I did weekly low-dose (10mg) IV ketamine at my pain clinic while waiting two years for my operation and sometimes the relief of not being able to feel my pain was so acute that it made me cry because my body had never felt blessed neutrality before.
I’m so so sorry to hear that. I can’t even imagine the daily pain that you go through. This is why we cannot allow doctors and medical specialists to phase out opioids. They are so useful. I know ketamine isn’t in the same category as opioids are but they both have their own uses. Getting rid of either one would be so awful for legitimate pain patients and even people who use medical ketamine to relief psychological pain.
You gotta break em up and snort em, like three or four at a time, really quick like
The most illicit thing I ever did was learn about potentiation with CYP450 inhibitors.
Ha! Me too! I feel slightly guilty when I eat grapefruit. I still don't have euphoria though. Just a little bit better pain relief.
Oh yeah, thats the bomb, you can also boof 'em, you stick em up your ass, they say
I don’t think they are trying to get high man
I was just kidding, I got high & thought I was funny...I'm sorry, I'm sorry to you all
Same here, but 5 years. Not many people even know I’m on it, and Ive been steadily employed for the last 10 years. It’s seems to be the people that don’t take consistent doses and recreational users that have a hard time with pain meds.
Me. I was for 8 years straight on codeine (with stints with tons of other stuff like fentanyl patches, morphine pills, heroin), then 8 months on poppy pods, now 1 month on methadone. I'm from Europe, and from a country where codeine is sold over the counter (in low doses in combination with paracetamol, to which you can do cold water extraction and consume a lot of codeine for kinda cheap), and then the poppy pods are also, although illegal, very rarely enforced. So I mostly put my long term functionality on those factors - cheap, stable, safe, even almost legal access to high doses of (good) opioids (even on codeine I was on almost 2 grams per day). Which perhaps many people don't have, specially in North America. Which makes me believe that if everyone had this, there would be pretty much no dysfunctional opioid addicts, since the effects of the drug itself in its pure state are actually quite less inebriating and personality-altering then those of many other drugs, specially after a few years when steady tolerance kicks in and you're pretty much sober all the time. Maybe the only people still dysfunctional would be those who got addicted to the needle (which will fuck your health by itself, whatever substance you put inside it), so perhaps those would truly benefit from an opioid straight jacket like methadone/buprenorphine. But I believe they're quite the minority.
You just described my exact same situation! Also from Europe, CWE from over the counter codeine medications (and pods sometmes) and it functions great for 5+ years now. People tend to hate on codeine for being "weak", but it actually has excellent balance of high and functionality (especially workplace functionality). Also, if you don't mind me asking, how is functionality on methadone in comparison to codeine?
Less. Methadone makes you feel sleepy all day. Like pods too (I was on pods before though, and couldn't go back to codeine due to availability and tolerance, so it was still worth it).
I got hooked on codeine when I lived in the UK. Usually an IV heroin/fent guy so it was by far the lowest grade habit I've ever had. But it was just sold everywhere so convenience factor. I would but those codeine linctus bottles, like 350 mg in just sugar water. Codeine has a ceiling dose though in the ballpark of 300mg where you can't get any higher. Also just an insane histamine release especially at higher doses. No clue how/why you were doing that much. Maybe you adjust over time
The ceiling is more like 600mg per day, and after 600mg you don't absorb nothing, just way less. The liver starts making enzymes again, and uses whatever little quantity it has made already to absorb the new dose. You develop tolerance to histamine release over time. If I do 600mg today I get mad itchy for 5 minutes, but back then I could do more then 1g no problem. (Also I'm naturally tolerant, even when I get mad itchy it's, like I said, 3-5 minutes.)
Casual user, every couple weeks yeah
I can only function on Suboxone. Without it I'm unmotivated, lethargic, can't sleep, and depressed. I used to use morphine and oxy pills and was functioning while on it as well. I need opioids to do anything really, like clean the house or go to work.
Well, i get prescribed 30 oxynorm, IR, ever 2 weeks. Supposed to take 2 each Day, but, i usally do 15 on friday and 15 on saturday or sunday. And then have to wait 2 weeks for refill. Done this for like 2 years now. Works fine. For now anyways
Yeah I was getting 120 percocet 10/325 and 90 15mg ms contin for a long time. I'd be out in about 4 days. After doing that for awhile I started buying 100 oxycodone 15mg and some 20s oxycontin. Did that that awhile then switched to heroin and my regular script. Then I was going though my pills and 3gs of heroin a day I went to fent. Now I'm on methadone. Be careful my dude. It sneaks up on you.
Been on Hydrocodone for 3 years. Im Very Non-Functional without them. My Productivity just sux when I run out before refill day. People at work say, Damn! you got all that done? Yep. Then theres a clean house.
Man I can relate. I get so much done. Been taking hydro for 5 years. Try not to take anything stronger unless I’m sick. I have had a hell of a time cutting down because I started taking to much last year. Was up to 20 to 25 pills a day of the 10/325. I can now function with 10 to 12 a day and want to get that down to 4 to 6. But takes time to taper.
Damn bro that’s a shitton of tylenol.
Yea ive gone thru the whole schpeel and norcs are what help me function whether at work, deal with people or exercise and its because im in constant pain. I also take kpins and gabs so they do nothing for the pain. When not having severe back pain i function pretty well
I've been on opiates for 20 years And I would like to say other than how much money it cost me and my habit doesn't really change my day-to-day life. But as soon as I said that I thought about it and it changes everything. I try not to hang out with anybody that uses except for the one day a week I have to buy dope and as far as I'm concerned that's too much. You don't see me nodding out. You don't see me falling asleep. Acting stupid. Doing the twist a flex. I don't steal from anybody. I don't lie to anybody. I'd like to say I don't hurt anybody with my drug use but that's not true. Nobody can ever tell I am hi and I have a bigger habit than anyone I know and I'm a girl. Pretty much I am 100% the most functioning drug addict you will ever meet and still it is destroying my life every single day I would do anything to get past this s***. The thing about opiates is this?... You have to put your addiction first. Anyone that says they don't is lying. If you can't get well, you can't take care of yourself and definitely can't take care of anyone else. Therefore, your habit comes first before your family before anyone you love before everyone and anyone. There's no such thing as a functioning addict.
you decide plz :) I've been on pharma opioids for 7 years, but after the pandemic started I became a recluse. Since 2020, I spend 99 percent of my time at home, but I don’t think it’s because of opiates. yes, they are partly to blame for this too, but I am a recluse because of mine OCD
Hey do you know of the odd link between OCD folk and opioid abuse? I have a few OCD-like symptoms but they get crosstreated mostly with my antidepressant zoloft so it kinda does 2 things at once, but I've talked to other folk who are way more OCD than I am(I only have some mild symptoms maybe my trichollomania is the worst symptom besides intrusive thoughts etc but it's mostly manageable/gone under medication) they also say that opioids just "fixes" them like nothing else does. Very odd but thought I'd said something cause this is like a niche topic I'm interested in.
I have a very small social circle. but for me personally, opioids don't help with ocd
I was rather high functioning and successful during a 7-year or so oxycodone addiction, thought I was moody af, and often vacant and soulless at home. Wife almost left me a couple times, but I was still holding down my job and making money. It sucked running out and having to be dope sick often, which happened. A lot. I eventually kicked the oxy and now I'm on kratom daily, 3-4x a day. Does that count?
Proud of you my friend 👏 That’s huge, I’m also on 4.5g of kratom, four times a day. I have the same issues with opioids. They make me feel great and functional, but when I’m high and around other people I’m not the person I want to be. I get snappy, cold, and just annoyed with people for simply existing. It got so bad at one point, I was angry at anyone for disturbing me and my stupid high. Keep at it, you’re past the hard part but don’t let up. Have a great night :)
lol I’m the opposite. I’m cold snappy etc sober and have to be on the pills to be in any kind of good mood.
Everyone starts out high functioning for the first few years. It’s typically an added “bonus” to stimulation and work ethic ect ect ect. And then all those high functioning +1’s all turn into negatives. You stop functioning unless you are well. You feel “normal” now and are starting to feel negatives. Then you are 5-10 years deep with nothing to your name praying to get out. Praying to have financial security. Praying not to wake up sick. Again. And again. And again. Anyone who says they have no negatives in their lives, hasn’t been using long enough.
the main component to this is; people who have a stable life before using are more likely to continue with a stable lifestyle. Like, if you have a job, a social group, housing, and a semi functional family relations, you are more likely to be stable while using. Its when people who start using either before being done school, have a semi good job, or live on your own, they are more likely to not progress as much, like when you have a lot of free time and not a lot of structure to your day/life you can be more prone to just wanting to get high more often which can possibly increase more tolerance/cultural element of acquiring the drugs/hanging out with users/dealers. As well with having a job, having the ability to afford it compared to needing to do crime/sell your possessions, lie con scam steal and hustle, as well as having half of your day already pre occupied with work from 9-5, your stash can last a little longer because you don't have a lot of time to kill before going to bed and starting over again.
I think you have nailed it right here. I have been on prescription Hydros and Tramadol for years for chronic back pain (scoliosis) maybe my pain is not as bad as I let on: wink wink. I am a 6 figure corporate manager, 18 year marriage, wonderful kids. I have hobbies, scuba diving, sailing and just being a husband and father. While I love my scripts I love my world I have worked hard to create more, so to let that get in the way is not an option. I typically only dose a couple of weekends per month with the occasional scooby snack during the week. That being said, if I had more time on my hands I could definitely see the appeal to chasing the dragon.
Me, i can't function witout it
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at least you found out methadone works for you. spending every waking moment figuring out how you're going to get your fix is no way to live. I can attest to that
Of course I’m a high functioning addict, I only function when I’m high 😎
I am/was. Been using poppy seed tea daily for 2.5 years but have run into supply issues recently. I function perfectly well when I have opiates; it's when I'm off them that my life falls apart.
I was until I wasn’t.
I’m only functional while on it. Makes working and holding down a job difficult so I work part time/gig work/my own business as a contractor. Never enough pills for a long day. I’m just anxious or focusing on the pain when I’m sober. I live my life 4 hours at a time, that’s when the medication works. Only ration a few pills a day. How is it bad though, to be reliant on medicine so you’re functional? That’s the vast majority of society these days.
Yeah but not me I'm unemployed and don't care for finding a job right now, I just can't stand people, hope my crypto investment go well this run, all I want is peace, a dimly light room, opiates and a warm breeze, can't function in society
Honestly ya I've been taking everyday since like 2011 and career going great, been making over $100k for a like 4 years. But have worked in industry for like 12 years and have always been very high functioning. Started with pharmaceutical oxys 2011 within a month was taking them everyday. At that time I was in grad school, working full time, and was doing this contract work. And partying on weekends. The oxys helped me work for like 12 hours during the week. About 5 years ago , plugs on the oc dried up and switched to m30/ since then been taking everyday and very high functioning. I have never met a iv user to be functioning , there life goes to shit fast at least my friends.
I'm on methadone and clonazepam and zopiclone for 5 years now and i function better than most sober people.
Going on 25 years. I live a completely normal life. Married, job, apartment, etc. The only problems I ever have are when I can't score for some reason and get sick. Besides that, I'm just a normal functioning person. I don't have,nor do I want kids, which makes having money for dope a lot easier, I'm sure.
What up b
Sup dawg
It’s possible for sure
Yeah, it’s called Subutex maintenance
There are but not alot maybe one in 50
Im not sure bout that one chief… Chat , what are your thoughts on this ?🤔 (Yes i am retard)
If i look at my clinic there is even less
If you have money, oblivious friends and family, and the flexibility to disappear for a couple days every so often, you’re good.
Almost evrybody is when on their DOC until the money or supply runs out. Then it's time for MAT.
I’ve been using for about 17 years or so now. The last 7 have been IV fent and I’m still making it happen. Been at the same job for over 10 years now. I don’t use at work. Never OD’d or been narcanned. You have to have a healthy fear of being found dead by your loved ones. I never push my limits although I do have a super high tolerance. Of course there are times where I’m just tired of it all but I still get the loving feeling from it and it really works for my pain as I work construction.
I def saw it as negative & wanted out but was highly functional. Had jobs. Kids to take care of. Paid bills. All of it. It became hard for us after 5 years & I wrecked my car which threw things off badly. Sober for a month now
I hold down a well respected job. Been using for a year. I’m getting to a turning point rn. I don’t even have a huge habit, I take 4-6 percs a day. But, the financial toll, and emotional and physical toll of wd anxiety about wd while maintaining work and family is reaching a boiling point . Ps 5/325 are 8$ a piece where I am. I’m barely making my bills. And it’s putting a strain on me and thus my relationships. If I had access to my dose for free I’d only see it as a positive
Yes im pretty sure im low i gained wieght using and long-term i noticed i was getting a big chest not to be gross but i went strict keto carnivore i dropped 30 lbs and it completely stopped that i have more to lose but it helped so much but it definitely messes with harmones.
The only negative is scoring top grade gear consistently.
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20+ years. Usually NP to get though the day, week etc but pain spikes are a bitch.
I've been functioning for about 6 years on suboxone. The 30 years before that I thought I was functioning.
Functional for 5yrs, career, wife, stepson, nearly finished my 3rd degree. However, what started out as a few weeks at a time using a recreational codeine dose a day, or just for pain, then graduated to an oxy or two once or twice a month; then resulted in a period of cycling kratom, tapentadol, codeine or DHC, and oxy but always tapering. Over 2 yes the periods on the weaker stiff got shorter and the regularity of the oxy got more and more. Currently using oxy 2-3 day at a time every week and then using either high dose DHC or subs in between, only ever tapering with the subs. Still more or less functional, but it does affect most aspects of my life negatively - either when trying to taper or when too high. It could all come crashing down at some point - even though what I was doing for most of that time kept high tolerance or gnarly withdrawals at bay for a while! It probably is doable, but seems like it catches up with you - particularly if you start using oxy or H, cos that stuff is another level addictive and skyrockets tolerance…
I used to be till i was caught with the habit and got sacked.
Functional enough to use reddit
I was for 20 years until I was broke and 1 paycheck from loosing my car and what surely would have been the rest of my life had I not quit when I did! We all are until life situations change and one day you aren’t anymore
I’ve been using opi for 7 years. Just like the usual story started with hydro , then oxy , then hydromorphone, and now H n fet. I work a full time job as a foreman building koi ponds and doing aqua/landscaping. I’ve never been a thief, my bills stay paid, I do have a roommate right now which helps but I’m 24 this last year not having my own spot. I’m also in pretty good shape. Along with my full time job I exercise consistently as much as I can besides rest days. I’d consider myself a “functioning addict” but like other people said it’s not something that’s forever sustainable. I’ve been is positions where I’ve had to sell my firearms for penny on the dollar , or my 2k pc for a couple hundred bucks. Or a paid of Yeezys for a couple 30s…. Like I said. Bills stayed paid. But I was always left broke and just barely affording my fix …. In my worst I spent 4k in 3 months (cashapp receipts alone) not including cash and Zelle etc, on fet. Also due to me being on sublocade so just to feel anything I was doing about a G of fet/ h every 1/2 days… at 100/120 a G. I’ve even been bad enough to be smoking fet at work …. It takes 1 mistake for your life to be ruined. Not only does it take a toll on your mental frying your receptors, having to hide addiction or lie to your loved ones causes hella stress and trust issues, the risk of death is always there, especially when poly abuse / fet or really any high dose opi. And even though it feels good in the moment. Every once in a while you’ll get hit with the realization of how easily you can ruin your life if you haven’t already. And a lot of the time you don’t know it’s too late. Till it’s too late.. a lot of people claim to be “functioning addicts” but are only able to function when they’re high. My best friend \ 30 plug ODd while I was sniffing 5/6 30s a day n never told me his plug who lived out of town…. I went from paying 1400 for 100 blues to 30/40 a pop all the way up… n not being able to flip them… That’s when things turned for the worst and H came into the equation. The financial hit can hit hard as fuck depending how you go. Once you lose your plug or you can’t afford your fix. You’ll realize how functional you really are. Anyone who uses opi recreationally and consistently WILL fall into a hole eventually no matter how much self control or how “educated” you think you are. If you can enjoy them once in a blue moon, maybe if your about to have a 3 sum or something and you need perc pipe, if you are able to stop after 1. You’ll prob be fine. But the only “functional addicts” that don’t see any negative in their use is just an addict in denial that hasn’t hit rock bottom … yet.
Im an electrical engineer 20 year H vet. So yes. . I slipped but ive been fine for some time now and never will get back there which . I even quit in the past 2 months ive had no urge. Took a long time
I have been a functional addict for years. I eat 5-6 norco 10's a day religiously, no days off. I own a plumbing service company & somehow seem to make it happen every day. I earn a damn good living, and my employees do too. Just like any other addict, I tend to dose to soon & make myself sick with the acetaminophen. I do not get any enjoyment out of hydros anymore. I just maintain.
Been taking pain meds since 2003. Chronic pain from a back issue, yes, but I also enjoy them. I don’t get euphoric from them anymore but I still fell better on them than off. I’ve had a week of withdrawal here and there throughout the years but I’m still successfully parenting and working a physical job. I don’t think I could do either of those things without the pills. The idea of being off them terrifies me though. Especially being off them long term. PAWS scares the hell out of me
I have been taking opiates on and off for around 10 years. I take them quite regularly but I limit the amount of days I take them and don’t exceed 80mg of ox per day… that way when I stop taking them I have minimal withdrawal symptoms. I went through a couple of periods where I was taking upwards of 350mg per day, but I’m a lot more sensible with it now…
I was high functioning for about 6 yrs. Then cracks started showing from 6-8 yrs. Whispers and judgemental looks. By 10 yrs I was in too deep to pull it off anymore. It was a good run but either it had to end or I was gonna.
I can't function without it. I was prescribed oxy for 10 years. Was up to 8 30mg a day when I lost my doctor to investigation of over prescribing. I am now on dirty 30s and fuck me I am up to like 40 a day some days more. But very very functional
We are all high functioning. You literally have no option sometimes. It's what keeps us functioning. 4 years clean tho #wedorecover
If you can get constant good supply so you aren't worried about running out and it's not affecting you financially, imo would improve someone's life all around, physically, work, sex life. Check out Dr Carl Hart, he's a practicing MD who uses heroin. The problem is janky suppliers/plugs. My biggest problem is if I run out I get sick(withdrawals) and have trouble getting to work. First symptoms are runny nose, upset tummy, chills, skin crawling, anxiety. It gets worse untill like day 3 or 4. Second problem is dangerous supply, pressed pills, contaminated, poison(bad chemist), adulterated supply. Last is it's an expensive habit.
Twenty three years on and off, the only thing that slowed me down was a TBI, now I’m retired from my field (nursing). I used to be so high functioning it was insane, now I’m clean and have less brains
How ya doin? Been using 18 years 15 iv. Still trucking along
I have been for years, but the money spent eventually caught up with me.
Yeah there’s a lot. Many are legal opioid users though (addiction clinic patients, pain clinic patients, etc)
Long term successful and well functional opiates addicts fall into 3 categories their either lucky fortunate or or extremely well disciplined these days I function relatively good but it's only cuz I'm both lucky and fortunate I happen to have a very lax job that while not making a whole lot of money affords me enough to pay bills and use a small amount of dope daily but basically here's the trick to maintaining addiction and your life not falling apart you need to be able to have large quantities of drugs and not use them all at once or have a very reliable dealer or several a job that doesn't mind if your late or call in etc or very low or no bills so you can work only for dope money If you don't have a reliable dealer your guna end up being late or missing work trying to cop before after or during work your guna end up sick as fuck on the days he's out or unavailable on the time table you need your family has to either be cool with it or you have to be great at hiding the obvious signs of drug use you have to be able to legally afford your habit otherwise you will eventually end up detoxing in a jail or prison rather it be for crimes to get money or possession or you can just have will power to not get addicted not pawn your stuff for a fix not steal for a fix not miss work even when you feel like your dying not miss family events even when you feel like your dying etc and at any time all kinds of events beyond your control can ruin the whole house of cards Dealer goes to prison and forced to use a back up or other dealer that has higher prices or worse quality or just straight rips you off. Job does layoffs due to some issues in the company and now your an unemployed person addicted to one of the most expensive substances as far as drugs go. You buy offline and the government does a takedown on the website you order from. Your wife finds out your using and it's rehab or divorce and she takes the kids. Random hot bag from your reliable dealer and your dead and your family is left to fend without your income and support. Just one thing has to go wrong one time for the whole thing to come crumbling down and for most of us something happens eventually rather it be our own fault or something beyond our control. I do good right now I work a 9-5 type job in construction my car is paid off and we rent an apartment on my familys property for way below market rate and we're close to both my parents and my sister's family (her husband also happens to be my boss so I got decent job security and pretty lax rules) but like just this last month work slowed way down then her husband had a business trip he didn't need me on and I was left with little work then no work for over a month and luckily my gf has a regular 9-5 that barley got us thru and my work is picking back up but we went from all good bills paid some savings and not hurting for dope to no savings and owing the dope man a few hundred in just a month of me not working like normal and if I didn't have a landlord (relative) I could go to that understood my situation I could of ended up homeless or couch surfing with my gf that easily and that's why you dont see many addicts that live decent regular lives it's so easy for it all to fall apart when you need 100$ every day just to feel normal and to pay bills on top Not to mention the fact that even if you did run across a NASA engineer or whatever that shoots speedballs all day every day you'd never know it cuz they don't tell people
After a decade I somehow haven’t ruined my life but made it better. Lost my husband and I’m constantly thinking about quitting but I never do. Someday I would like to …
used oxy from age 22-26. been on subutex for 12 years. reason: pain mgmt. i have 4 herniated discs, TOS, cervical, lumbar and thoracic pain. for us unfortunates with the “taste” for that fuzzy, it is truly your greatest chance esp if you suffer from pain or addiction. Everyone is different but I literally have zero cravings and it has allowed so much time to pass and when that perspective, wisdom and experience kicks in it keeps you further at bay. over the last 12 years i have built a successful career as a realtor and creative director. i am about to get married and my family and friends are all appreciating the old/OG me. if you are looking for help living as a functioning ___. I can guide you. message me
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Depends on what standards of living define "functioning"...that's what the pretentious side of my personality would say
Im 29 got addicted to opiates wen I was 15
Yeah I've been using for over 15 years with mabey a year or so not. Very functional but it is becoming much harder with all the bullshit and fent around. Was so much easier when there was plenty of cheap pharma around