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Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 12:24:43 GMT
Rachel, Manchester
I split with my little girl's dad over weed. It was the hardest decision I have ever had to make but he loved his weed more than his family. That was 3 years ago. I still love him but I can't live with his habit.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 12:16:34 GMT
Sammy, Portsmouth
my partner has been an addict to heroin for over 8 years. i've been with him for nearly 2 years not knowning in the beginning he was an addict, it's been very hard he has tried many detox programs and all have failed.t here really is not enough help and support for these people they are given medication and basically left on their own. he is trying to do it on his own now but is very hard for me to believe he is doing it and as a result of all the problems and worry i have now got severe anxiety and depression which is very hard to cope with when you have 4 children plus him. i need help now not later and so does he.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 11:51:23 GMT
Abbie, Swindon
People may think that cannabis is not addictive. But it is. I was addictied for a while and it can totally change you. I'm not addictied any more, but my boyfriend is. He can be horrible to be around and he's got the biggest paranoia. I'm trying to help him, but you can't help someone if they won't help themselves. My advice to any one who is addictied, is to get help if you need it and get off it. You'll be a much better person when you are off it. That goes for any drug. No drug is a good drug.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 11:44:47 GMT
Dave, Inverclyde
i recently just finished 3yr methadone programme, which you can, as i have on occasions, use to come off heroin quite rapidly over a week, before your body gets used to it. i've done this in the past through illegal supplies and under supervision. but when i finally had enough when i turned 30, i waited for 10 months to enter methadone programme at drug serv. unit, and stuck with it and really had to turn my back on old 'associates'. it's taken me 3yrs on dec 05 to complete my course, down to 2ml [reduced 2ml every 2 wk for 1yr] aggitation for a few weeks. i personally feel abstinence and real cold turkey is ridiculous and quite possibly psychologically damaging. detox 5 is great idea but for people who truly are ready to come of heroin/methadone, i would have loved to have done it early last year or year before, as i hadn't touched heroin since 2002. i injected. i feel great now and am really angry i wasted the last days of my youth, fighing heroin with methadone in a nearly 4 year battle, of my own doing.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 12:03:29 GMT
Steve, Grimsby
i've been through the pain of cold turkey. in 2002 i had to do it in prison, and am still clean to this day. good luck to the three of you
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 11:51:43 GMT
Darren, Coalville
i have been a heroin addict for the past 9 1/2 years. i've been on a five day detox that failed miserably. i wasn't prepared for when i came out, i lasted about 8 hours i just couldn't cope with every thing that was going on in my head. 3 years ago i was arrested for stealing cars and got remanded for 6 weeks, went to court and got a drug treatment & testing order for 2 years. i was using on and off for the first 6 months and then everything seemed to fall in to place. the support was there everything was there and i feel that was my only chance so i grabbed it with both hands. the order finished last december and i haven't used heroin for around 20 months. at the moment it's all going well for me – i'm living with my family again and i've got a good job. i still think about using every day but the thought of all that i'd lose there's no contest. if i can do it there's hope for everyone.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 11:15:27 GMT
Liam, Stoke on Trent
Hi, I started smoking pot at about 13 and at first it was good. I used to have a laugh but after a bit I was smoking it everday and started to get paranoid. I was pretty sure people could hear what I was thinking and they were being nasty to me. After seeing a nurse and stopping smoking I started to feel better and the thoughts stopped. Now if I smell it or think I can smell it, it can make me nervous and feel sick. The culture that comes with pot is different, say to heroin but the impact on your health is just as bad, but pot's culture is more mainstream and people need to look at pot from a different angle.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 11:21:19 GMT
Claire, Portsmouth
I'm a mother and grandmother to teenage boys and I'm very grateful to JRock for having the courage to quit so publicly. Celebrities have a responsibility as role models and JRock has set a great example. Remember the choices you make may impact the lives of thousands of young people so God bless you, JRock, and keep you true to yourself in what may continue to be a struggle in the future. Hey, Channel 4 any chance this programme can be made available and affordable for schools and youth projects across the country?
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 11:16:15 GMT
Dave, Cornwall
I am currently on day 8 of giving up the herb... god damn it's hard work but watching j rock on channel 4 has helped inspire me to keep going. Yesterday was a real real bad day and I got through it... just (only just... thanks to my girlfriend). If sum1 in j rock's position can do it so can I and so can you. He's right... I feel like a better person, and I now notice the world around me for the beautiful place it is. I hope that this prog will inspire other smokers to kick the habit. Believe me when I say the negative sides of smoking weed outweigh the positives. I pray to myself that I can have the strength to stay clean from green!! as j rock said... 'drive and determination is all you need'.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 11:04:28 GMT
Nigel, High Wycombe
I am on day 3 of stopping smoking the evil hash... J Rock you are an inspiration to me and many others – Thanks Man!
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 11:06:29 GMT
Katie, Birmingham
I would just like to say that I wish all the people at the detox clinic all the best! I hope they all have a happy life ahead of them. Also they need 2 be strong not 2 give in to any temptation as I have seen a close member of my family do the same, but that person is clean now and hopefully will be for a long long LONG time. ALL THE BEST AND GOOD LUCK ONCE AGAIN XX
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 10:47:22 GMT
AG, East Anglia
I am the mother of a heroin addict. Watching your programme this morning made me feel I was not alone, the mother who appeared was saying things that meant something to me regarding the lies and deceit that goes with addicts, I have lived with my son's addiction for 13 years and every day you wait for the dreaded phone call. I would appreciate being able to talk the mother as I for the first time in years felt I am not the only person with this problem.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 10:27:03 GMT
Chris, Newcastle
About one year ago I realised I was an addict to Alcohol and Nicotine, I stoped my addictions using Allen Carr's EasyWay (the books). I found it very easy and enjoyable to end the addictions, and now live an extremely happy and fulfilled life. How does the medical profession view Allen Carr's method and why is it not on the NHS?
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 10:34:44 GMT
Jane, Manchester
On the 1st March 1999, I went to the Detox 5 clinic in Harrogate, I entered as one person and left as another, my life changed completely, I have never looked back, without the help of Dr. Beanie and his dedicated staff I could never have started out on my journey in my new life, don't get me wrong the first few weeks were a horrible battle but if a person wants to get off heroin then they must expect a battle, your show is a great idea and I will be watching and understanding what the patients are going through.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 10:34:09 GMT
Jane, Stoke
My parents had 5 children and 3 of us have been addicted to heroin. It has totally wrecked our lives. I have been clean from heroin for 3 years, but only because I have my methadone which I pay for on private prescription. I would love to think that one day I will be methadone-free but to be honest I just don't think it will ever happen. Because most of these rehabs want thousands of pounds to help you become drug free, which 99%of us heroin/methadone addicts just haven't got.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 10:23:57 GMT
Antonia, Sheffield
This week could not have been better as I have been living abroad for 2 years and became a coke addict there. It was very easy and cheap to buy and that was the lifestyle if you got sucked into it. I became quite violent, depressed and started seeing my brother in me as he was an addict once too – also was violent with me and his girlfriend. However, my mother took his side. I used to say to her I would do time if he hit me again and she could not understand that but I was the one living with it, which is why it amazed me I ended up doing similar stuff. Now I am trying to sort myself out and start voluntary work again within the drug awareness field. It is true what someone else has written, you wean people off either in prison or in private rehab, but they are then placed back into the same society as before, mixing with the same people. I learnt that. You need to start afresh somewhere, they need more support and help rather than saying, well done you're clean but we'll put you back where you started it all! A lot still has to change regarding rehab and intervention but I do feel we are getting there – however slowly. I started drug awareness as a volunteer 7 years ago and to be honest not much has changed, just that there are more jobs (with better pay I might add) and the government and police are recognising organisations can help now, it should not be something swept under the carpet anymore. People need help, not locking up.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 10:20:19 GMT
John, Blackpool
Having just watched the first of your programmes some old memories were brought to the fore. I underwent treatment at Detox 5 in Harrogate almost 9 years ago after the death of a close friend and through the help I received whilst there and the medication afterwards I have been clean of heroin since. Along with the help of my family I managed to overcome my addiction to heroin. I'd like to wish the patients on this show all the best and to all other users who are trying to give up. At the time 5 days in Detox 5 was over £2000 which obviously takes it out of a lot of people's reach but I really do think this sort of treatment should be available on the NHS. Methadone isn't the answer, you're just getting addicted to something else. I now have my life back but without this kind of detox I don't think I would have made it.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 10:14:52 GMT
Craig, Wokingham
As a former heavy heroin and methadone user who went extremely cold turkey (as the methadone was just as bad), I was most interested to see this programme advertised. However, the fact it's a strictly controlled environment such as detox-5 is misrepresentative. I applaud Channel 4 for showing this, but it must be emphasised the cold turkey experience for most of us isn't in a comfortable institution. Physical and mental withdrawal, hard as they are, are just the first steps. I'm clean for three years now and I'd say I'm pretty much back to what I shall call for the sake of hilarious argument, 'normal', but again emphasis needs to be put on the length of time recovery takes and the amount of effort and determination involved in the long-term, not just the experience in the detox-5 programme.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 10:09:02 GMT
James, London
Is the detox-5 on private medicine or NHS? If private, how much does it cost and does it apply with methadone addiction, as this has a longer withdrawal time?
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 10:07:23 GMT
Sam, Norwich
what can u do if u know someone is slipping back into a heroin addiction. my sister in law has 3 children and a previous addiction of some years ago, i have found out recently that through her brother who is homeless and an addict, he brought heroin into her house, and she smoked it with him, i am alarmed and concerned she will slip back into her addiction days, please would you give me some advice as to how to help/what to look for.
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 10:03:04 GMT
Tom, Edinburgh
I've just seen the first 'cold turkey'. What a fantastic program! If this doesn't portray the ACTUAL effects of drugs then I don't know what does! All of the participants admitted that the first time they 'used' was the point at which they were addicted... a fascinating insight. I hope this is watched by individuals that matter... current users, kids, and the politicians who may be able to make this part of a drug awareness syllabus. Congratulations Channel 4!
Created: Monday, 20-Feb-2006 09:17:54 GMT
Paul, Grimsby
5 day detoxes are not an effective treatment for 99.0% of the population. Those who do stop would have stopped without a five day detox. You stand a good chance of causing even more problems for the user. Many that fail a five detox crash and burn and the road to full recovery never happens.
Ask them the rate of relapse for this treatment. They will give an answer for short term but you must ask for the long term effectiveness. Ask how long it will be after they leave that they reuse. It's usually 72 hours. If any user on a detox can last the magic 72 hours they stand a chance to stay clean. The support that they need however is huge and rarely available hence the relapse.
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 22:41:22 GMT
Gary, Warrington
I was a Heroin addict for nearly 15 years and the levels of treatment vary greatly from town to town. Methadone is very ineffective, Detox 5 is too quick for most addicts to deal with, they send you home at the worst possible time and leave you to it once they have been paid. Different people need different treatments. I personally used Subutex and that was great for me but not so great for others. Complimentary treatments should be available to relieve the after effects but is costly but then again so is the cost financially and socialogically. The 'hard' drug culture is on a steep ascent. It could be your family member next. Oh by the way I've been mostly clean for three years and am getting on with life as a single dad to two young boys. Just say no!!!!
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 22:42:56 GMT
Pete, Manchester
Can heroin and or Methadone addicts still feel pain as 'normal' people can, I've used Heroin and Methadone for over 20 years and still feel pain when I bang myself or trip up, but my GP thinks that the pain killing effects of opiates will make me immune to pain. What do you think?
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 21:38:18 GMT
Paul, Grimsby
I work in addictions as an adolescent addictions service manager. I managed the UK's only dedicated rehab for young people (12–18 years of age) I also commissioned the Priory's adolescent residential addictions service at Ticehurst East Sussex. I am sure that your 'experts' will once again miss the point of the problem and that is the breakdown of the family group and the inappropriate peer group guidance that follows.
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 20:40:18 GMT
Elaine, Northampton
My son is addicted to heroin, when we sought help last year. He had done cold turkey at home, and desperately needed help to continue. We found that to get on a programme took 3 months, in which time he was tearing his hair out. Then as he was not using, he was classed as non dependant, and in order to get help he was told to use again, and from that time it's been down hill all the way. He is now in trouble with the police etc etc. My son is 29 and I fear for his future, having tried to help himself, but there was no pat on the back.
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 18:05:37 GMT
Laura, Swansea
I have at different times been addicted to speed, crack, heroin and benzos and have tried a number of ways to get clean including home and hospital detox and rehab. My experiences of each have varied depending on only one thing – how serious I was about getting off drugs. The bottom line is if you really want to do it you will find a way no matter how uncomfortable the detox is and how much temptation there is to relapse. My biggest mistake was trying to get clean for other people cos it never works unless you really want it for yourself.
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 11:20:00 GMT
Linda, London
My son has been through two 'Detox 5' programmes, both complete failures. It was a complete waste of a great deal of money, they gave us no preparation, no warnings about the aftermath and no support. In my view it is a cruel way to extort money from vulnerable families and I am sure many others have found the same. IT IS NOT A QUICK FIX for an extremely serious problem.
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 15:31:17 GMT
Becky, Shifnal
I think it's great that you're doing this program. My ex boyfriend was an heroin addict we went out for 3 years. As well as ruining his own life in that time he also managed to ruin mine. Now owes a me a substantial amount of money, which was mostly stolen from me. I know how adddictive heroin is, but I'm hoping this program will help me underdstand why he did terrible things to me when he told me loved me. It should also open other people's minds as to what a user actually goes through when they rattle. As I don't think some people realise how ill they get and how difficult it is to get over a mental and physical addiction at the same time. They should show these sorts of programmes at schools as I didn't know anything about heroin untill I met my ex. Children need to be shown real-life stories ... it doesn't matter if it scares them it's real life and they need to know everything.
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 12:16:18 GMT
Mike, Liverpool
Treat the addicts, Punish the dealers. The biggest reason Heroin and Crack are a problem is the related crime. It would cost society less to treat addicts. If a user is in treatment then they are not committing crime. Commercial dealers should, I think, be given harsher punishment, especially if they are selling poly drugs, ie Heroin and Crack.
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 03:50:16 GMT
Robert, Gosport
I think they should have charted people in an NHS detox center. Briefly loking at the detox then more the hard struggle on discharge. It's not the getting off heroin that is the problem (I know it is difficult – TRUST) but it is the start. The real battle is to not go back to any part of your previous life/life style. Some people don't understand how deep this effect is and how piviotal it is on a succsessful/prolonged abstinence. Detox and relocation with councelling, training and support easly-accesable fast-entry would be about right.
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 00:32:40 GMT
Alasdair, Kings Lynn
Whilst it is good to see on TV information about addiction I am concerned that the week of detox programmes might place undue emphasis on short-term withdrawal. Rehabilitation and re-integration is likely to be a far greater challenge to the addict. I would like to see programmes that focus on long-term rehabilitation as well as programmes that show the impact on friends & family and the role of friends & family in recovery.
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 00:08:46
Joe, Leyland
Your programme name cold turkey is misleading. If the addicts featured are going in to Detox 5 where you're basically drugged up and injected with naltrexone so you don't really feel the cold turkey. The true meaning of the word "cold turkey" is to come off heroin with nothing whatsoever. Doing a Detox 5 turkey and doing a proper cold turkey are worlds apart and if I were gonna nitpick doing Detox 5 is definitely not going "cold turkey".
Created: Sunday, 19-Feb-2006 00:08:46 GMT
Joe, Leyland
I have been battling heroin addiction for about 8 years now. I have been clean for about a month but I only really use sporadically these days so it is getting better for me. I did a full-on cold turkey about 4 years ago in a rehab that didn't offer any medication whatsoever ... I went straight in to withdrawal on the second day I was there and they lasted full on for 3 weeks ... It's taken years away from me and took the best part of 3 years just to get to where I am now and that is with constantly trying. I still crave it now and think about it in some form or another most days but I'm more aware of the consequences and impact it will have on my life. I'll either end up dead or at best in prison and that's a surety. It's sad becuse I've known loads of people who died from heroin addiction. It just takes takes takes until you have nothing left.
Created: Saturday, 18-Feb-2006 23:28:39 GMT
Frank, Manchester
Cannabis. Good? Bad? How does it change the mind? Interesting. I'm a student and I have a dependency. The obvious effects of (I won't go on), however it also proves to be stimulating somewhat. I have found cannabis proves vital for my understanding of somewhat complex concepts that may not have been grasped before smoking. However due to memory loss does this mean it was wasted time? I believe no understanding is a key part of learning especially in research. Why do scientists have these psycho tendancies? The spectrum of thought multi-dimentional.
Created: Saturday, 18-Feb-2006 22:03:21 GMT
Robert, Gosport
I feel so bad for all addicts of any substance to leave their comfort zone to enter rehab, to feel so good as the detox progresses, surronded by new friends to share problems with in a completely secure enviroment. But when thay leave they return to the same circumstances that existed before. Almost guaranteeing relapse. Addicts should be treated more like a witness protection case to give them a fresh start away from the total bad umbrella of co-dependent friends/users and familiar routines.
Created: Friday, 17-Feb-2006 22:48:06 GMT
Anon, England
I have schizophrenia and have also smoked cannabis. My schizophrenia was not caused by cannabis use. I have however smoked cannabis since I have been ill but managed by medication and I have, I believe enough insight into myself and my illness to know that it does make me feel worse. So I would advise anyone with mental health problems not to smoke cannabis.
Created: Friday, 17-Feb-2006 18:23:23 GMT
MorbiouS, Gosport
I lost everything to my habit – from a £60,000pa job to friends and family and my home. I have just been kicked off my methadone treatment because I missed 3 appointments and now I am stuck trying to get into detox which I have to attend a group 3 times a week to qualify. This just isn't good enough. It shows a total lack of understanding of how drugs disrupt normal life. If I can't get to an appointment once a week how am I expected to achieve that? (Detox5 – who has the money)!!!
Created: Thursday, 16-Feb-2006 20:39:51 GMT
Ian, Portsmouth
In every way possible your Cold Turkey show is unrealistic ... The 5-day program is easy ... with the drugs they will hardly feel anything except weak. They will be in a warm, safe environment, fed and looked after. The reality which I and most addicts face is a cold, damp bedsit, no money for heat or electricity because you've spent your last on your last hit, little food, no help because all your acquaintances are junkies, and nothing except aspirin and ibuprofen to take away your pain ... The detox is ... the beginning ... You should have the guts to take on someone in the hell of smack dependence and offer him or her the challenge, and opportunity, of lifting themselves up from smackhead to functioning, working, valuable member of society.
Created: Wed, 15-Feb-2006 16:44:13 GMT
Julie, Grantham
I don't believe that rehab is an effective treatment for the majority of cases. Rehab can get you through physical withdrawals, offers drugs counselling and often prescribes blocking drugs. These drugs themselves are often extremely addictive and can cause further problems in their own right. Once in the outside world the patient can quite easily stop taking these blockers. Often returning to a home with no family and where all acquaintances/friends are also drug users proves to be too much of a temptation. It should also be remembered that people cannot get addicted to something which they do not find highly pleasurable. Many addicts also have underlying problems which are not drug related for which adequate counselling is hardly ever given.
