Ask Layzie about Heroin Addiction/Doing Time In Prison - Page 24

dun_noo · #**231** 03-30-2006, 10:40 AM

Were there any instances where you had to fight to protect yourself? Any close calls? I've read and heard that you don't back down from a fight in prison, or something to that extent.

Layzie · #**232** 03-30-2006, 10:46 AM

"I think my questions got lost in the shuffle, so I just wanted to give them a bump. If you don't want to answer them for whatever reason, that's cool of course; I don't want to press."

Wow, I thought I answered every post... I didn't intentionally skip your questions.

"Did you ever try to detox yourself (that is, gradually step down your dosage ntil you were no longer dependent), or did you just go cold turkey? If not, why?"

No. I don't think it's really possible to lean off of heroin like that. Also, I would imagine it would be more painful. If you were to start using, say, every other day instead of every day, then those days inbetween would all be horrible, and there would be more of them rather than doing it cold turkey. It's hard to explain to someone who hasn't experienced dope sickness, but this is just not very doable. It just doesn't work. You have to just completely stop. Trying to lean off, or use methadone or something is the worst way to go.

"Have you ever been to an inpatient detox/rehab? If so, where, and what was the experience like?"

No, I kicked it at home.

"Are you a member of any support groups, such as NA? If so, how helpful do find them?"

I have been to NA meetings, but i'm not a regular member. I honestly don't find them all that helpful, but it's probably because I didn't actively participate, I just listened.

Layzie · #**233** 03-30-2006, 10:54 AM

"Very good thread. Couple questions:

"I assume you were with your girlfriend while you were using. What did she think of it?"

For about the first year she really didn't even know. This isn't a testament to her intelligence, but rather to how deceptive addicts can be. I always had it, so I didn't experience dope sickness, and I didn't have an marks on my arms, because it really takes quite alot of use for a mark to form, unless you're re-using needles. So I basically just used without really anyone knowing, except for my other friends who were using. I finally did tell her I had a problem out of guilt. She supported me and stayed by my side through the toughest time of my life.

"When you were at the height of your addiction, could you identify how much damage it was doing? At that point, if you could've just flipped a switch and stopped using, would you have?"

The height of my addiction was in 2003 and it was just uncontrollable. I had to use every day, sometimes twice a day just to not be sick. My mom knew about it so it was really tearing her apart. I tried to kick it several times but the sickness got so bad that I would use again. I didn't like myself and was constantly afraid I was going to die.

I would have flipped that switch in a second.

Layzie · #**234** 03-30-2006, 10:55 AM

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Were there any instances where you had to fight to protect yourself? Any close calls? I've read and heard that you don't back down from a fight in prison, or something to that extent.

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Generally it's a bad idea to back down from a fight. I never had to fight, but I got into a bad argument over a card game we were gambling on. Another inmate kind of cooled down the situation, but there's no telling whether or not it would have escalated into a fight.

Jusbe · #**235** 03-30-2006, 12:26 PM

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Layzie,

This may be the best thread I've seen on 2+2. Your attitude is awesome. Congrats on your recovery.

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She's hot.

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g-p · #**236** 03-30-2006, 02:17 PM

hey layzie,

could you tell us about your cellmate? were you friends with eachother or did you just stay out of eachother's way?

did you make any really good friends there?

what were some of the funniest things that happened there?

Layzie · #**237** 03-30-2006, 09:18 PM

"hey layzie,

could you tell us about your cellmate? were you friends with eachother or did you just stay out of eachother's way?"

I had a couple cellmates. One was a 19 year old blood with 10 years. We got along really well. After that was an older black guy who was pretty much white. He listened to Led Zeppelin and didn't talk to black people. I had one other but it was only for 2 days and we didn't really talk.

"did you make any really good friends there?"

I still talk to a couple people I was locked up with.

"what were some of the funniest things that happened there?"

Virginia Tech lost to Florida State. That's about it.

spamuell · #**238** 03-30-2006, 09:44 PM

If your cell mate was bigger than you and basically just decided that they were going to beat you up and take your stuff after lights out or whenever, was there anything you could do about it?

Popinjay · #**239** 03-30-2006, 09:51 PM

How did you afford your heroine? And how much did it cost you (for a single sess and total)?

Layzie · #**240** 03-30-2006, 10:06 PM

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If your cell mate was bigger than you and basically just decided that they were going to beat you up and take your stuff after lights out or whenever, was there anything you could do about it?

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, you could request to move cells, but this wouldn't be immediate. So I guess the answer is no, there isn't anything you can do about it.