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Comment by crispyambulance | Hacker News Reader

    > Where do they get the money to afford all those opoids?

They can't afford them forever. When the money runs out, they switch to heroin which is MUCH cheaper than the abused prescription drugs which got them addicted in the first place.

"Shelter", when someone hits the bottom, consists of a flop-house or couch-surfing.

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I should probably use a throwaway, but I am not scaed.

During the peak of my very long addiction, post retirement, I was spending $250/day - not counting the habits of friends that I helped to feed.

The only difference between what people call a junkie and myself is that I can afford it. That's also the reason why I was able to get adequate assistance to minimize the harmful behaviors. Err... I am on Suboxone, and probably will be for a very long time. I used for 35 years.

Anyhow, it can be expensive. Users equate use with life. Life always finds a way.

The only difference between you and what people call a junkie is people are being polite to your face. If you're on subs and have used opiates for 35 years, it seems pretty clear to me.

Pretty much. I can afford to maintain an air of functionality. I was a functional addict, for much of that time. When I sold and retired, I no longer needed to function. Things escalated quickly.

Nobody calls a guy a junkie, if said guy drives a new BMW and has a big house.

^This! I used to think "who in their right mind would decide to inject heroin to get high" then I realized most people who transition from oral prescription drug--->all the way to--->IV heroin/fentanyl/opiate use are not in their right mind, and usually are resorting to IV use as a cost effective solution to bring them out of terrible, debilitating withdrawal symptoms, often one step past them switching to nasal inhalation of the same prescription-->then-->street drugs.

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