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I first accessed opiate substitute treatment in the‘ 90s, before I knew of government strategies or treatment models. Some people did – it’ s just that I never met them then.
Some say they never knew what heroin was when they first tried it – not me! I remembered Zammo on Grange Hill. I saw the national news say Edinburgh was‘ smack city’ and regional news describing Middlesbrough and Blyth as hotspots.
‘ I AM AN UNTOUCHABLE GENIUS’ Like many others I started taking heroin on a weekend, especially after club sessions dropping Doves or Mitzis. The Zammo story had nothing to do with me. People with issues who took heroin would get a problem and those of us countering
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the unpleasant effects of other drugs were just a bit‘ smarter’ than people who didn’ t. If they judged us they were jealous, didn’ t understand, or lacked the courage to try. I remember sneaking to empty rooms at house parties to toot, laughing at people downstairs with no chance of sleep, their skin crawling at sunrise,
You can guess how this ends. Friday to Sunday is the little weekend, but Thursday kicks it off and Monday caps it, Wednesday breaks up the week – then‘ what else are you going do on Tuesday?’
HELLO STIGMA What do you do if you have an opiate dependency? Access the treatment. In the’ 90s in Sunderland that was delivered through the community addiction team. You can’ t just turn up
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though, it’ s GP referral only. You go to the doctor who’ s known you since you were a kid and knows your family, and explain everything. That won’ t change anything – they’ re professionals. Except in the future, one of the GPs will start doing your consultations in the waiting room in front of everyone, with explanations from the friendly receptionist that include‘ to stop you asking for meds or pinching his script pad’ or‘ he just doesn’ t like people on drugs’.
At least, I am on a script … but nope, there’ s a 12-month waiting list. A tale at the time was‘ get referred, commit a crime, go to prison, do your rattle, get released, get your habit back – and you still won’ t miss your first appointment’. My mam said‘ that doesn’ t seem right’ and I agreed it was wrong – but she meant my story.
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One of the GPs will start doing your consultations in the waiting room in front of everyone, with explanations from the friendly receptionist that include,‘ he just doesn’ t like people on drugs.’ |