SAFER INJECTING

Reasons for detoxing

As most of us know, the detoxification process is coping with stopping, or reducing, after this regular use. The new equilibrium is suddenly thrown out of balance again, and the body may take weeks, to possibly months (depending on which drug) before things get back to normal. We all come to detox for different reasons. For some, it may not be a decision at all, if they are imprisoned and can’t access their drug from inside. Others may simply be taking a break to give the bodies a bit of a rest. Some will be detoxing simply to lower their tolerance and get more effect for a smaller shot again. Then again, others may have hit a crisis point and feel they want to make a permanent break and adopt a new and different lifestyle.

Whatever the reasons, detox is not an easy process, but an achievable one. The good news is that the difficulty has been increasingly acknowledged by the powers that be, and the range of detox options has never been wider. We humans can be pretty unique in many ways, and detox is no exception. Read on to get some idea of what might suit you should you choose to ease up for a while, or chuck the habit for good.

Doing it with attitude

There is always someone who can detox with seemingly few problems. Going in with the right attitude can play a part in this. If being stoned or high has become the main aim of your existence, then feeling like crap for a week or three can seem to big an obstacle.

Some suggest treating it as though you are facing a week or two of a nasty flu — nothing to panic about but get plenty of rest and do all the things that will help lessen the symptoms. Take long hot baths, curl up with a good book or take advantage of the wealth of quality tv programming on offer (ha!). Chock yourself full of vitamins and whinge freely to friends or designated carers who will understand what you are going through.

For some, detox is the worst time for navel gazing, when you aren’t feeling too hot about yourself! If so, you may want to make a commitment to start some self-analysis once the worst part of detox is over.

Detox at home

Many find that they cope with the detox process in their home environment; that may be where they are able to consistently access those who are supportive and those little personal homely things that help to pass the time more comfortably. Some have children and need to be able to continue to care for their kids (with the right support) – often fearing that they might be more at risk of losing their children if they enter the hospital system. Many also find that since home is where they have used most it is the best place to deal with the habit; a conclusion many reach after going into hospital to detox on numerous occasions only to lapse when they return to their home environment.

Home detox involves daily visits for up to a fortnight by health practitioners such as a counsellor and a nurse. They can monitor and encourage an individual’s progress. They can also help to ensure that medication prescribed to relieve withdrawal symptoms is being used safely. Home detox can provide a sense of freedom and control over the detox process, which many find can help to counteract the weight of withdrawal. It can be effective choice, given the right preparation and range of supports.

Residential detox

This can be a better option if your home environment involves other users, dealers and other distractions. You are also around others trying to quit, and full-time access to support and counselling. You may need to sell your kidneys to pay for private detox, and there can be long waits for public detox.

There is a variety of detoxes around — harm reduction models, abstinence-based, rapid, non-medicated, male, female. Shop around, ask questions or speak to QuIHN staff for more info.

Navel gazing time?

If you are looking at a long or permanent break, this might be a good time for some soul searching. Detox usually means your habit got out of control, and there are usually a pile of reasons why. This might be a good time to explore some of this with suitable reading, or a counsellor. Some kind of crisis may have brought on the decision to detox, but staying off will be a matter of dealing with the main reasons you were using in the first place. For some, detox is the worst time for navel gazing, when you aren’t feeling too hot about yourself! If so, you may want to make a commitment to start some self-analysis once the worst part of detox is over.
How about the long haul?

Plenty of people don’t get too far after detox, often through not preparing for the long haul. Assuming you’ve confronted the demons, another good step might be looking at what you’ll do with your life! If your habit took up a lot of space, life can look pretty empty once you are straight. Plan ahead about who you will spend time with, and what you’ll do to fill the gap — study, volunteer work, full time work, hobbies, family? Any decent program or counsellor can help out with this kind of stuff. Just remember will power alone is unlikely to get you very far.

Hey this is only a break!

Some users manage to achieve a desired level of use they can stick with after taking a break. Counsellors and programs that follow the ‘harm reduction’ approach are more than happy to support you in this aim should you choose it. Those who manage reduced use successfully, usually use a range of strategies to make this work.

Balance your habit with other things in life, such as family, work, relationships, exercise, hobbies, sleep and health.

Take regular breaks from using, particularly if you are hitting it hard. Use this time to make sure you’ve still got things balanced the way you want them.

Watch the purse strings (or wallet). Spending beyond your means can lead to all kinds of shit happening. Some keep a record of their use as means of staying in control.

Keep up appearances! You don’t have to look like a middle class pillar of the community necessarily, but pay attention to what you wear, your diet, sleep, hygiene and weight. A rough rule of thumb is that if your use is visibly evident, then there’s a risk of it getting out of control again.

Have someone you can talk to about your use to keep things in perspective. This usually works best with someone in the know, so it might be a counsellor or another user you can trust with this kind of thing. Talk with QuIHN's NSP staff. They are not only intelligent, witty and attractive, but can inform you about the wide range of different detox options available. Even better, they’ll never force the detox issue, simply get you informed so you can make your own choice!

While some people are happy with their level of use, others may come to the conclusion they have to detox and stay off. If you are looking at detox and rehab, it can help if you use the time before admission to do some sorting out.The types of things you may want to try and sort out are:

PRACTICAL STUFF

• Bills and debts
• Employment/benefits
• Welfare of any dependents
• Who will look after your belongings while you are away
• Transport to get there
• Accommodation when you get back.

EMOTIONAL STUFF

• Support will be needed for when you come out
• Talking through with people close to you about what you are doing and why.

PHYSICAL STUFF

• Becoming drug/alcohol-free
• Physical health (including your teeth) and fitness.

LEGAL STUFF

• Fines
• Bail conditions
• Probation
• Pending court cases (including any marital or child custody issues)
• Any arrest warrants.

It may help to make lists of the things you need to do before you go in, and to talk to a social worker or counsellor about what you want to do. If you can sort things out before you start, it will mean that you will have fewer stresses from the outside – and the best possible chance of achieving what you want during and after rehab.
This information is reproduced with permission from www.exchangesupplies.org who have heaps of excellent online info on stuff associated with injecting drug use.

Retox

I’m so good at detoxing, I’ve done it a dozen times, ha! Sad fact is that staying off is hard, and most of us do retox at some point. At least you get a good rush for a while, until your body gets dependent on the drug again!

The main thing to remember is take it easy if you do “retox”. It is really easy to overdose when your body is no longer used to your drug. Try a small taste first, then top up as required. And don’t treat yourself as a total failure if you get back on. At the very least you gave your body and mind a bit of time to recover! - B.

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