Question regarding heroin addiction

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shawslass

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I am here to ask for opions from former heroin addicts. First I applaud you all for being here and staying clean. Is it ever O.K. for an addict to use their addiction as an excuse for murder? I like a drink, but if I get in a car and kill someone I know I am going to jail. A few years ago an addict walked into my family business and killed 2 merabers of my family. He was using 12 bags at a time twice a day. He was a very functional addict. Very coherent when high. Now we will go to trial and the defense is his addiction. We will have some experts, but I would really like to hear from someone that has walked in his shoes. He had all kinRAB of support from family and they were putting him through school. He was also on methadone, but that was not good enough. He left everything behind and went on a rampage. My family were not the only victims. There were many more robberies and another murder. I would really appreciate and feedback. Thanks
 
WOW..First off, I am so sorry for your loss..I don't apologise for an addict from an addict because I would never pool any class of people together. But from a human being to another, I am sorry for your loss.

On to your question. You say he was a functioning addict even when hight but thats not hard to achieve. Most addicts will agree that with a tolerance level that high to do that much heroin, he is no longer getting his "high" as he is doing it just to avoid getting sick.

His methadone was a way for him to avoid getting sick when he couldn't score. If he was on methadone (based on his dose) he would need 12 sacks to stop the sickness.

Ive done things that yes, I did due to my addiction...things I am not proud of and things I can never take back that i am still paying for to this day.

I can't speak for any other addict but myself so to answer your question using my circumstances, it would be yes. MURDER....NEVER. But it could have happened during the act.....it would have been unintentional of course but anything could have been possible.

Addiction is a sickness, a disease for some (most) and in my case ... a curse. Again, I am so very sorry for your loss, my father was murdered and 19 years later, it still feels like yesterday and my mom has suffered like no other.

An addict (to alcohol) to my fathers life. I have forgiven him, I did so the week after the murder. There is no room in my heart for hatred, it will tear you apart.

Lastly, I would like to add from what you said about other robberies and another murder....this person WILL get what is coming to him. Addiction is no excuse for murder but rather a reason for the act. His addiction didn't make him commit murder, I am sure it was his reason for or to the addiction that led to the murder. Desperation, despair, whatever it was for him did this awful crime. My heart goes out to him also as it really is a living hell.
 
Thank you for responding. Just trying to understand how this can happen. My faith tells me to forgive, but I just can't.......
 
Hello shawslass

Although I have never used heroin,I would like to offer a response.

I wouldn't say it's "O.K" to use addiction as an excuse but it is legal to use it as a defense.

Forgiveness and faith...now this is tough.

It's about dealing with emotions,acceptance,grieving and letting go...without the element of rationalization.

Some will attain it and some won't but forgiveness;true forgiveness cannot be forced.

It doesn't make you any less faithful to feel the way you do;after all,you are human.

The mere fact that you contemplated forgiveness neeRAB to be applauded.

I too, am sorry for your loss.

Respectfully Phoenix
 
Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it all clean.
- Maya Angelou


We live in a rush to forgive society. I'm always amazed when someone does some horrible thing and you see people on the news "forgiving" them 24 hours later. This quote from Maya Angelou is one of my favorites. There is nothing wrong with not forgiving. Or not forgiving yet. If it comes to you honestly, fine. But it's hard to forgive when the person hasn't asked for forgiveness. And in the meantime, having anger is not a horrible thing. You have a right to it. And personally I do not believe there is any excuse for taking another person's life unless they are threatening yours. Many people are addicts. Very few of those addicts kill. Just like their addiction, it's just another choice made.
 
Thats the first time I've heard of living in a rush to forgive society.

Forgiveness or not forgiving is an individual decision. No one can tell someone how they should feel.

Holding any negative emotion inside is not healthy.
 
you are right corissa, holding any negative emotion inside is not healthy. However, I say go to trial and help put the murdering sob away. I don't think addiction is a reason to murder. It may be an excuse like any other society tries to use. After the murderer is put in prison, you have to work at putting the bitterness behind in order to live any kind of normal life. Such a sad story. Another thing that can be blamed on drugs. Drugs are going to be our downfall in society. I certainly hope he gets the punishment he deserves. Nobody deserves to die because of another person's addiction.
 
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