Expert: Jacqui - 12/23/2008

Question
You said that , and you never told me WHAT!!!  Is this site only open to US residents? there's a good reason I am asking. But then if you are from Australia....I guess maybe you live in the US now. but it would be super cool to be talking to an Australian IN Australia. You guys must have the same problems in your big cities as we do in ours. Are drugs as rampant there than they are in say,  in L.A. I mean there are places here that I think even the police are afraid to go to like Watts.where I have copped a many a times. I lived in Hollywood(no I was NOT A STAR) There ARE everyday folks there,you know!!! Today I live in Montreal Canada. In a so- so neighborhood. But bad in Montreal has NOTHING to do with BAD IN LA. Trust me there. the crack in Canada is actually not at all like American crack that I knew and loved. It is freebase cooked in ammonia instead of baking soda. (can you say YUK!)And you do not have anything under 20$.I could use up 1000$ per night if given the right amount of money!!! I am also in the process of quitting cigarettes which REALLY gross me out.the smell and everything. But I know that I am maybe doing too much at once. But my doc says (I am also on Methadone) it is NEVER NOT the time to quit smoking. He is my Methadone doc. But I quit smoking(never injected)heroin like 9 years ago. Still stuck on that damn Meth wich I think IS WORST than heroin. I hate any treatment centers. i have tried a few and left after a couple weeks. It is NOT my thing at all. As for AA NA I guess i could try but I have done THAT TOO and well here I am. I have a new counselor that I see every |Tuesday and I will see what that does. and then the newest thing is YOU. Again to be continued. I M very alone but I never wanted to make friends with other whores because I had nothing in common with them aside from drug use. And I do not do ANYTHING criminal aside from prostitution. I never stole from my customers and actually kinda liked them. they were very nice. I guess I was lucky. I do not know what I would have become without my customers. But it is something too closely linked to drugs and I had top let it go although I didn't hate it at all. But everytime I would work i would relapse. I am totally broke now because of YESTERDAYS relapse and the guy giving me cash is really wondering where my money is going and I do not have the heart to tell him I am STILL using.OR that I am STILL in love with my ex. (see 1rst message). Anyways you MUST help me quit or this will all blow up in my cute little face. And no one wants THAT, right?
Thanx in advance Jacqui! I am starting to like you!!

Answer
Answer A - you and obama have both taken cocaine

Answer B - the internet isn't ever limited to countries, so I am sitting in front of my computer at my workplace in melbourne, Australia.

Answer C - we do have lots of drug use in Australia but we are much better at dealing with the harms associated with it (ie: very very low HIV rates because of early introduction of Needle Exchange, etc).  Also it would be very rare for someone to be locked up for drug USE alone.  The other difference with the laws in Australia is that prostitution is legal and a lot of women do it to support themselve thorugh uni at quite nice brothels where they have access to workers compensation and superannuation, etc.  Much better system.  So please don't feel you have to make excuses for taking drugs or doing sex work - I think people are people and actually I went to uni with a lot of sex workers, some of whom took drugs and two now have PhDs and one still uses occasionally.  

I guess I have to put a caveat on my communication in that I cannot provide you with any answers.  There are none.   Unfortunately, as I said last time, there is no "cure" for drug addiction.  Case in point, it is punishable with the death penalty in China and people still do it.  So, I can't stop you from using, the US or Canadian government cant stop you from using, only you can, and perhaps right now, you can't.  

I will however, get you to reflect on one thing, and then let me know the answer.  How did you give up heroin?  Many people go onto methadone and don't stop using, so what did it for you?  What gave you that strength?  Get back to me.  Also, perhaps as this is an ongoing conversation, it is best suited to "private".

Will wait to hear your response.

Jacqui