I know from experience that the need for the relief offered by drugs far outweighs the fear of the legal or health consequences. I was fully aware of the threat of prison, the potential for overdose and the dangers of sharing needles, but none proved even the slightest deterrent.

By James GoldingOriginal Source: independent.co.ukFor four years in my early 20s, I was a crack cocaine and heroin addict. I was arrested multiple times for stealing to feed my addiction, frequently shared needles with homeless people, and spent time as an inpatient at a mental hospital.Having tried various treatments with no success, I eventually came off heroin by having the drug naloxone surgically implanted in my abdomen – a treatment made illegal shortly after my operation.Even without using heroin, for the next 15 years addiction continued to be a destructive force in almost every aspect of my life. I ruined relationships, bankrupted businesses, and binged on cocaine, alcohol and prescription pills whenever...click here to continue reading