Actually, heroin in its pure form is fairly innocuous. Wealthy junkies (yes, there are some) can do dope their whole lives. The beat writer William Burroughs is an example. He didn't do heroin his whole life, but he spent the better part of 30 years doing it. He died recently at a ripe old age.
The street junkie gets his dope cut with impurities that are actually more unhealthy than the drug itself. And of course the lifestyle has its health hazards. Getting shot, hepatitis from dirty needles, etc.
I almost wish there was more heroin on our streets. If you think back to the 70s and consider the junkie, he was a rather mellow character compared to the highly irritating cocaine addicts that are more prevalent today. Cocaine addicts are more dangerous, too. They're too hyper and unpredictable. The heroin addict, when stoned, was really kind of amusing.
I hate to quote the loathsome Bill Maher, but he said something once that is annoyingly true. When discussing the merits of the War on Drugs, he said, "I would never take heroin or suggest anyone else does, but it's been great for my jazz collection." |
