Case study: ‘I might use heroin to wean myself off methadone’

AFTER 17 years on methadone, Philip Nichol is so desperate to quit he is considering using heroin as a way of weaning himself off it.

The 44-year-old has tried to kick the habit four times, but on each occasion he found the cravings too much to bear.

He believes he would need round-the-clock support to quit successfully, and says coming off heroin is easier than trying to to turn his back on methadone.

Mr Nichol, who lives in Edinburgh, said: “With abstinence, it depends what you’re on. I’ve tried to come off four times.

“The last dose you get is 5ml. Give it a few days and then you can’t get out of bed, you can’t eat, you can’t sleep.

“Drug addicts call it ‘the rattle’ because you’re sitting shaking.”

Apart from a lapse at Christmas, he has not taken heroin for 15 years. But he is now so desperate, he is considering swapping methadone for his former drug.

But he admitted: “I’ve thought about finding a decent dealer, chucking methadone and getting onto heroin. It takes three months to get back on your feet after methadone, but only two weeks after heroin, even if you’re on a £100-a-day habit.”