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CON: Like Heroin and All Narcotics, Methadone Affects the Immune System.
The Immune System is Stimulated by Methadone and Occupied! Thus, sex and needle use may be more risky during methadone use!
CON: Methadone Is Possibly More Addictive Than Heroin.
PRO: Methadone Is Cheaper than Heroin, and Does Not Require Needles.
HIV Positive.com's List of Drug Abuse Hotlines for Cities in the U.S. (http://www.hivpositive.com/f_Resources/f-20-AbuseHotlines.DrugAbuse.html)
Ah, if only these were indexed by state and city . . . Try the U.S.-wide hotline; or scroll through to see if you can find a city near you!
HIV Positive.com's List of General (non-city-specific) Drug/Alcohol Hotlines (http://www.hivpositive.com/f-Resources/f-20-AbuseHotlines/AlcoholDrug.html)--some are for the U.S.; some are good worldwide!
Many more resources are listed at HIV Positive.com (http://www.hivpositive.com).
The Cocaine Hotline
Information & counseling, 24 hours/day: (800) COCAINE
(Cocaine is a product of coca leaves, an ancient stimulant chewed by Indians in the highlands of South America; the original leaves do not seem addictive, however the cocaine poweder extracted does seem to be addictive and is missing many of the benefits of the leaves; overdose is common with cocaine which causes more deaths than any other drug, even heroin which is number two. According to an article in Babylon Travel Magazine (http://www.babylontravel.net/english/ecology/e-index_coca.htm), when chewed, the leaves act as a mild stimulant and ward off hunger and thirst. Coca leaves are high in calcium and vitamins and facilitate the oxygenation of the blood, which is why coca tea can help offset altitude sickness and is often served to tourists in the Bolivian highlands. See also the Schaffer Library of Drug Policy article on cocaine (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/studies/cu/CU34.html).
S.I.G.N. (Safe Injections' Global Network)-- InjectionSafety.org (http://www.injectionsafety.org/html/joining.html)
In some places in the world, people cannot even get clean syringes for vaccinations--find out how you can help, and get involved!
Sports (which release natural endomorphins, which give a feeling of euphoria and reduce pain--plus sports builds muscles needed for healthy veins), sunshine, coffee (don't overdo--it can destroy vitamin a, much needed by people with HIV), nutmeg, cocoa (a product of the cacao leaves, a rainforest plant--try nutmeg in cocoa or coffee--a favorite of mine, & a good stimulant!)