A person in active addiction will do things that cross their own moral boundaries. On the inside, they will feel guilty and ashamed of what they are doing but the pull of addiction and the crippling feeling of going into withdrawal makes them push those limits.
One of the biggest lines that are crossed by many in active addiction is deciding to use a needle for the first time and inject their drugs. Many people (myself included) were against needles for years. The first 5-6 years of my addiction I made a promise to myself and a friend that no matter how bad things got I would never pick up a needle. One night when desperation and misery were at their peak I crossed that line.
Why Do Addicts Start Using Needles and Injecting?
A person in the grips of active addiction will continuously look for ways to streamline their process and get the most “bang for their buck”. As their addiction progresses so does their level of desperation which will lead them to justify crossing boundaries they previously would have never crossed. Deciding to use their drugs through the IV route is one of those boundaries that is typically based on peer pressure, efficiency, and increased effect.