Do drug cravings EVER go away?

I used drugs for a few years when I was a teen, it's been 6 years and I STILL wake up EVERY morning itching for a needle in my arm. Not really the drug itself, just the needle. Why is this and will it ever go away? Sometimes it's so bad that I have to make a dr's appointment to get an HIV/AIDs test just to get my blood taken. I feel better after that.

The needle prick was an association to the bump (high or low). That's why you crave it. It's akin to feeling other penetration and expecting an orgasm.

I have know users to just inject water for the mental thrill, but always let down b/c of no following rush.

You can help craving go away by educating yourself to all of the dangers. I mean even rare off the wall dangers. It kind of helps to resist if you are more afraid of effect that you are pleased by craving.

It takes a long time to go away. Years for some. You have to stay away from watching those parts of realistic movies showing junkies injecting, etc.

Failing health or the idea of O.D. & forever being remembered that way instead of all the other good you gave in life, can also be a deterrent. Think of the affects on your friends/family if you got a hold of something bad & died or were hospitalized for that.

Think of anything that is worse that shooting up. You can work through this time by finding all the reasons that make not using a better option than using. Make a list. Can be as small as, "I don't want to empty my purse in public while looking for a pen & then having a syringe fall out." Ad to that list. Read often until that's your priority & you begin thinking of the needle as disdainful. You have to LOWER it's pleasurable aspects and raise non-use pleasures.

Think of shameful times when using. Ever ask a friend who didn't like this whole thing to hit you up b/c you were too shaky to complete but didn't want to waste your high? Add those to your REJECTION list.

Go to a hospital with a valid reason for them to put a venous catheter in your arm. Presto! You can walk around with a needle in your arm all the time.

dude you got to start hitting up the meetings again