I didn't delete my account--I tried to change my email address on the old one and then it froze up.
I didn't mean to ignore you, was just trying to avoid being accused of lying anymore. But to answer your question, since you seem sincere (and really this is as far as I want to go): I didn't admit to myself that I was addicted until I'd been using for about 8 months to a year. But I started noticing mild withdrawal coming on after about 3 months...I could still go a couple of days in between uses until I hit 6 months.
See, I had used morphine tabs and the dissolves-in-water methadone off and on all through undergrad, but only rarely because it was hard to find. I was also a regular user (4 days a week, easily) of cocaine and amphetamines (and everythiing else you can think of) but had always been able to keep my life in order while using them.
Then I moved to the innercity and heroin was everywhere. Because I'd never developed an addiction from the pills in college, I figured "as long as I don't do this too many days in a row, I'll be fine"...
The first few times were pretty bad, it was too strong. I just threw up and felt sick. But then suddenly it started working, and working really well. Full body-mind euphoria. So I'd do it a few nights every week, or try to limit it to weekends. But soon, without even noticing, I was doing it everyday. And if I stopped for a day, I'd go into withdrawal. I was in denial about all of it until I had to go home for Christmas and didn't bring enough and had to go the ER to get methadone.
For the first couple of years, a few bags a day--using only at night after work--was enough to keep me from getting sick. But the dose kept escalating as I built a tolerance. By my fourth year--after trying to get clean unsuccessfully several times--I needed to shoot three bags just to get out of bed. I did at least a bundle a day, everyday.
So this is a good illustration of how addiction works-- I didn't want to continue talking about it, but I can't resist. Right now I'm gritting my teeth and trying to do deep breathing because I'm craving a nice warm itch REALLY BAD. A drug craving is stronger than wanting food or sex or anything else. And I'm already on maintenance opiates that are supposed to block my cravings, but they don't! Addiction is a very, very, extremely powerful thing. Just say no!