Honestly dude, it wasn't easy. It took a lot for me to stop, but it all started after I went to AFR (rehab in Battle Creek, MI). It was so horrible and cult-ish (using primal forms of community therapy, and isolation torture) that I final decided to stop. Everything prior to that was nothing but a huge time waster. I truly had to want it.
After that I unfortunately did relapse, but in January of 2015 I started tapering down my 2g a day heroin habit. By March I was doing a tenth a day and struggled through some horrible WDs. Because of my lowered tolerance I was ODing about three times a month and I knew I was going to die soon. I was prepared for it.
In April I picked up a few domestic charges because I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was then put on bond monitoring program because the DA couldn't catch me dealing and they wanted to stop me any way they could.
So I got clean cold turkey with the help of Imodium (no suboxone or methadone, but because I was already tapered and I did my detox in jail so it wasn't too hard) Shortly after my father relapsed and I saved his life. Scared the fuck out of me even if I hate the man. I picked up another charge for attempted manslaughter but it was dropped to my UA results being clean and my grandparents statements. I knew, however, the DA would come at me with fire and brimstone if I was involved in anything else. I started planing my future.
In June a good friend of mine was killed via negligence by my ex. She shot him up and then passed out. He died in his sleep. That was the first day I legitimately felt emotion, even if many of my friends had died. I think it's mainly because she called me that night and asked for a place to sleep, and when I told her no she probably offered him sex for a bed and some dope. No matter what I played a part in his death. Her charge was dropped because of her pussy pass and, police deemed it a suicide.
From that day forward I vowed to never touch heroin again. Like I said, I'd been clean but I had thoughts of relapse and that set me straight.
So, how do you do it? I believe there are three ways.
1) if you're ready to quit go to nice rehab and put the effort in. If you're motivated and want to leave your environment most rehabs will place you in sober living (locations all throughout the U.S.)
2) if you're ready to quit start tapering. If it's opiates you're addicted to stock up on: Imodium; DPH; DXM; tums; ibuprofen; a benzo (if you can); protein and potassium. Try doing a rapid taper and then ween down slowly after you've halved your dose three or four times. After six months your goal should be to be completely clean. Once you're clean get looking for a job. Get your foot in the door. Find a hobby, it will be rough. You will be sick. You will want to blow your brains out. But you can do it. Once you've done all of this you're ready to move out and start your life.
3) if you're not ready to quit simply keep using until the DA catches on and they keep throwing charges until something eventually sticks,. You'll either quit immediately, or fuck around and go to prison. Repeat until it finally clicks or until you die.
Shits not easy man. I've done pills since I was 13 and I've done heroin (IV) from 18 until 21. It took option 3 for me, but I feel like option 2 was working (only because I wanted to quit).
Feel free to msg me if you're feeling down and just want to talk, I'll be here for you.