If you are using by yourself, the implications are completely different. At least they are for me. When I make the choice to use by myself, it is usually for the reasons I stated above. It is not because I want to kill myself, and not because I don't understand how to avoid overdosing, but because I am depressed and because I am bored. For a lot of people, I know it is either deeper than that, or it isn't.
Some people are on a suicide mission every time they use.
Others just wanna get off. I am pretty clear about my intentions before and after I use, and yet that still does not prevent me from repeatedly overdosing. Going back to the last time I od'ed, I was alone all night, while my husband was at work. I did a ton of dope, and the fact that I was going to be gowedN N when he got back didn't seem to matter all that much. I was unconscious.