Deathkiller (Lifehouse Trilogy #1-2)

Wireheads are the new junkies, with electricity their drug of choice. Once the socket is surgically attached to the skull, a mild current constantly stimulates the pleasure centers, producing ectasy beyond measure - and if wirehead is left plugged in and unattended, he or she will starve to death while experiencing indescribable joy. Which is what would have happened to Karen if a highly ethical burglar named Joe hadn't broken into her apartment, pulled her plug, and talked her out of committing suicide by ectasy. Now, Karen is determined to bring down those who sell the equipment that makes wireheading possible, but as she and Joe attempt to trace the source of the wirehead technology, they keep turning up indications of a shadowy global conspiracy -not to control the world, but to prevent anyone fromn realizing that the masters of mind control have been controlling us all for some time now...