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My days of pain-free existence were
ended by a fall down a flight of stairs and a hairline fracture to my
spine. Since then, persistent pain has been my constant companion.
Finding relief wasn’t easy because chronic pain is still not
understood. For a period of time, Oxycontin helped me to live a
somewhat normal life. There was usually no problem getting a
prescription, each doctor could see that I was in obvious pain. But I
would only receive limited prescriptions and when the doctor saw that
my pain was not going away, they would refuse to write another
prescription. So I went from doctor to doctor with much the same
result – I would receive a prescription for a limited time. Finally,
when I ran out of doctors to help me I decided to break the law out of
desperation. I forged and filled Oxycontin prescriptions and was
caught. At 43, I am a convicted felon and still in pain. If only I had
known how highly addictive opiate drugs are, I might not have taken
that first prescription.
Some of us were made into, not born, addicts.
-- Robert C.
I had been in constant pain from a herniated disc in my back and
needed relief. I was prescribed OxyContin and took it for over two
years. It genuinely gave me the first relief from pain that I have
had. However, I recognize that taking pain killers is different than
taking medication for high blood pressure or diabetes. Although I
never experienced the “high” that has made the drug famous, I do know
that when I decided to stop the medication it was very difficult.
Nausea, cramps, diarrhea, chills and a craving for relief took my mind
off of the returning back pain – but made me realize that I was
addicted to OxyContin. I spoke to my family physician, who was
supportive and referred me to a facility that specializes in treating
drug addiction.
Detox at an in an inpatient facility was my first step, and I received
methodone and other medications to ease withdrawal. I am also in
counseling to help deal with the cravings. I am making the move from
drug abuser to recovering drug addict.
If you are taking painkillers now and can’t stop or manage the
withdrawal symptoms, then I would advise that you look for
professional help. Your doctor, the phonebook and the internet can
provide a number of sources for help.
OxyContin is an effective drug, but the downside is that it is totally
addictive. While it helped ease my pain, it created an even bigger
problem. Had I understood how the drug works, I would have chosen
another method of pain relief. People need to understand how dangerous
this drug can be. My doctor says that the dangers of the drug were
never fully understood when physicians began prescribing it. How is
this possible?
-- Katlyn M.
Hi, my name is Carol S. As an ER nurse, I’m very familiar with the
Oxycontin problem and prescription drug abuse. On the average, I would
estimate that I see 2-3 patients per day seeking drugs. It’s not
always easy to tell who is an addict; they come from all walks of
life. Some may be addicts but in genuine pain.
While there are addicts who are pros at conning medical professionals,
there are some warning signs that we look for. People from out-of-town
visiting the ER seeking pain medication, those with a “high tolerance
for pain”, the ones who know the specific pain meds to ask for, people
with “allergies to non-narcotic medication”. It can be very difficult
to weed out those in genuine need and those who are looking for their
next prescription.
My biggest concern is for the young people we see every day. Some make
it – some don’t. I’ve seen kids as young as elementary school abusing
the Oxycontin they’ve found in some parent’s medicine cabinet.
Teenagers crush the pills and chase them with alcohol. They think
they’re impervious to the dangers and are just looking for a “buzz”.
It’s a deadly game. I pray for them all, and have been lucky enough to
witness some success stories where the smart (and lucky) ones go to
detox and get the help that they need to resume their interrupted
young lives.
As someone whose job it is to relieve pain and provide comfort, where
is the line between compassion and suspicion? Oxycontin and other
Oxycodone medications are powerful drugs. I would like to see the
pharmaceutical companies spend as much money to publicize the dangers
of these products as they’ve spent to promote them. We need to get the
word out that these narcotics are as addictive and deadly as heroin.
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