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Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

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Has the 'addiction' problem reached staggering proportions in the US?

by annie, Feb 18, 2001 12:00AM
I've read recent studies show that people do not become addicted to their pain medications.  Do you think genetics, social environment, or personality is a major factor?

  Are we just playing w/ dynamite, and  once addicted, will you battle this for the rest of your life?  Is brain chemistry changed?  Do some people just become preocupied w/ obtaing drugs because its not readily available?  We do live in a "Mcdonalds drive-up" society.  I want it fast and I want it now.  I think I've answered my own question.  It all depends on the individual, and addiction has many faces.

  Do you think the US will one-day change laws so opiate pain medications will not be used for chronic pain patients?  Do you foresee this being implemented in the future?  This of course, may also affect people suffering from addiction who may need Methadone.
Member Comments (44)

by cindi, Feb 18, 2001 12:00AM
Annie,  WOW,  I was reading some of the posts that I have missed over the past several days.  We, everyone in my house has been down with one kind of virus or another, couldn't keep the kids' temp below 104 and 105.  Anyway, I have missed alot.  I have been an addict since I was about 12, seeking one kind of relief from some kind of pain or another. Grandpa dies, I was around 15, 1975, maddog 20/20 killed the tears, another grandpa dies a month later, a six pack and grain killed the pain,Nursing school, 5 pounds to get rid of and massive tests I had to pass, amphetamines killed 2 birds with one stone and so it goes.  Whe I went into treatment for opiate addiction, 1989 or so I was told that addiction is a disease, genetic,  It has to do with chemicals in the brain, called THIQ, and If I am not mistaken serotonin, I could be wrong.  My grandfather (maternal) was an alcoholic and for as long as I can remember up until her death my mom always believed that a pill could coure anything,  She never abused her medication but if she was "nervous" a vailum or something would help, back pain, headache etc. a pain pill was the cure.  I always followed suit.  I have the typical "addictive" personality and will abuse anything.  I was told in treatment that I have no abilty to judge amounts.  They observed me without my knowledge and later told me no matter what I did one was never enough.  Not one cookie, but 2 etc.  Now i do take notice and this is quite true.  I cannot even do the speed limit...I have to be 2 MPH over the limit.  Now my sister on the other hand, was raised in the same house as me and is totally opposite, if you give her a vicodin she will cut it in half, and if she does not like something she won't take it,  I will take it and make myself like it as long as it gives me a high.  If she has a headache she will lie down with a cool cloth on her head, I'll go straight for the demerol.  Now my husband I am also questioning.  he has been in recovery for cocain and alcohol addiction which started when he was young..l  he entered tratment on his own.  he will take one vicodin (he is chronic pain patient)and he hates them,  they make him hyper..he hates that feeling, he has been drinking one beer every few months, usually pouring out half of it.  saying he just had a taste for it.  Is he really an addict?  or was it something he got into as a teenager?  never a desire for cocaine, opiates are really not for him so who am I to day he is an addict or jsut a rebellious kid who did some experimenting.  Does what I am saying make any sense?  That is a really hard question you proposed.  Makes me think   As far as taking the meds away from the chronic pain patient,  I don't think that will happen.  Medication is a very valued tool in treatment of chronic conditions.  it is proven that patients recover from surgeries etc shen the pain is greatly diminished. I just spoe with a friend of mine last night who still works on an orthopedic floor at the hospital and sshe talked alot to me about the pain control regulations that are being implemented as we speak and they are very lax.  Nurses will be allowed to treat pain in a way never seen before, at least in this area of Ohio.  I would guess each hospital would be responsible for their own policies as long as they adhere to the new pain laws.  As far as out patient treatment goes, I wold bet that tighter control of the narcs especially oxy will be seen in the near future and then there are always those ingredients such as Naloxone that blocks the euphoric effects of the opiate. ex.  Talwin NX.  I can't say fro sure but I'll bet the DEA etc. will be leaning alot harder on prescribing docs.  We jsut had a case here in Ohio and drug addicts sleeping with a well known Dr. for Narcs.  The the Doc alledgedly raped the girl and here comes the DEA.  My sponsor has heard complaints from clients of hers about this particular doc.  Oxy's were of course one of the drugs.  then the news continued to say that the drug company will hlpd a press conference re: the abuse of this particular drug.  Wow, didn't realize i typed so much  sorry....take care   cindi

by PS >>>>Annie, Feb 18, 2001 12:00AM
To: Cindi
......Thank you.  Not long enough in my book.  After reading the doc's reply, I remained somewhat confused....till I got to yours.

You cleared up a lot of questions.  He stated that drugs, even prescribed correctly, do more harm than good.  Then he ends w/ the statement "prohibition would not be in our best interest"...who's interest, addicts or pain patients; which often are two in the same.  I guess he meant both, but if he thinks it does more harm than good, then only certain pain sufferers should get it or terminally ill patients???  Not sure.  

Thanks for your reply and WOW to you.  Great information.  I feel like I could write a book...lol  Actually I believe "tom" would be best for that task.

I was wondering what had happend to you?  Can't believe everyone's been sooo sick.  Take some vitamin "c"...its non-addictive...lol  I had a post somewhere below the thread for you, inquiring on your whereabouts.  Glad yall survived..lol

Thanks for taking your valuable and limited time to answer my many, many, questions. (:  PS...My tendencies fall somewhere in between you and your sisters.  She sounds a little like me...breaking the tablets in half...lol

by Thomas02, Feb 18, 2001 12:00AM
To: annie
I think the doc got his words down bassakwards. I think he meant to say that, properly administered, they did more good than bad. I think you read a typo.



Stats indeed do support the fact that most patients do not get addicted to their pain killers, at least not in time-limited situations.



When an opiate is introduced into the human body on a daily basis over time, a natural process occurs that results in dependence. No moral failure. No charater flaw. No work of satan. Just plain human physiology.



I think we need to get our terms straight, so we know when we're talking about a chronic pain patient naturally habituted to his medicine, and a good old fashioned drug fiend, like myself, who, takes opiates because he goddamn loves the way they make him feel, then blows some disks out and now really NEEDS the damn drugs to function and earn a living to keep his family off the street.



The emergence of super narcs like buprenorphine and some they still don't have names for promise to provide morphine level pain relief without the euphoria. Bup is already characterized this way. I am reading about new drugs that can distinguish between the opiate receptors that provide pain relief and the ones that get one high. Things are changing. Hope is in the air. This all might become academic. If we could achieve the same thing with unwanted preganancy, all babies would be welcome and no one would need to get an abortion. We can only hope to live long enough to see both situations solved.

by PS >>>>Annie, Feb 19, 2001 12:00AM
To: for Pat to Tom
.........Bravo!  Bravo!.......My thoughts exactly.  Well, said.

knowledge, hope, and perserverence will ultimately pay off in the end.  Let us move forward in knowledge, gaining promise and be driven to succeed! Willingly or not, we are all part of these legislative battles.

by spook, Mar 04, 2001 12:00AM
I want to make it clear that the "Euphoria" experienced from Opioids is not related to Opioid receptor sites, but is caused by increased firing of VTA Dopaminergic cells by hyperpolarizing local GABA containing interneurons with secondary disinhibition.

Opioid receptors are more involved with aspects like the emotional interpretation of pain as modified by opioid "M" type receptors in the limbic system.Just because a drug