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  • EADD Moderators: Pissed_and_messed | Shinji Ikari

Anyone else had a codeine addiction?

SproutOnSmack said:
Evey: part of me agrees that people shouldn't be discouraged from seeking help. However, seeking help officially is not a clear cut thing - a maintenance script may help you change the factors in your life that led to the addiction, but it does incur an unfortunately permanent 'mark' on your record. For some, that may be irrelevant, for others: it may be damning. I may be wrong, but I can't imagine a hospital/pharmaceutical company hiring I, an addict, to work around, or administer, psychotropics.
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Nah! Think of the following phrase, "There is ALWAYS a solution to the problem!"

When one attends an interview it is best to be honest. RELATE the addiction to the job role. for instance, if the role includes problem solving. You were addicted to opiates. You realised that this is a life-long struggle. But instead of thinking of it negatively, you considered the positives and listed them.

Problem; addiction to eg Heroin. Short term solution; Rehab / CBT. Long term solution. think of methods obtained from CBT etc, journal them, journal mistakes and solutions in order to learn from / prevent mistake happening again.

Of course, that's an example. But are you telling me that - if it wasn't put into a CV (what's the American word, resima????) or an interview, that it would not favourably?

So often, people think of drugs in a negative way BUT if you one was to change one's way of thinking and find a way of uttering that to an employer - well who know, eh?!?!?!?!

First your home town, next planet Earth, next the Universe..... OK people I'm waking up now! haha....

Evey

EDIT; If only I had confidence with people in real life.
 
At least there was a strong streak of positivity in that post. I would never freely admit to drug usage problems in a job interview, i have been advised to say that i have had 'health problems' over the last year or so, if i get asked in an interview 'why have i been unemployed for a relatively long time'. If they press the matter further I will say that I'd rather not discuss it as it's irrelevant now anyway as i have put things in place and worked hard to improve my health. However you spin it, addiction will allways be a black mark against you, unless you are applying to be a drugs worker or something like that :?
 
I wouldn't go putting history of drug use and addiction on my CV but I've never lied about it either and have worked (only whilst addicted ironically enough). Any decent employer would expect you to go for treatment but they shouldn't (perhaps can't - not sure but probably depends on the job) sack a person for what is classed as a mental health condition. Honesty can go a long way... but some employers are arseholes and others may have reasonable grounds for thinking it unwise to employ an addict. Although ex-addict is another matter and I'd call that discrimination and take the fukker to court. Past is the past - ongoing addiction is another matter but if you are no longer an addict you're no different from anybody else and surely would have grounds to lodge a complaint if you could prove you were discriminated against purely for past medical history.

Eveleivibe said:
Nah! Think of the following phrase, "There is ALWAYS a solution to the problem!"
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Lemme guess... first CBT session today, Evey? ;)<3
 
Yeah honesty is the last thing you want in a job interview in my opinion, you're aiming to make yourself seem better than you actually are!
 
mydrugbuddy said:
At least there was a strong streak of positivity in that post. I would never freely admit to drug usage problems in a job interview, i have been advised to say that i have had 'health problems' over the last year or so, if i get asked in an interview 'why have i been unemployed for a relatively long time'. If they press the matter further I will say that I'd rather not discuss it as it's irrelevant now anyway as i have put things in place and worked hard to improve my health. However you spin it, addiction will allways be a black mark against you, unless you are applying to be a drugs worker or something like that :?
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You could always just say that, as you had enough savings, you decided to take time out to discover yourself or something like that. If you have been working most of your life that would be a feasible excuse and there's no way that they can disprove it.

Evey
 
Eveleivibe said:
You could always just say that, as you had enough savings, you decided to take time out to discover yourself or something like that. If you have been working most of your life that would be a feasible excuse and there's no way that they can disprove it.

Evey
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Wise words
 
I'll start. I haven't had any cravings lately, which is probably down to the subs. I did, however, ditch my recovery group because they were using codeine in-front of me n talking about it. While I respect that it was used for pain they are aware of the reasons why I am there (I mean WAS there) but kept on doing it. Luckily I was ok due to the suboxone n due to life going ok for me right now. Had I have been coming of suboxone / going through bad time it may have been different n I could well have relapsed.

Now we're not talking 12.8mg otc stuff here I was talking the 60mg pills plus 600mg linctus - I was taking more than 900 on a daily basis. I did also take paracetamol-based produced n iboprufen n refused to do cold water extraction as quite frankly, my addiction wouldn't let me do it. So it's not a road I want to go back down. I wouldn't wish addiction on my worst enemy n if this group could not respect my addiction n treat me with the same respect n keep me safe it was not the right group for me. I mean imagine if I'd walked in there with two bottles of alcohol?! There'd be uproar. Anyway enough about that.

I told my key worker that I've dropped my group n am now back on forums again. She gave me this big lecture that I should JUST STOP obsessing over one thing n balance my life out. I felt like asking her if she ACTUALLY knew anything about addiction at all.

But yea I've not had any cravings n any support that my keyworker has given doesn 't work so I've decided I'm doing things my own way. I'm reading an ace book called The Four Agreements but I'll discuss that in the book thread :). Class book!

Evey
 
That sounds rough. I'm thinking of speaking with an addiction centre at the start of August, as I've got two weeks off work.

I'm still on 1.5g codeine per day and I just can't really see a way out. It's getting harder and harder to buy my linctus and a massive part of my day is spent worrying/obsessing over where the next day's codeine is gonna come from. Plus the short half life means that I take my dose, I'm happy for an hour, then I spend the next three hours clock watching until it's time for more. If I could take one dose of something that would last all day, I might be able to get some kind of normality back into my life.

Food for thought.
 
curious_24 said:
That sounds rough. I'm thinking of speaking with an addiction centre at the start of August, as I've got two weeks off work.

I'm still on 1.5g codeine per day and I just can't really see a way out. It's getting harder and harder to buy my linctus and a massive part of my day is spent worrying/obsessing over where the next day's codeine is gonna come from. Plus the short half life means that I take my dose, I'm happy for an hour, then I spend the next three hours clock watching until it's time for more. If I could take one dose of something that would last all day, I might be able to get some kind of normality back into my life.

Food for thought.
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Yea I do worry about you tbh pharmacies can get arsey even the onlines do after awhile. One told me once to not purchase any codeine products for 6 months. Plus it gets difficult searching through all them. Speaking with someone should help you n if you didn't want to go the subs route there are other routes. There are other comfort meds. I forgot the spelling of one but Owen took it when detoxing from suboxone n it's often used for codeine addicts - briflics or something, wish he was around to ask him.

Other reason I'm worried is a lot of people tend to progress to stronger drugs like DHC or H. I would say oxis but think we can't get them here, which is a blessing as they're extremely expensive. A lot of people have had to sell their house to repay their debts from having an oxi addiction. No thank you.

Tapers, in my opinion, are extremely difficult unless someone can hold your drugs n be extremely firm, then it can cause problems like animosity. Cold turkey also has its drawbacks but could work if you have a good support system n a way to manage the cravings.

Evey
 
curious: if youve 2 weeks off work, you need to get lots of comfort meds: diaz, zopiclone, pregablin, gbl, ibuprofen, paracetamol etc and good food and lots of movies and books and just stay in bed for a week. if you really wanna quit, thats the way. staying clean comes next and is harder, but first things first and its sore as fuck but doable as fuck.
meth or subs should be avoided if possible. if you wanna do it, do it!
if not, and you indeed just want a longer lasting buzz, switch to meth or dhc.
you should quit man, it feels amazing
 
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I have to say that I prefer a different approach. I've withdrawn from codeine several times and I would not be able to stay in bed; it's simply agonising. The restlessness and insomnia prevent me from getting anywhere near comfortable in bed. When I'm withdrawing I exercise vigorously.
 
smackydowners said:
curious: if youve 2 weeks off work, you need to get lots of comfort meds: diaz, zopiclone, pregablin, gbl, ibuprofen, paracetamol etc and good food and lots of movies and books and just stay in bed for a week. if you really wanna quit, thats the way. staying clean comes next and is harder, but first things first and its sore as fuck but doable as fuck.
meth or subs should be avoided if possible. if you wanna do it, do it!
if not, and you indeed just want a longer lasting buzz, switch to meth or dhc.
you should quit man, it feels amazing
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Libertin said:
I have to say that I prefer a different approach. I've withdrawn from codeine several times and I would not be able to stay in bed; it's simply agonising. The restlessness and insomnia prevent me from getting anywhere near comfortable in bed. When I'm withdrawing I exercise vigorously.
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Two good n interesting advice. I'm not the best to advise because I went on suboxone and I've yet to talk to one person who agrees with the route I choose. Still that was right for me at the time and everyone is different. As I said in my post, and as smackydowners has mentioned, cold turkey can be done - but this is something you need to think VERY carefully about. The reason I say this is because if you don't get the after-care right / are not ready, you'll end up relapsing and all of that ordeal will have been for nothing. I suppose that in some respects life is a gamble, and those comfort meds will help you but end of the are you ready for this, do you really want this? Addiction is tough, fighting addiction (cravings etc) is even harder and you need to be prepared to fight for it.

I wasn't ready, told my family too soon, they tried controlling me (something I find extremely hard to deal with) so I put myself on suboxone. I did that because I was not ready to quite opiates - but was being forced to do so, so as a means of harm reduction it worked for me. If you are truly ready (and I don't mean because it's harder to get resources, I mean truly ready to quit) you won't need to go down the suboxone or any maintenance route.

We're here for you and you can do this, ok. You've been given different advice here so please think on it. Only you can decide what's best and we'll do our best to help and support you through it whatever you decide. My PM box is always open too.

Evey
 
I'm getting codeine for a chronic pain condition, four doses per day.

I do a two-week detox every few months. With some pregabalin, propranolol (betablocker) and indica weed. It's very manageable for me.

Codeine IS a hassle, the effects proper last so short and the constipation is unreal. Buprenorphine has been suggested by my doc, but I prefer to stick with my two-week detox schedule instead of letting my tolerance rise and graduating to bupe. I've had a buprenorphine habit for just half a year in 2009 and the WD from that left me badly depressed and empty, it took me about two months to feel somewhat human again.

Curious_24 you could look into extended-release DHC? The 120mg pills are selling for around 6 euros on the mail-order sites. Not cheap but probably better value than the syrup bottles you're getting now!
 
Lurching, that's not a bad idea actually. A lot of codeine addicts have been put onto DHC by their doctor. They then were given a period of stablisation n given a gradual taper. The scripts are given weekly so there's less chance of abuse. Unfortunately there's never no chance but the chance is less with weekly scripts.

Lurching I feel that emptiness being ON suboxone let alone coming off it. It's terrible n I'd not wish that on anyone. Not sure if it's the naloxone that causes it though because my friend, who was on subutex for almost 5 years said she had a euthoric feeling off it where suboxone had me feel "normal," flat n empty to the point of doing anything to try n rid myself of it (the emptiness, I mean). Of course, people are different n thus how they react to drugs are different.

Others have reported that subs turns on them giving them empty feelings n horrendous withdrawal.

I would explore every avenue before even thinking of going the subs route. Most of us fall in love with subs when we first have it, thinking it's a gift from God n a lifesaver. But you soon realise it's not what it cracked up to be. I'm still on it 14 months later I wouldn't call it addictive like other opiates I'd call it physically depending - however others will disagree (Knick actually created a thread from a discussion we all had on the difference between addiction n physical dependence - I'm going to try find that thread n bump it because discussion was somewhat interesting.

Sorry about the waffle - but, if you've read this far lol, can I ask what you've done so far to beat this addiction n what are your reasons for stopping?

Edit: lurching, it really frustrates me when the label/doctor tells people to "take 4 times a day." They're basically telling people to get addicted to the stuff. People should be instructed to only use it if the bad is really bad n be given napraxon. My mam has osteoperosis (basically means her bones are crubling) n she takes naproxon n refuses to use zapain because of my addiction (which I feel extremely guilty over). She was prescribed zapain n made a complaint as she asked them not to prescribe it due to addiction in the family. She only uses if absolutely necessary which is understandable as I'd imagine it's very painful. No disrespect to you but you must be putting your mind n body through a lot by detoxing every so many months. Do you eat healthy? Yea i hear ya about the constipation try dulcolax.

Evey
 
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