[Help] Should I tell my psychiatrist about my opiate use? Will they tell my parents?

[Iusethemtosleep]

Hi all, first post. I know this topic probably comes up often, but nothing I could find helped. I have an incredibly kind and compassionate psychiatrist. I want to ask for ADHD medication, I'm currently have an epilepsy test for February as I am relatively certain I have it. It is fucking up my life entirely though. I have been using codeine (soft, I know) recreationally for a while now, originally using it as it was something to look forward to every weekend in my miserable life. Also abused DXM and cannabis. I'm smart [clearly not smart enough] (modest if I can be, lol) and I got 7As last year. However, at this rate I will fail 60% of my exams and do badly in the rest. No, that's not an understatement in the slightest. Why am I telling you this? Because I'd very much like to get stimulants ASAP. I wouldn't abuse them in the slightest, but the label of a junkie could instantly land me getting nothing stronger than maybe atomoxetine, and that doesn't show efficacy for school work.

Why would I tell her? As to get the best help. Also to get some naloxone if possible.

I am 16, will they tell my parents, even if I tell them not to? [about drug abuse] And could I get naloxone w/o them being told/knowing?

TL;DR: Want to be prescribed stimulants for legitimate reasons, should I tell my psychiatrist about my drug use? Would they tell my parents as I am 16? Could I be given [no need for prescription anymore] naloxone without them knowing?

Thank you hugely in advance If I have broken any rules, please state so as I can change stuff etc.

 

[aced126]

If you're using codeine as a support because you're not enjoying life anyways then that's not gonna end well. Tell your doc your life sucks and maybe he can help you with that. But opiates are not the solution. If you want to do well in your exams temporarily then stimulants might help but they aren't going to be sustainable and this isn't a long term solution. Atomoxetine or modafinil might do you more good than amphetamines. If you really wanna use a proper stimulant to work properly then ask for ritalin instead of amphetamine though.

 

[Iusethemtosleep]

I'm not using it as a support per-se, because I'm not using it to defeat depression....merely to have something to look forward to. I'm aware they're not the solution, and I'm not addicted by any means. Currently in a 2 week break due to my tolerance inexplicably shooting up.
How so? I was under the impression that they used stimulants for long periods - my ADHD friend has been on ritalin for years. Yeah, I personally wouldn't want an amphetamine, ritalin would be a good option.

You/anyone else have any ideas about the telling parents/naloxone business? Scotland was the first country in the world to roll out take home naloxone, so it isn't inaccessible by any means, I just need to know about whether I would need parents involved for me to have it. I'm sure I can IV no problem.

 

[GolemGolem]

Could fall into the crime/harm to self/others trap. I'd keep the codeine to yourself if you want speed, I'd mention it if you want to take the shrink seriously.

 

[aced126]

I'm not using it as a support per-se, because I'm not using it to defeat depression....merely to have something to look forward to. I'm aware they're not the solution, and I'm not addicted by any means. Currently in a 2 week break due to my tolerance inexplicably shooting up.
How so? I was under the impression that they used stimulants for long periods - my ADHD friend has been on ritalin for years. Yeah, I personally wouldn't want an amphetamine, ritalin would be a good option.

You/anyone else have any ideas about the telling parents/naloxone business? Scotland was the first country in the world to roll out take home naloxone, so it isn't inaccessible by any means, I just need to know about whether I would need parents involved for me to have it. I'm sure I can IV no problem.

Nah don't worry about the naloxone. I think if you get the naloxone (and the IV equipment to use it) then 1) you'll feel like it's safer to use stronger, more dangerous opioids, 2) you'll have to means to IV them and 3) that'll put off your psychiatrist from prescribing psychostimulants. Just use codeine sensibly and you should be fine; it's rare that codeine kills anyone because the amount of morphine produced caps once the enzyme (CYP2D6) is saturated.

If you use stimulants at a low dose then you should be fine; just make sure you're actually benefiting from them an appreciable amount. Otherwise it's not worth usage.

 

[crzydiamond]

If you tell the psychiatrist you may be labelled as a drug seeker when you try to get Ritalin or whatever. If they know you use drugs recreationally they aren't going to hand you more to play with

Depends on where you live as far as naloxone. Here in PA the Council on Chemical Abuse is handing it out anonymously to anyone who requests it (users, parents, friends ).

You should have confidentiality with your psychiatrist. I would think he could only tell your parents if you were in danger , say, shouting up heroin daily with a habit. Maybe then he could as you would be a danger to yourself. But other than a harmful to yourself or other situation, don't the privacy laws protect your sessions? I believe they should, although I'm not an expert

Edit--oh, and the naloxone kits here come with a contraption that enables you to give the naloxone as a mist the person breathes in rather than have non professional people attempt to IV in an OD situation.

 

[Iusethemtosleep]

@Golem Well she's really nice and all, but she did tell my parents about my suicidal idealization (Albeit I was <16 so that's understandable).

@aced126 Very fair points, never 100% considered those. The main issue is the fact that I get insanely intense Codeine experiences, I believe to be due to me being an ultrarapid metabolizer of Codeine into Morphine. Not necessarily more efficient, but significantly faster.

@crzydiamond Yeah, I rather feared that.....thanks. I live in Scotland, which was the first country in the world to have take-home naloxone. Their website is f--ing broken at the moment so the location service doesn't work....
I know, I really should. I'm a very closed person, only really opening up in the anonymity the web offers me. Yeah, I use it 1-2 times a week and have no dependency. Annoying tolerance (as would be expected), but no dependency at all.
Well, they do, were I 18, but I'm 16. I'm not sure if I have the same rights with regards to confidentiality under the NHS. The other issue would be if they asked for sources and told pharmacies to not sell Codeine stuff to me, but that wouldn't be easy. The main problem is them telling my parents, which would just be the worst thing on earth.

Thanks all for replies & Advice.

 

[crzydiamond]

Well, you could always ask what confidentiality covers as a " just wondering" broad situation type thing...

Suicidal ideations I would expect them to have to report as it falls under " danger to self or others". Suicidal or homicidal thoughts or plans fall under that exception to privacy. Maybe you could research confidentiality under your country's law on the Internet or something

Personally, and this may not be the "right thing to do", but if I was at all concerned about the possible outcome of me disclosing information I just wouldn't disclose it. There are other places you can open up anonymously (like bluelight --have you checked out The Dark Side forum?) that you know you won't have unintended consequences. Although I have for that reason and others tended to not be open with what's going on with me. Probably because when I did it never worked out at all well

If you have nothing to be gained by telling her, I wouldn't. If you feel you have a problem and can't stop and want to tell on yourself to have someone enforce you staying off,then I would. If you just were telling her in the interest of full disclosure for therapeutic purposes, keep in mind not everyone always needs to know everything...

 

[Iusethemtosleep]

@crzy yeah.....the only issue being that that is nearly self-incrimination.

Yes that's true, but so do drugs, given the correct (or incorrect) doctor.

Yeah that's very true....I'm afraid I haven't I shall check it out anon. That's so damn true, thank you very much

Alright, thanks - it was a mere hypothetical as the end goal is naloxone (already had experience of moderate respiratory depression).

 

[crzydiamond]

Naloxone is a life saving tool and always good to have around opiate users

That said, for what you use in codeine i really wouldn't be too concerned about obtaining it. Codeine has a ceiling dose where no matter how much more you take it stops at that level and the rest is useless. I think it's around 400-500 mg. I could be off a bit, so google it if you want exact info.

Particularly as you are not opiate naive, I can't imagine you ever needing naloxone for yourself. Unless you plan on taking much stronger opiates or mixing the codeine with benzos (Xanax, Valium, etc)

The type of respiratory depression you experience isn't something that will kill you. I think you're young and probably have read a bit on the Internet and as a result scare yourself. Don't get me wrong. Safety is always important. But---sometimes things are overkill too. I just can't see you needing naloxone for codeine. For heroin or fentanyl, yes. And the other thing is--when a situation happens for a person to need naloxone, it's not normally going to be self administered. It'll be someone who finds you. Cause that OD happens fast.

But like I said please do not think I am saying not to be safe. Better to be a bit overly worried than not. Just also be aware--naloxone should only be used when really needed. Because it is hell to experience. I had it given to me twice. One time I had OD'd at 21 on a particularly strong heroin batch cut with fentanyl. I didn't have much of a habit at the time, just a bag or two per day, and that naloxone put me into instant shaking like a seizure but with chills, throwing up projectile style, etc. it's like instant full withdrawal. At that time I didn't even feel like that if I stopped using. Just saying naloxone isn't something you get an if you feel a little too high you take and all is great.

 

[Iusethemtosleep]

@crzy

Yes that's true, 400mg is the top dose wherein one can get high, but it does not stop overdosing and respiratory depression, with the LD50 sitting at a close 600mg, IIRC not through morphine OD but via C-6-G (Codeine-6-glucuronide) OD.

I have no real interest in mixing it with Benzos, it's just a recipe for disaster.

The respiratory depression was more than normal -- I had to force myself to breathe, as I wasn't doing so subconsciously. I help out with a mental health charity of a friend, and under that I help with substance abuse to a certain extent, so unfortunately I cannot classify myself under that group. I do feel it is overkill, and am aware of the hell it causes (minus the withdrawal as I am not addicted, and as far as I can tell that aspect is purely because someone is thrown to baseline of opiates).

Yes, I am aware of that - I wouldn't seek such a strong drug were it not for the fear of my incredible quick metabolism and how it effects the doses I get. The 'just say no' mentality does work here, but, let's be honest, it never has worked.

 

[Burnt Offerings]

The answer is no, not if you want to be prescribed controlled substances.