F
Forafriend11
Guest
First off- please no judgement- I despise addicts, and have done enough judging of my friend to last both our lifetimes, but now I just want to help, since she is one of the rare few that desperately wants it.
Second- this is long, so I understand if you guys skip over.
I have a friend that is a nurse that is battling with opiate addiction. She does great on the days she isn't at work, because that was the only place she obtained them. (sad I know) Thankfully, she does not have a dealer, and has never gotten them on the street, nor does she hang out with anyone who does it. She started out prescribed pain meds, realized how much they helped her, became dependent (not addicted at this point), and instead of talking to her MD about the need for continued pain relief after her scripts ran out, (she was ashamed), she started stealing pills at work. It was easier, she said, and she didn't have to deal with the stigma of having to go to the streets to find it. I guess to her it made it seem not so bad. She doesn't take excessive amounts to get high, only enough to stop the pain. Well now it's a year later and she is scared shitless that this will continue forever. As much as she needs the pain relief, she says opiates just aren't worth the hassle, and the constant threat of losing her license and job. She has debilitating medical conditions that if she would just talk to her MD, she could be referred to a pain clinic, and she could legally get the pain relief she needs. However-- The area we live in is known nation wide as being the pill Capitol of the US, so regular MDs are VERY sparse about what they prescribe, and most won't prescribe any scheduled meds at all. You HAVE to go to pain clinics for long term
Pain management. This actually contributed to her problem, because asking for pain management, even with a legitamate reason, you are treated as a "seeker". And being nurses, we know better than most how that goes. When you are young, especially, (she's 32) even with actual pain, you're still viewed as someone with an addiction. We as medical professionals have become numb to people with pain, because SO many are abusers. But despite all that, she wants to deal with the pain if it means being clean. She has amazing willpower when she wants to, and as of right now she is 7 days clean. But she is back to work tonight after "vacation" and all those narcs are staring her in the face. She called me in a panic because she nearly picked one up. I don't know what to say to her. I want to be encouraging, but I don't really know how. There's only so many times you can tell someone, "you'll get past it" or other similar placating statements, that really don't mean much. I know just being there for her to talk to is part of it, but what helped you guys? What did you hear someone say to you that made you want to keep going?
Second- this is long, so I understand if you guys skip over.
I have a friend that is a nurse that is battling with opiate addiction. She does great on the days she isn't at work, because that was the only place she obtained them. (sad I know) Thankfully, she does not have a dealer, and has never gotten them on the street, nor does she hang out with anyone who does it. She started out prescribed pain meds, realized how much they helped her, became dependent (not addicted at this point), and instead of talking to her MD about the need for continued pain relief after her scripts ran out, (she was ashamed), she started stealing pills at work. It was easier, she said, and she didn't have to deal with the stigma of having to go to the streets to find it. I guess to her it made it seem not so bad. She doesn't take excessive amounts to get high, only enough to stop the pain. Well now it's a year later and she is scared shitless that this will continue forever. As much as she needs the pain relief, she says opiates just aren't worth the hassle, and the constant threat of losing her license and job. She has debilitating medical conditions that if she would just talk to her MD, she could be referred to a pain clinic, and she could legally get the pain relief she needs. However-- The area we live in is known nation wide as being the pill Capitol of the US, so regular MDs are VERY sparse about what they prescribe, and most won't prescribe any scheduled meds at all. You HAVE to go to pain clinics for long term
Pain management. This actually contributed to her problem, because asking for pain management, even with a legitamate reason, you are treated as a "seeker". And being nurses, we know better than most how that goes. When you are young, especially, (she's 32) even with actual pain, you're still viewed as someone with an addiction. We as medical professionals have become numb to people with pain, because SO many are abusers. But despite all that, she wants to deal with the pain if it means being clean. She has amazing willpower when she wants to, and as of right now she is 7 days clean. But she is back to work tonight after "vacation" and all those narcs are staring her in the face. She called me in a panic because she nearly picked one up. I don't know what to say to her. I want to be encouraging, but I don't really know how. There's only so many times you can tell someone, "you'll get past it" or other similar placating statements, that really don't mean much. I know just being there for her to talk to is part of it, but what helped you guys? What did you hear someone say to you that made you want to keep going?
