walking a thin line

[kushrolledup]

So I've really been wondering where to draw the line between a drug addict and a pain management patient. I have this lady in her 40's in my intensive out patient program. She was recently admitted by her husband. She got pain medication prescribed to her for her chronic pain and many car accidents she was in. and now in order to complete the program she must be clean of everything. However she can't sit still and winces throughout the meetings due to her severe pain. Where is the line drawn between pain patient and mandatory sobriety because of her husband. Yes, she was taken more than prescribed, however I believe she should be allowed to take her medicine as prescribed. The counselor tells her she doesn't need the pills and she's an addict. Any thoughts?

 

[cannibalsnail]

I sympathize with your dilemma but I fail to see what this has to do with "Advanced Drug Discussion". Speak to the doctors or the counsellor involved, a bunch of strangers on the internet cannot help you.

 

[sekio]

--> tds

pain control is not your responsibility, if someone else wants to live their life in pain, so be it.
whether or not having a dependence on pain-controlling drugs makes you "weak" remains up to the social network you hang out in, and other things like legal hurdles. if there is a legal reason this woman can't take pain killers than you have no place to interfere.


in the end, what determines whether otr not you are considered an "addict" is the way you act.

 

[kushrolledup]

I'm new to the forums so I apologize for the mistake, I wasn't seeking help on her behalf I was just curious as to what makes someone a pain patient and not an addict because in all senses of the word she is an addict because she is dependent on the drugs. However, she does need the meds. So I guess what I'm really asking is she really considered a drug addict?

 

[Permanent Jones]

I don't think so, Kush. It makes her physically dependent on pain meds to have as full and functional of a life as possible. Is a diabetic addicted to insulin? It's tantamount to the same thing. Her husband is undoubtedly the one who needs a reality check. It' s very easy for someone without chronic pain to pass judgement on people who have to take medicine daily to control their pain, but it' s truly no different than taking meds to control blood sugar or blood pressure. I feel sorry for her.

 

[pancakepirate]

^ Couldn't have said it better myself.

However, there could be numerous explanations and possibilities for her situation. The only one who will know the truth is her. It's unfortunate that she is in a situation where she is given somewhat of an ultimatum. And like someone else already said, I don't think it's fair for someone to interfere if she isn't facing legal consequences that mandate her being clean. Unfortunately, things aren't always treated fairly and/or ideally. I don't think it's fair for an institution that specializes in addiction and psychiatric disorders to dictate what meds she can and can't take for physical injuries. It seems about as logical as having my gynecologist treat my anxiety.

My understanding was that opiates are really only effective in the short-term for chronic pain sufferers, and doctors don't treat it as a long-term panacea of sorts. But I could be wrong. I'm certainly not a medical expert! This is just coming from my own anecdotal evidence. Anyone else have a more extensive knowledge on the subject?

 

[sickofthisshiz]

Doctors have guidelines to differentiate between a patient who is opioid dependent and a patient who is addicted. Unfortunately these are very narrow, and the nature of opiates cause many legitimate pain patients to cross the line from opioid dependent to addict.

 

[herbavore]

^I have had two friends cross that exact line. One of them went to rehab and admitted that while she certainly did have pain, the addiction to the high became even more pressing than her back pain. She ended up off pain meds and doing a combination of acupuncture, pain management and biofeedback. The other friend is watching her life disintegrate and feels hopeless. It is a tough call. No one should have to live in constant pain but if it were me I would explore absolutely every other non-drug avenue before committing my life to addictive substances on top of my physical pain.

 

[sickofthisshiz]

I hurt my back snowboarding when l was 26. I refused medication until l was 30. Although l partied and experimented with drugs in college l never had any issues with addiction until l was put on opiates. I believe it was these pills that turned me into a drug addict ...the nature of these pills are so insidious l can't even really articulate it. You are an addict before you even realize it. They changed me forever and ruined my life. It pisses me off still that now not only do l have to deal with pain but addiction for the rest of my life...l wish doctors really realized what these pills do to people.