Addicts… how many is just dependence left untreated ?

I am sure that there is some truth to the statement that “their addiction started with a prescription for some opiate pain medication “

Recently there was a article by F. Perry Wilson, MD  http://www.medpagetoday.com/PainManagement/PainManagement/62462  who claims that 1.3% of addicts started with a prescription.  When you consider that there are abt 230 million adults out of our population of 330 million and there are an estimated 2.1 million serious opiate addicts… or about 1% of our adult population.

After 1-2 yrs, a addict finds it more difficult to “get high” because of their tolerance to “getting high” from a opiate… they continue using because of withdrawal issues what they refer to as “dope sick”.

Just think how many people get pain medication for an acute issue and after several weeks or so … they are told to stop the medication because the source of their pain is – or should be – resolved… Whoever prescribe the medication does not concern themselves with the potential withdrawal the pt is going to experience and does nothing to help them wean themselves off the dependency of the opiate.

All the person knows is that they feel like hell and can’t function and their prescriber just “cuts them off” and left them to deal with the withdrawal issues.

The once pt is now left in withdrawal and without any support…  all they know is that taking some opiate – any opiate – they resolved the withdrawal symptoms.  We have all to often heard of the path they end up on … stealing opiates from medicine cabinets from family and friends, buying on the street and when they run short on cash… first they start selling their positions and buying the least expensive opiate – normally Heroin on the streets.. and the downward spiral into a “addicts hell” begins.

These people don’t suffer from the mental health issue of an addictive personality.  Perhaps these are the same people that we see the addiction rehab facilities promoting as their “success stories”, and their success stories may be just the failures of our medical system… of making sure that those who are prescribed opiates for acute pain… are allowed to properly treat the known withdrawals that some may not be able to deal with on their own.

We know that we have an estimated 45 million alcoholics, 35 million nicotine addicts, 150,000 addicted to gambling and untold numbers that are addicted to some activity or thing that we don’t track.

It would seem that most homo sapiens have some degree of an “addiction gene” in them… in some individuals they are not able to suppress its influence on their behavior and they are totally out of control, others need a little extra support to know how to manage their “addiction issues”.

It has been proven time and again… abstinence does not work to control or prevent addiction. Apparently we keep electing politicians that after 240 yrs have still not got that figured out ?

2 Responses

  1. The last sentence of article puts it in a nutshell.I would add that after decades,we keep electing politicians that attempt to make a political issue out of what is a medical issue.They do not even know the difference between medical dependency and addiction.
    They that are in chronic pain,rely upon pain relieving medicine,whether it’s opioids or other agents.In the absence of medically supervised treatment with effective medicine as the opioid pain relievers are,some will destroy their bodies with alcohol abuse,and some will turn to illegal drugs such as heroin.In states with legally available cannabis,many find cannabis to be a life saving pain med,that keeps them from destructive alcohol,or need for opioids.In recent studies it has been found that in states where medical cannabis is legal and available,usage of opioid meds drops.Once again though,the politicians in their obsession for political power,fight to keep this safe herb unavailable,and then marvel that opioid use increases.It is they that have created a imagined problem,and then claim to present answers that add more misery and complications.I marvel at the ignorance of our country.Let the doctors do their jobs,which is in part to alleviate suffering.Politicians you are not medical professionals,and when you play doctor you only make things worse.

  2. jmo,,,then do what my pain doc did to me..to find the truth,,,knock em out,,and ask them UNDER anesthesia ask’em ,,why or what their pain is at?jmo,,or,,let’em have their pot,,,maryw..
    …………………..

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