Self-solving problem?

[colorider]

Father in law had knee surgery. Family gave specific instruction that absolutely no narcodic or opioids to be given for aftercare pain. He had problems with alcohol and pills in the past They ignored our requests. Father in law was dead within a year due to prescription drug dependency and abuse. He would go to the doctors and "pain management" Doctor they referred him to and they would simply just fill his bucket with oxy. Prescription drugs are abused and doctors make addicts out of patients. Mother in law died a year later from the same problems. Was a really messed up year. You can only do so much to help, and we did all we could. Don't want to post all the horrible details
some

[Bailey Guns]

I have a close friend who's a disabled Navy vet. Working on a carrier deck lifting a light piece of electronic gear into an A-6 in 1986. Woke up several days later in a military hospital in Europe paralyzed. After 30-something spinal surgeries he can walk...barely. He takes liquid morphine "just to take the edge off" as he puts it. I can't even begin to list all the other opiate-based pain killers he takes. But he needs them just to function at his very low level.

Last year, because of the issue surrounding opiate pain killers, the VA cut him off. Completely. Offered him pain management classes and some NSAID over the counter pain reliever. Let's just say life is miserable for him. He's a guy that really needs them and can't get them now.

[GilpinGuy]

Pain management folks that get hooked and then move to heroin are one thing. And really, how do you have a script long enough that that you get addicted, then suddeny don't get the script anymore, so you go to heroin? Seems like a doc would know what's up if the patient was up front and help you if you had a problem.

Never been there myself, so I have no idea.

Idiots that do heroin for fun are another story.

Either way, it's sad.

[GilpinGuy]

Ok, BG answered part of my question. My guess is that non-VA patients would fare better, sadly.

[Irving]

Here is the story about the Philippines.

http://www.cpr.org/news/npr-story/un...icial-killings

[GilpinGuy]

Here is the story about the Philippines.

http://www.cpr.org/news/npr-story/un...icial-killings

So wrong.

[jerrymrc]

Many know that I take my meds and have for over 10 years. My doc once asked me about trying MMJ. I work for the DOD........ Do they work like they used to? no. Do I go through withdraw symptoms without? somewhat. I have and can go without. Do I like it? no. Do I understand addiction and what it can do? yes. To be honest it has taken many years to learn to manage my pain. I have good days and bad. They do affect people differently.

I had a boss once find out that I took Oxy and he freaked out saying I could not work while on my meds. I explained that when he saw me running around taking care of stuff that I was on them. When he saw me slowly moving and my head was down and in pain I was not. Which worker did he want? All that said anyone that has not been there need not apply. The option in my case just might mean more meds and I am on the line I do not want to cross. It all comes down to understanding where that line is. Some cross that line and when it blows up the result is not pretty and people do OD.

I do know many in the DOD and VA system that because of the new guidance from our CIC got the short end of the stick. Some were over medicated to begin with but you do not take someone that takes 90+ Mg of Oxy a day and make them go cold turkey. That is what fuels the switch to heroin. Just my two cents on the subject.

[GilpinGuy]

Should we feel differently for those that got hooked "for fun"? My guess is that the OP was more on the side of NO in this regard.

[Kraven251]

eh, while I appreciate the perspective of people that have transitioned from legal to illegal use because of over prescription/dependency...

I had a mother that took liquid oxy til the day she died and my wife is currently fighting her own demons due to a neurologist that couldn't ask the right questions. To that end, if people are turning to the illegal route for their fix and it kills them, they are better for it.

Sorry, no sympathy, no empathy, I'd love to say they could get help, or something to that effect, but bottom line they like being high or they would have asked for help.

Unfortunately, fresh out of shits to give.

[davsel]

Long, but excellent, article on the current opioid issues:

AMERICAN CARNAGE
THE NEW LANDSCAPE OF OPIOID ADDICTION
by Christopher Caldwell
April 2017

https://www.firstthings.com/article/...-carnage#print