I'm sorry you disagree, but Ive done a ton of research on OxyContin...and its the most widely abused pain killer out there, and its litterally dulled-down heroin. There are some people who live in severe pain, but there has to be alternatives here. Handing out pills that would put an entire building to sleep to people who become more and more dependant is not the answer.
I do blame the addicts. It IS there fault the abuse these pain killers.
With that said, what is 'adequate' medication? You can start taking a very small dose, but your tolerance builds so fast, in a couple weeks it would do next to nothing for you. Then you would need more and more, and higher MG doses, etc...
Listen, my grandfather died of liver cancer, and spent the last few months taking Percocets by the handful. He was a zombie, Id hardly call what he did 'living'.
...With that said, what is 'adequate' medication? You can start taking a very small dose, but your tolerance builds so fast, in a couple weeks it would do next to nothing for you. Then you would need more and more, and higher MG doses, etc...
I took a Xanax once and it knocked me out for 12 hours.
Admittedly, I'm not into drugs. Might be different if I was. I'm one of those people who doesn't like to take an aspirin unless I get to the point I have to - usually once a headache built up to a head-pounding migraine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BCCA
...My question is, how bad is this addiction and can people shake it? My concern is that, since we live together and all, he has access to all my stuff and could easily steal/pawn it to get pills (which he told me before are like $40 EACH). Do I have a real concern, or is this an addiction like weed? (I would never have stolen even a dime for some weed).
You're a good friend for caring about him.
A neighbor of mine got hooked on pills - it all started with Xanax for anxiety. Then she had an operation, and had to take Vicodin. She's in bad shape now, and is taking morphine.
When she talks and laughs now, it is very creepy. She sounds like Courtney Love, it's uncanny.
The big drug issue right now are legal drugs being abused.
There's so much money behind it though, isn't there?
People need pain management, and trying to figure out what to do to make certain that patients get the relief they so vitally need vs. the danger of abuse is a huge problem.
I wish you the best in dealing with this, it's not easy to see this happen to a person you care for.
__________________
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I'm sorry you disagree, but Ive done a ton of research on OxyContin...and its the most widely abused pain killer out there, and its litterally dulled-down heroin.
Heroin and Oxy-Contin are both opiates. Heroin is derived directly from Morphine whch comes from the "opium poppy" Papaver Somniferum. Ox-Contin is a trade name. The active ingrediant is Oxycodone which is a synthetic opiate. As an aside: The Percosets (another trade name) you mention below containe three active ingredients. Oxycodone, Acetominophen, and caffiene.
There are some people who live in severe pain, but there has to be alternatives here. Handing out pills that would put an entire building to sleep to people who become more and more dependant is not the answer.
Tell that to my friend D who will be dead, pain meds or not, in the very near future. Please tell me, so I can tell him, what the alternative is. You seem to know what the answer isn't- please, enlighten us, D and I, as to what IS the answer? What can I tell D will help him? What alternative is available to him, today, that will alleviate his pain so that he might die in a state other than screaming in agony for his long-dead mother?
I do blame the addicts. It IS there fault the abuse these pain killers.
Yes it IS their fault that they abuse whatever substance they choose to abuse. Some people abuse cookies and are grossly overweight. Perhaps cookies should be banned?
With that said, what is 'adequate' medication? You can start taking a very small dose, but your tolerance builds so fast, in a couple weeks it would do next to nothing for you. Then you would need more and more, and higher MG doses, etc...
My dear dying friend D is not concerned with a slightly increased tolerance in a couple weeks nor is he concerned with becoming physically dependant over the course of many months as HE WILL BE DEAD after having suffered in EXTREME PAIN in the weeks leading up to his death. He'll be lucky to make it to Thanksgiving. You're worried he might become dependant? He's LOVE to be around long enough to become dependant. He's a goner and all he wants, the ONLY thing he begs and cries for, all day every day now, is for someone to stop the pain.
Listen, my grandfather died of liver cancer, and spent the last few months taking Percocets by the handful. He was a zombie, Id hardly call what he did 'living'.
Your grandfdather, God rest his soul, took the same medication that you wish to ban! They contain the SAME ACTIVE INGREDIANT: Oxycodone.Look it up.
Are you telling me that you would rather your grandfather suffered in pain, without his "dulled-down heroin"? Of course not. As I suggested in my first response: PLEASE think about this stuff with an open mind before calling for a ban. There ARE legitimate uses for Oxycodone.
Food for thought here: The medicine my mother takes to thin her blood is the same thing used in rat poison: Warfarin. AKA Coumadin. Dangerous/deadly as well as helpful depending on the use.
I think we can agree to disagree at this point but you are entitled to a rebuttal.
I understand that your heart is in the right place. Perhaps you can see that mine is as well. I'm very passionate about this topic as it hits very close to home. Sometimes that is what it takes to open my mind and change my opinion. Perhaps the same applies to you.
A neighbor of mine got hooked on pills - it all started with Xanax for anxiety. Then she had an operation, and had to take Vicodin. She's in bad shape now, and is taking morphine.
This is kind of how i started. I have a few operations and had precoset for a few weeks after each of my operations. Latest surgery was this summer and i was given about 40 of them for the pain. Man did i love it but those are 2 weeks of my life i didn't do a thing and will never get back. Its sad.
I've known a guy for more than 3 years who's hooked on Oxy. He learned how to 'cook' it and inject it into himself. Once he did it in his arm but got an infection; it swelled up and discolored. He came this-close to needing an amputation, but even then he still didn't quit. He's been in and out of rehab. I don't think anything but his death will stop him.
He also got another friend of his--an acquaintance of mine--hooked on it; he offered it to her and she accepted. She got kicked out of the college we all go to after paraphernalia was found in her desk at her work-study job. She had only one year left before she graduated, was on the dean's list. Now she works as a janitor for a church in her hometown. I once heard rumors that she traded sex for Oxy. I still hope that isn't true.
My good friend use for snort an 80 and then drink...i thought he was going to die one time. It was scary. Drinking while on Oxy...i think is the deadliest combo out there. heroin coke ect...drinking with oxy...death waiting to happen. Thank god he's still around and cleaned his act up after a DUI he got last month.
Where I live, 80s used to be $20 a year ago. We used to say 80s or babies, referring to 80 mg oxycontin brand pills and 30 mg roxycondone (sp?) pills. My preference was the 30s. The 30s didn't have any coating and I think were instant release/dissolved quickly. So it hit faster.
Honestly, that drug can be used every day under normal circumstances during any time of day which makes it so damn addicting. Pretty soon the high wears off (if you stop upping the dose) and you just start to use it to function. It becomes, in a strange sad way, almost normal.
I was addicted for a year. I kept getting free pills from my friend/co-worker and we would rail those during work just to make life bearable (I constantly fought with my bf after work about work /backstory). I played Zelda high and nauseous, I danced high, I studied for midterms high, I copulated high, etc.
I guess my only redeeming factor (ironically) was that I acknowledged my addictive personality. By doing so, I enjoyed the addiction but started to gradually (over the time period of almost five months!) shave down on my dosage so as not to shock my system, never snorted or ate before 7:00 PM (seriously), and never got greedy (helped me not to OD).
OP: Oxy is serious stuff to shake. The withdrawals (that I did not experience because of my strict tapering off schedule, but that my good friend's army boyfriend is now experiencing) is horrible. He pukes, can't sleep, and shakes uncontrollably at times. Apparently the physical and mental withdrawal from this drug feels like death.
As for the shifty crackhead-like nature that involves stealing and strange behavior, I think that ice abusers are way worse. But that's still like comparing two similar objects. I would advise caution around this person until you can figure him out.
Please note: The suggestions and advice offered on this web site are opinions only and are not to be used in the place of professional psychological counseling or medical advice. If you or someone close to you is currently in crisis or in an emergency situation, contact your local law enforcement agency or emergency number.
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