When I was abusing pain pills, I got all my pills from one doctor. I never dr. shopped or bought pills illegally. My family doctor started me with 6 lortabs a day and at one point he had me on 80mg of oxycontin a day along with the 6 lortabs. I was only on the oxys for about 6 months. I stopped asking my dr. for them because I started hearing alot of bad things about oxys on the news. That was around 1999-2000. But after I got off the oxys my dr. gave me up to 12 lortab a day. I know I am responsible for my addiction. Nobody put a gun to my head and made me abuse pills. But all addicts know how hard it is to turn down a prescription. I went on like this for several years before getting help. I now have a new family doctor. A friend of ours also goes to this new dr. Our friend was prescribed 8mg of xanax a day by this dr. He was also drinking a lot and just last week got arrested for DUI and a couple of other things. Again, our friend is responsible for his actions. But I can't help but wonder if some of these dr.s are just a little bit responsible because they just keep prescribing these large amounts of pills and not really asking any questions. Has anyone here experienced this with your doctor?
Shelly
Have responsibility? Good question. I think they have a responsibility to be educated about addiction if they are able to prescribe addictive substances.
Regards,
Tom
Regards,
Tom
posted by Shelly33
Addicts, recovering ones at least, can and do turn down prescriptions, all the time. It is no different than alcoholics turning down an offered drink, they do it all the time as well.
Yup, I am biting, this one is a sore point for me. Would we think a liquor store owner or clerk is responsible for an alcoholic's drinking after seeing the same person come in everyday or every other day for a pint or quart or whatever...nope, we would think not. They are just business people making a living. Up to the alcoholic to recover, not the liquor store.
No different for pills (no matter what pillheads might want to think).
Ditto for the "street" drug dealers. Just making a buck. We might, especially for the "street" drug dealers, think that they are the scum of the earth by profiting of someone else's misery, but...hey..we put them in prison. Now why not the liquor store owner? This is a good question.....
The only reason that doctors should be cautious is that they are legally responsible whereas liquor store owners aren't. Make people "work" for their drugs, I guess. Also an insurance company shouldn't have to subsidize someone's addiction, otherwise I feel the alcoholics, coke/meth addicts etc, etc, should have their drugs subsidized too.....
And as for amounts, there are people in truly that much pain they would need a fair amount of opiates. Why should doctors have to automatically cut off the legit pain sufferers just because the addicts can't...or won't....get honest with the doctor and tell them they don't really need this stuff? The innocent paying for the guilty? Not in my book.
Now if someone has a doctor who basically is an addict/alcoholic themselves and is handing out benzos like Pez, why not look for another one? Why would anyone want to go to such a doctor? I would so be out that office door it is not even funny.....Where are all these sugar daddy (or mommy) doctors coming from? Both of my HMO's have opiates and benzos in serious lockdown. Which makes me feel extremely happy and safe. No sugar parents for me....
| QUOTE |
I know I am responsible for my addiction. Nobody put a gun to my head and made me abuse pills.But all addicts know how hard it is to turn down a prescription. I went on like this for several years before getting help. |
Addicts, recovering ones at least, can and do turn down prescriptions, all the time. It is no different than alcoholics turning down an offered drink, they do it all the time as well.
Yup, I am biting, this one is a sore point for me. Would we think a liquor store owner or clerk is responsible for an alcoholic's drinking after seeing the same person come in everyday or every other day for a pint or quart or whatever...nope, we would think not. They are just business people making a living. Up to the alcoholic to recover, not the liquor store.
No different for pills (no matter what pillheads might want to think).
Ditto for the "street" drug dealers. Just making a buck. We might, especially for the "street" drug dealers, think that they are the scum of the earth by profiting of someone else's misery, but...hey..we put them in prison. Now why not the liquor store owner? This is a good question.....
The only reason that doctors should be cautious is that they are legally responsible whereas liquor store owners aren't. Make people "work" for their drugs, I guess. Also an insurance company shouldn't have to subsidize someone's addiction, otherwise I feel the alcoholics, coke/meth addicts etc, etc, should have their drugs subsidized too.....
And as for amounts, there are people in truly that much pain they would need a fair amount of opiates. Why should doctors have to automatically cut off the legit pain sufferers just because the addicts can't...or won't....get honest with the doctor and tell them they don't really need this stuff? The innocent paying for the guilty? Not in my book.
Now if someone has a doctor who basically is an addict/alcoholic themselves and is handing out benzos like Pez, why not look for another one? Why would anyone want to go to such a doctor? I would so be out that office door it is not even funny.....Where are all these sugar daddy (or mommy) doctors coming from? Both of my HMO's have opiates and benzos in serious lockdown. Which makes me feel extremely happy and safe. No sugar parents for me....
Nice post Elim....you voice my feelings well....
xoxoxo
Stacey
xoxoxo
Stacey
Wow this is a heavy topic for sure.As Elm said(I believe it was you)Nobody FORCED any of us to take those pills BUT on the other hand I feel Dr have a responsability in our care.Lets face it most Dr can tell when someone is playing the game ya know?I just feel that sometimes they make it VERY easy to get our DOC.To me thats wrong.
Please understand,I realize & accept that it was I who made the choices I did,did the drugs I did etc,but maybe if it wasnt THAT easy to get...Naw I cant even say that because as an addict I know that if I couldnt score a legal script that there are other ways.
I just feel that the Dr should care & be responable for what they are giving & to who.JMO
Please understand,I realize & accept that it was I who made the choices I did,did the drugs I did etc,but maybe if it wasnt THAT easy to get...Naw I cant even say that because as an addict I know that if I couldnt score a legal script that there are other ways.
I just feel that the Dr should care & be responable for what they are giving & to who.JMO
And this is the part of my addiction where I am grateful I am an alcoholic...As alcohol is everywhere and it was up to me to find recovery, not the grocery store, the AM/PM, the liquor store to stop selling it to me....
For me, the doctors shouldn't have to police us, and by learning honesty, I have realized that I actually owe my old doctor an amends and I will make sure that I do that....Yes, I believe when prescribed a narcotic, abuse/addiction should be discussed by the doctor but after that, it's on the individual to be honest.....and I do believe that I had to go through everything I have in my life to get where I am today and for that, I am grateful......
For me, the doctors shouldn't have to police us, and by learning honesty, I have realized that I actually owe my old doctor an amends and I will make sure that I do that....Yes, I believe when prescribed a narcotic, abuse/addiction should be discussed by the doctor but after that, it's on the individual to be honest.....and I do believe that I had to go through everything I have in my life to get where I am today and for that, I am grateful......
Of course addicts can and do turn down prescriptions everyday. I just flushed one the other day. I have been in recovery for over a year now. And people in pain should not have to suffer because of me. I agree with all that. But that wasn't my point. I am not blaming my dr. for my problems. I don't feel like getting into it right now but I certainly know I am responsible for my addiction.
Dr.s should be held to a higher standard then a cashier at a liquor store and certainly then that of a street dealer. I know dr.s make money off their patients but if I thought that my dr. was only about money I wouldn't be going to him.
Shelly
Dr.s should be held to a higher standard then a cashier at a liquor store and certainly then that of a street dealer. I know dr.s make money off their patients but if I thought that my dr. was only about money I wouldn't be going to him.
Shelly
I am responsible for my addiction.
I was always more than willing to play the blame game at any given opportunity.
I knew exactly what doctors to go to and what I needed to tell them to get exactly what I wanted.
Rigorous honesty seems to be the one trait severly lacking in most addicts.If we can "pass the buck" to any degree,it just allows us to continue with our addiction that much longer.
In sobriety,I don't allow someone else to make any decisions for me.I take responsibility when I go see my dentist or doctor by telling them I'm an addict and narcotics are not an option.I will reiterate it with each visit.
Most doctors treat symptoms with pills.That's what they are trained to do.I have found their knowledge of addiction is rudimentary at most.
If you think you're doctor is a quack and operating a pill mill,quit going to him or confront him........of course then he quits giving you pills.I sure would've done that.Being the good drug addict I was I wouldv'e made sure I booked my appointments in advance.LOL
I was always more than willing to play the blame game at any given opportunity.
I knew exactly what doctors to go to and what I needed to tell them to get exactly what I wanted.
Rigorous honesty seems to be the one trait severly lacking in most addicts.If we can "pass the buck" to any degree,it just allows us to continue with our addiction that much longer.
In sobriety,I don't allow someone else to make any decisions for me.I take responsibility when I go see my dentist or doctor by telling them I'm an addict and narcotics are not an option.I will reiterate it with each visit.
Most doctors treat symptoms with pills.That's what they are trained to do.I have found their knowledge of addiction is rudimentary at most.
If you think you're doctor is a quack and operating a pill mill,quit going to him or confront him........of course then he quits giving you pills.I sure would've done that.Being the good drug addict I was I wouldv'e made sure I booked my appointments in advance.LOL
LOL...Tim
Being the good addict that I am, I actually went through 3-4 doctors before I found the one that would just keep okaying that refill every other week....
The doctor I have now actually had the audacity to refuse to give me vicodin for my bad back several years ago...He actually had the nerve to tell me that since I was an alcoholic, I should never have narcotics unless I was hospitalized...Of course, I fired his as*......When I humbly went back to see him just a bit ago, I did apologize to him and he just asked me if I was finally done..........
My recovery is my responsibility and with that, I have to be completely honest with myself and others.......
Being the good addict that I am, I actually went through 3-4 doctors before I found the one that would just keep okaying that refill every other week....
The doctor I have now actually had the audacity to refuse to give me vicodin for my bad back several years ago...He actually had the nerve to tell me that since I was an alcoholic, I should never have narcotics unless I was hospitalized...Of course, I fired his as*......When I humbly went back to see him just a bit ago, I did apologize to him and he just asked me if I was finally done..........
My recovery is my responsibility and with that, I have to be completely honest with myself and others.......
Stacey I just wanted to say...THAT was a huge step for you & it must of felt freeing to be able to go back to him & start over...Good For You!!!!
Actually I am going to get a new doctor. My current doctor knows about my addiction. I just feel like the past few months I have been depressed and have come close to relapsing more then once. Thankfully I haven't. I have found my daughter a new doctor because our current doctor is a male and she is a ten year old girl and she told me she would rather have a female doctor. I am planning on switching to her myself and at my first appt. I will tell her right off the bat of my addiction and never to prescribe narcotics. I am thankful for the past year and a half of sobriety and I don't want to mess that up. Thanks.
Shelly
Shelly
Shelly,I dont mean to switch topics but I wanted to say my 14 year old has a female Dr & shes getting at that age where she will need to have female type of check ups & I can say first hand she feels much more ...secure having a female.Its more comfortable for her to dicuss female issues with her,,,,Just wanted to say that
molly
molly
I agree with Shelley on this one. Liquor store owners and drug dealers don't take an oath.
The addicition is not the Drs. fault, but once you tell him you are addicted and he washes his hands and runs away, he has violated that oath. He has a moral and legal responsibility to help you.
The addicition is not the Drs. fault, but once you tell him you are addicted and he washes his hands and runs away, he has violated that oath. He has a moral and legal responsibility to help you.
I agree with Danny. You cant lump liquer store owners and street pushers in with Drs. How exactly do they benefit by prescribing opiates opposed to, lets say an antibiotic?
I just think they need to be educated about addiction before they are allowed to prescibe addictive substances.
Regards,
Tom
I just think they need to be educated about addiction before they are allowed to prescibe addictive substances.
Regards,
Tom
| QUOTE |
| but once you tell him you are addicted and he washes his hands and runs away, he has violated that oath. He has a moral and legal responsibility to help you. |
If they believed that addiction were a disease and not a moral lapse in judgement I'm sure most of them would.I think their view on addiction is like a lot of the general population.
Most of them view addiction as a problem you should be able to deal with on your own.ER's are are a good example of how they treat addicts who come in withdrawing.
It would be great if medical schools would spend more time and training on addiction but that probably won't happen.
I have a question and it's an honest question not to start a debate...I realize that I am different than a lot of people on this board so I was wondering when some of you were prescribed the narcotics, did the prescription come with warnings on the bottle and a pamphlet stating all the side effects & possibilities? I know in California there are so many warning labels on the actual bottle, you can't hardly read anything else and then, there is a pamphlet with every warning/contraindication possible and then the pharmicist has to go over it with you. Just curious if those same standards are required in other states....
I was born an addict so if it had a label saying may be habit forming, take 1-2 every 4 hours, I always started with 2.....Just like the news always stating that a glass of red wine a night is actually healthy for people to drink....LOL...yea, right...
I was born an addict so if it had a label saying may be habit forming, take 1-2 every 4 hours, I always started with 2.....Just like the news always stating that a glass of red wine a night is actually healthy for people to drink....LOL...yea, right...
Scenario:
I have pain for whatever reason. I go to a doctor and tell him of my pain. The doctor gives me a script for 1 pain pill every 6 hours. The pill works. A few months down the line the pill stops working because I've become dependant on them but I don't know this. I go to the doc and tell him and he gives me 2 pills every 4 hours. A month later this doesn't work any more. Forget the doctor, I'm an old pro. I'll take 3 pills and tell him later. A month later I am noticing that the more pills I take I have more energy and yeah I have pain but who cares. I need the pills to get out of bed. I need the pills to have fun in my life. BTW I only have 30 left but that should get me thru the week. Two days later my 30 are down to 2 but my friend gets them too and I can get 50 from her for $XX. A couple days later the 50 are gone but she knows a guy that knows a guy that sells them for $XX and then by that time it'll be time to go to my doc again. OK, I have my script for 120. They last for a week. Now what? Oh yeah, pain? The pills don't touch it but I don't care about the pain now, I care about my buzz. And my buzz is now threatened and I'm scared to death. I know how I feel when I don't have pills and it's not pretty. I'll go to another doctor and start all over again. Then I'll have more pills. But I'm taking more pills than ever and I can't stop and there are never enough no matter what I do. So who's fault is it? Let's not forget how I lied to the doctor about my pain being worse than it really was so I could keep that buzz going.
I do not think it is the doctor's job to keep track of how many pills I take or whether or not I am exaggerating my pain so I can get more drugs. Doctors are human. How can they protect us when we go to them and lie to them to get more? If you can HONESTLY say you have never lied to a doc to get more pills or exaggerated your pain for more pills, then maybe you have a case. Me? I lied my head off. This goes for anxiety and depression too. I lied to get pills. I manipulated. Me. Period.
I have pain for whatever reason. I go to a doctor and tell him of my pain. The doctor gives me a script for 1 pain pill every 6 hours. The pill works. A few months down the line the pill stops working because I've become dependant on them but I don't know this. I go to the doc and tell him and he gives me 2 pills every 4 hours. A month later this doesn't work any more. Forget the doctor, I'm an old pro. I'll take 3 pills and tell him later. A month later I am noticing that the more pills I take I have more energy and yeah I have pain but who cares. I need the pills to get out of bed. I need the pills to have fun in my life. BTW I only have 30 left but that should get me thru the week. Two days later my 30 are down to 2 but my friend gets them too and I can get 50 from her for $XX. A couple days later the 50 are gone but she knows a guy that knows a guy that sells them for $XX and then by that time it'll be time to go to my doc again. OK, I have my script for 120. They last for a week. Now what? Oh yeah, pain? The pills don't touch it but I don't care about the pain now, I care about my buzz. And my buzz is now threatened and I'm scared to death. I know how I feel when I don't have pills and it's not pretty. I'll go to another doctor and start all over again. Then I'll have more pills. But I'm taking more pills than ever and I can't stop and there are never enough no matter what I do. So who's fault is it? Let's not forget how I lied to the doctor about my pain being worse than it really was so I could keep that buzz going.
I do not think it is the doctor's job to keep track of how many pills I take or whether or not I am exaggerating my pain so I can get more drugs. Doctors are human. How can they protect us when we go to them and lie to them to get more? If you can HONESTLY say you have never lied to a doc to get more pills or exaggerated your pain for more pills, then maybe you have a case. Me? I lied my head off. This goes for anxiety and depression too. I lied to get pills. I manipulated. Me. Period.
If you "lie your head off", yes, it's your fault. I've heard plenty of stories though where people admit the addiction to the doctor and the doc does nothing to help and fires the patient or whatever.
On the other hand, Doctors also have a responsibility to help make you well of your particular ailment. As an example, I told my doctor "NO PAIN MEDS", yet every time I go, he writes me script. And when I tell him no, he says he has a responsibility as my doctor to treat me and if I don't follow his treatment, he can't be my doctor. So I take the script and then toss it in the gargabe on the way out the door. He thinks I take the stuff.
On the other hand, Doctors also have a responsibility to help make you well of your particular ailment. As an example, I told my doctor "NO PAIN MEDS", yet every time I go, he writes me script. And when I tell him no, he says he has a responsibility as my doctor to treat me and if I don't follow his treatment, he can't be my doctor. So I take the script and then toss it in the gargabe on the way out the door. He thinks I take the stuff.
Danny-I don't think a lot of doctors know how to treat pain without opiates?
I do find it strange that a doctor knowing you are a drug addict would give you scripts for narcotics?That seems a bit unethical and would make him liable.
I do find it strange that a doctor knowing you are a drug addict would give you scripts for narcotics?That seems a bit unethical and would make him liable.
Tim -
Based on my pain scale, not really. He's gets all over my case if I don't do single thing he tells me to do. He flat out told me he would be liable and neglegent in my care if he didn't. He's a really good specialist at fantastic hospital (Univeristy of Chicago). I trust this guy with my life and he's anything but a pill pusher. He has a thing though of "Do exactly what I say". I just choose not to do it..hehe..
Based on my pain scale, not really. He's gets all over my case if I don't do single thing he tells me to do. He flat out told me he would be liable and neglegent in my care if he didn't. He's a really good specialist at fantastic hospital (Univeristy of Chicago). I trust this guy with my life and he's anything but a pill pusher. He has a thing though of "Do exactly what I say". I just choose not to do it..hehe..
