OxyContin Addiction Not Uncommon
When you think about prescription drug abusers, the images that most often come to mind are teenagers stealing drugs out of medicine cabinets and hard-core addicts who are aren’t willing to risk going back to jail for possession of heroin. Obviously, these are two stereotypical extremes on opposite ends of the spectrum. What about the vast majority of people who are neither young nor convicted felons and who don’t steal their meds from anyone?
Prescriptions for Pain Relief Readily Available
Prior to the 1980s, the concept of chronic pain relief was only considered for patients who were terminally ill. The ‘90s, however, brought about a new revolution in pain management for patients with debilitating but not terminal illnesses. Pain specialists began recommending the same opioid treatments that worked so well for their dying patients and suddenly, people around the county realized that they actually felt well enough to get out and enjoy life again.
Unfortunately, few people realized just how much patients came to depend on the medicine to get through their daily lives. Addiction to prescription meds wasn’t a widespread topic until the late 1990s when the DEA started cracking down on physicians as though they were trafficking in illegal drugs.
Ways to Curb Prescription Drug Addiction
Doctors today are more alert for signs of drug abuse and addiction, although most are still reluctant to confront a patient or intervene. Many require an in-person office visit before refilling a prescription for narcotics, and some won’t even refill them at all. While no one would argue that a life of pain is worth living, the fact remains that powerful pain killers like OxyContin carry extreme risks with long-term use.
The best way to stop an addiction is to cut it off at the pass. Try taking only half the recommend dosage to see if it has the desired effect. Take it only when you really need it instead of every four to six hours as recommended. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about alternating with anti-inflammatory drugs throughout the day. Most importantly, though, don’t quit taking them cold turkey. Wean yourself off by taking fewer pills at further intervals over the course of a week. Your body has an easier time adjusting to their absence if done slowly.
What To Do if You’re Already Addicted to Prescription Drugs
Prescription drug addiction isn’t a bad person’s problem. You don’t get addicted because you deserve it or God is punishing you. It’s a chemical reaction to a substance that inflicts changes to the workings of the brain. If you’re finding that you just can’t seem to cut down and you become increasingly agitated right before it’s time to take another pill, you have a serious case of dependence. The quicker you act, the easier it is to overcome. Call your doctor for a referral to a drug treatment facility, or call our 24 hour help line and we’ll walk you through the process involved in rehab.
When did you realize that you or someone close to you had a problem with prescription drugs?
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August 23rd, 2008 at 8:01 am
I have been actively exposing Purdue Pharma (a $10 billion criminally convicted pharmaceutical company) and its 3 CEO’s Michael Friedman, Howard Udell and Paul Goldenheim for criminally marketing OxyContin. I have worked on this for 6 years. In July 2007, they were charged in Federal Court with marketing OxyContin to patients and physicians as less likely to be addictive or abused. They pled guilty and were sentenced. I testified against them in Federal Court and in front of the US Senate. Their actions have resulted in an epidemic of OxyContin addiction and death in every state in the country. My work now focuses on further action being taken against them and J. David Haddox, the gatekeeper of Purdue Pharma’s involvement in the criminal marketing of OxyContin. I am working with government agencies and the FDA to accomplish this next goal. Purdue Pharma has recently begun marketing OxyContin to pregnant women for pain. I have notified all Attorney Generals of this latest marketing ploy which will cause an epidemic of addiction and death to pregnant women and unborn babies. I have also filed a charge against Purdue Pharma with the FDA which they have advised me they are taking “very seriously” as well as notifying all Attorney Generals that I believe Purdue Pharma has violated their probation. We do not need further devastation of OxyContin by an out of control, greedy Purdue Pharma.
Marianne Skolek
Activist for Victims of OxyContin and
Purdue Pharma - a criminally convicted pharmaceu
tical company
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/10/business/11drug-web.html?ex=1336536000&en=9cc24d9d766e92a6&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
I testified against Purdue Pharma before the U.S. Senate
http://judiciary.senate.gov/testimony.cfm?id=2905&wit_id=6612
908-285-1232
mskolek@aol.com
http://www.oxydeaths.com
August 24th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
My name is Eileen King, I am 43 years old and I am addicted to Oxycontin.
On April 2, 2000 I was involved in a near fatal car accident….My injuries were severe and too long to list right now.
I was told I would never walk again…I am now walking…
I have been on some type of opiate since the accident date and I am SICK OF IT!!!!I cant take the thought of one more day being a slave to these pills.
I am currently living a fairly active life. I am a student right now as I am studying to become a massage therapist–I want to find a different way to deal with the pain in my back, hips, pelvis, legs…etc…. besides popping another pill. I know there is another way…I just have to find it,
I live in South Jersey and my daughter found your program for me. She is 26 years old and has been my life ring.
I have a son who is undergoing chemotherapy right now as he has High Risk Acute Mylegenic Leukemia…Therefore I cannot go inpatient to seak help for myself because he NEEDS me to care for him. I was told that he has a less then 30% chance of surviving the type of cancer he has. He needs me to be with him….Sane.
Before I responded, I prayed to God that somehow you would be able to help me….I dont know how this happened to me. All I did was listen to the doctors advice as far as taking the pain pills and now I am a drug addict that feels broken, tired and embarrassed.
What would be my next move. I’ve read your website from front to back. I see that you can provide help for me without me having to go away into an institution for at least 28 days. I need your help. I am humbly asking for anykind of hope and help.
I guess the next step is to call you. But honestly, I am scared to death that I wont be able to do this. I am scared that by me trying to get help that my son will have all this backfire and when he needs his Mom the most—I wont be able to be there for him.
I am at your mercy. I am begging for your help. What is the best time to call or what should I do next? Whatever you suggestm I will do. I just couldn’t bear to have my son suffer anymore then he already has.
Thank you for your time and help.
Sincerly & humbly yours,
Eileen King
609-369-6292
KngJerseygirl@aol.com
August 27th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Wow, Marianne and Eileen, both incredible stories. Thanks so much for sharing them. Marianne, let us know what happens. Eileen, I’ve passed your information along to a counselor who may be able to help you. You should be hearing from her shortly.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
I just want to say that I suffer from depression and extreme anxiety. I need oxycontin and xanax. Don’t know what I would do without them. I am better and can do more on them. In other countries people make smoke weed, sit in opium dens,(same as opiates but more pure) anyway my point is that everybody or most everybody has not figured out, we are slaves anyway you look at it. The top 1% own 85% of everything, and the Illuminati has the power and runs everything. If the Illuminati does not want oxys going anywhere, then they are not. Some topics and issues are very sad but they are still true. The truth is we make better slaves on pills and smoking cigarettes. I don’t smoke cigs but most everybody I know does and it does not allow them time to think about any issues, they smoke and keep zinging right on by and when it really comes down to it, all they care about is the cigarettes, or alcohol,or both.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
READING THESE ..ALL TOUCHES TO CLOSE TO HOME… IT IS MOST UGLY TO SEE.. I KNOW WHAT THEY FEEL.. I ALSO KNOW WITHIN THE NEXT 12 HRS.. I WILL BE FEELING MORE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS FROM THE SUDDEN STOP OF TAKING PAIN KILLERS.. I AM NOT WANTING TO GO THOUGH THIS … I KNOW MY BODY ISN’T GOING TO HANDLE IT..IT IS NOT SO EASY FOR ME.. I CAN NOT GO CHECK MYSELF INTO A REHAB OR A DAYILY REHAB.. IT’S NOT MY PRIDE THAT STANDS IN MY WAY… I HAVE LOOKED… ASKED..AND SEEKED TREATMENT… THE WORST PART THERE IS NOTHING MORE I CAN DO … AND AS MUCH AS I WANT TO RUN AN HIDE..THERE’S NO WHERE I CAN GO.. CAN’T TURN TO THE DOCTOER.. HE STOPED THE MEDICATION BECAUSE OF “INS” OTHER’S WON’T TAKE AN FILL IT ..BECAUSE THEY HAVEN’T HANDLED MY CASE.. CAN’T GET TREATMENT BECAUSE I CAN’T CHECK MYSELF IN..GOD DIDN’T DO THIS TO ME.. I HAVE BUT MYSELF TO BLAME… THIS I KNOW “HE’LL BE HEARING MY TEARS OF PLEDS ..” I HOPE THE SIDE EFFECTS AREN’T THAT BAD ..MY BODY IS ALREADY FEELING LIKE IT’S BURNING UP .. I’M SWEATING AWFULLY ..MY BODY HAS A NASTY UN HOLLY FEELING THAT COMES AN GOES..I WISH I COULD WRITE MORE.. JUST DON’T FEEL LIKE IT RIGHT NOW..
September 18th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I do sympathize with all of you have fallen into the throes of addiction. I have relapsing/remitting MS and Lupus and am in constant pain. My legs hurt so bad, expecially during the night that it’s almost impossible to get any sleep. Well, a few years ago my doctor prescribed oxycontin and somehow because of my insurance, they were delivered to me free, via Federal Express directly from Purdue. Since I am a self-medicator, I didn’t take them every 4 to 6 hrs. as prescribed but only as needed. I did that for about a year and then discovered that my son was taking some from my bottles.After listening in on a phone conversation confirming this, I stopped mailing in my prescription. It wasn’t a problem for me. Within the last year I have developed a severe back problem and had total knee replacement surgery and was sent by my primary to a pain clinic where they prescribed 5mg. oxycodone three times a day. Again, I self-medicate, so only took it when I had pain. I soon discovered that many of my neighbors (I live in a 55+ apartment building) are getting them (some get their prescriptions free through Medicaid) and selling them. Yes, people my age are selling their pain pills. As my own way of fighting the pharmaceutical companies, I quit taking them again. I use percogesic over the counter for pain. I then discovered that my son and several of his friends were addicted to roxycodone. Some of them doctor-shopped and provided them to the others. My son was in ICU for 5 days from internal bleeding due to the roxies and I blew a gasket.He almost joined the ranks of deaths due to prescription painkilllers. He’s clean (and scared to death) for 30 days now and is in outpatient therapy. I would love to know how to make the drug companies pay for treatment for those who become addicts through prescription drugs, but don’t know where to start.I personally can’t imagine the life of an addict, but I see what it did to my son. Each of us must decide what’s most important. Mind over matter with the pain. Friends tell me I’m crazy because I’m one of those who need the drugs but it’s my own personal “stick it in the nose” to the drug companies by not taking their meds. Prayer helps. It’s what saved my son.
I hope that everyone will make a personal decision to stop and stick with it.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:21 am
My heart breaks listing to these stories. I also was fed Roxicottons by a dirty Dr. I looked in the phone book after a knee surgery to find the closest pain management. Well 3 years later i am very addicated and trying to get clean. I have no insurance anymore and can’t find help. The withdrawls are HELL. I was a herion and crack addict up till 5 years ago when I turned my life over to Jesus Christ.I got clean and never looked backed.Life was good.after my 3rd knee surgery I got hooked on Roxi’s.i know the Lord is here to help but I am terified about detoxin at home. My prayers are with you all.
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Oh how I wished that I would never have to visit this website again, but unfortunately my son’s addiction was stronger than his will to live. He’s back on the roxies and alcohol. It’s just a matter of time, probably months, before he expires. I’ve asked him if there is ANYTHING that could make him quit and he can’t answer that. He doesn’t know. It’s as if he was given a death sentence rather than life in prison, and he doesn’t seem to mind it. I think he must be in denial. Oh God, how I hate those dealers who don’t care about another’s life - they just want to make their rent/car paynents without working. His only nephew, who he loves dearly, has told him how disappointed he was with him, he’s begged him to quit - we, the ones who love him, have done all we can do. I have finally turned it over to God, and if he should die now, while he is still a Christian in heart, at least I know I will be with him again in heaven. I’m scared to loose him, but I’m also scared that the longer he lives with this addiction, the further away from God he will get. I obviously have no control over his actions, only control over how I react to them. He has put me in the hospital once from stress (excess stress causes severe relapses of MS and Lupus) and I’ve prayed so much about this that I have finally decided to try and keep my health for my other son and grandson. They need me too. I pray for you Mike, and know that with your faith in the Lord Jesus, you can overcome this. I pray that Joshua’s faith will return before it’s too late.