Mods, I’m sorry - I didn’t know whether to put this in IMHO (because I am asking for opinions) or GQ or somewhere else. If it belongs in someone else’s playground, feel free to move it.
Also, obligatory disclaimer - You are not my doctor, I am not your patient. I am not seeking medical advice in this thread, merely coping strategies and ways to help someone who has an addiction. Medical help is being sought offline, but I need mental/emotional help right now.
I know there’s plenty of Dopers who’ve dealt with addicts and addiction. I need opinions, stories, information from both sides.
A person who is very close to me is suffering from a dependancy on opiates - specifically OTC codeine-based painkillers.
I’ve written and rewritten this OP about six or seven times, and I still can’t get the words right. I need help. I don’t want to see this person killing themself slowly with what is a very, very dangerous drug - but I don’t know where to start, apart from telling them to stop taking the shit, and to seek medical assistance.
What country are you in? I don’t think you can get any over-the-counter opiate-related drugs in the US, although I have heard you can get the equivalent of Tylenol 3 (Tylenol with codeine) in Mexico…
Or did you mean prescription codeine-based painkillers?
I’m in Australia. Sorry I didn’t put that in the OP. Ibuprofen-based drugs with codeine are available from almost any pharmacy over here, without a prescription and sometimes even straight off the shelf. You still have to go to a pharmacy to get them, but you don’t even have to speak to the pharmacist in a lot of places.
Well, first I am sorry to hear you are in that situation. It must suck. I don’t really know your side because I was on the other side, I am a recovering alcoholic. (2 years and 4 months clean and sober).
The first thing I would suggest would be to contact a local Al-Anon group and ask them about a meeting. They might have a Na-Anon group that focuses on drugs rather than alcohol but I don’t know for sure. People in Al-Anon can be a very good resource because they have been through it and know what to expect. Find a meeting and go. They can offer better advice than I can.
I will tell you this, you need to be prepared for the person to choose the drugs over your relationship. Addicts and alcoholics will often do amazing things to keep using. Many will never change their ways and will give up jobs, friendships and families to keep using. Personally I gave away a whole hell of a lot to keep drinking. I finally snapped and got help. Thankfully I didn’t lose too much. I am one of the lucky ones. My ex-brother in-law on the other hand, gave up his job, his family and his kids and is now one of the homeless guys you see wandering the streets with a sign asking for change. He is going to die soon, his liver is shot from what I hear. It’s extremely sad, especially for my nieces and nephew, but my ex-BIL decided that the drugs were more important than everything else. He is now a dying homeless man and nothing my sister or her kids did could change his mind. He started on codine and beer.
At the same time many addicts/alcoholics do change. In many cases, such as my own, the only way for the addict to make a decision to change is when they run out of other options. It’s called hitting bottom. Here is my story if you are interested. Every addict/alcoholic has a different bottom. Some will quit when they lose a job or a relationship fails. Some do not quit even though they lose everything. Only the addict/alcoholic can make the choice to get sober. Once the choice is made it is possible for the addict/alcoholic to have a happy life. I am proof. Remember, people DO beat this thing.
You should say something to this person about their drug use. I highly recommend that you go to some Al-Anon meetings first. Talk to them because they will have much better information on how to handle this than I do. They have been there and know what it is like.
My email is in my profile if you want to ask me any questions.
D’OH! I see you are in Australia. Here is a link. A note, while Al-Anon is for alcoholics, as far as I know they do not only deal with alcohol issues, they welcome everyone.
Wow, that’s interesting… I can’t imagine that stuff being OTC here! Doctors keep a very tight leash on narcotic painkillers. A while back, I broke a rib and got some vicodin, and didn’t use it all, and I save it (ie hoard it) for emergency situations that may arise. It’s worth its weight in gold when you really need it for pain.
So I was wondering, does your friend need to take it constantly just to function? Does it change his/her behavior? Does your friend work, and if so, do they function normally at work?
What exactly are they doing that concerns you? Are they needing to take so much of it that you’re worried they might overdose? How did they get hooked on it in the first place? Do they even admit that they’re addicted, or do they act like it’s not a problem?
Thanks for your info Sleestak. I didn’t think about Alanon, but they’re definitely an option.
I also remember reading your thread when you first posted it, and it’s definitely heartening. I’ve not had any experience with major addictions in the past, and it’s good to see that if someone puts their mind to it, they can overcome it. I might suggest the person I’m concerned about read the thread too…
He’s taking at least 12 pills a day, sometimes more - 15 is the most I know that he’s taken for sure, but more than that is a possibility. The recommended dosage is 6 tablets in 24 hours, and each tablet contains 12.8mg of codeine phosphate along with the ibuprofen.
I’ll admit to the fact that I’ve known about this for a while, at least February, if I recall correctly. Part of the reason I’m scared is because he does need the pills to function properly. He functions fine at work and in social situations when he’s taking a full dose. I didn’t even know he was taking them to begin with, but I sure as hell noticed it the first time he tried to quit. He’s said to me in the past that he takes them because they “even him out”. He admits fully that he’s addicted, and that he wants to stop, but he also keeps saying he doesn’t know how to stop. And I don’t know how to help him.
I’ll also admit I’ve enabled him for a while. I’ve tried to help him cut down his consumption, but I haven’t pushed hard for him to quit. I don’t want to nag him into turning away from me, but now it’s getting to the point where I know he’s not quitting, and I am worried for his health.
I’m not worried about him overdosing. I’m more worried about the long term health effects. Codeine’s nasty from what I’ve seen. When it’s combined with ibuprofen, which is the only way you can get it over here, it causes kidney damage in the long term as well as other problems.
Thanks for the links and the info Imasquare. The anonymous programs seem like they’ll be good for the long run, in terms of maintenance and support, but then things are getting a little more pressing right now.
He’s now concerned that he’s damaged his kidneys. He’s complaining of swollen ankles, pains in his flanks and changed patterns of urination. When I took him to the Dr the other day, the Doc did a pee test and said there was no trace of proteins in his urine but sent him off for a blood test anyway. We’re off to get the results of the blood test and full urine workup tonight. The doc also did a physical exam, and said there was nothing wrong that they could feel. But he’s still freaking out about the fact that he thinks he’s now done something bad to his kidneys, and he wants to stop now but doesn’t know how.
The doctor suggested he go into detox. Great idea, but he’s working a temp job and doesn’t have sick leave. If he takes the week or so off that he’ll need to do a proper detox, he’ll lose that job - it’s a given. Getting another job shouldn’t be too hard afterward, but then there’s the fact that it’ll probably be at least 3 weeks to a month before another one would come along. And he needs money to live on in that time.
There’s also outpatient clinic services, that give opiate replacement therapies (like methadone, I think but I’m not sure). Problem is they all run 9-5, he works 8-5 and none of them are near enough to home or work for him to get there and get his dosages without having to take a couple hours off of work. Every day. Which, again, given his employment position will mean he’ll lose that job. There’s also private doctors who do the same thing, but he says he’s called them and none are taking on new patients at this time. There’s a glut of opiate addicts in Adelaide. Who knew?
He’s scared that he’s killing himself. I’m scared of the same thing, but I’ve been trying to be supportive and not let him freak out too bad. But I’m running out of things to say. He’s been doing a lot of research, he seems really serious about getting off of this stuff. But we’re having trouble finding a way to do it without him losing his job.
It’s funny. To stop himself from destroying his life, he’s got to lose his job and destroy his life at this point in time. Fucking universe has a bent sense of humour.
Even in the U.S., the weakest codeine preparations are generally in Schedule V, and the Controlled Substances Act specified that Schedule V products could be sold in limited quantities over the counter, and signed for by the purchaser. But most if not all states have implemented their own interpretation of of Schedule V that requires the prescription.