# How do I convince my doctor to renew the Vicodin?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-my-doctor-to-renew-the-vicodin/629852>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 30, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-my-doctor-to-renew-the-vicodin/629852 "2012-07-30T14:35:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 19

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [July 30, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-convince-my-doctor-to-renew-the-vicodin/629852/19 "2012-07-30T19:33:57Z")

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> [@Broomstick](#):
>
> Not everyone who uses opiates becomes an addict. You do know that, don’t you?
> 
> My mom was on morphine for over a year after complications arose from her second heart surgery. Once they got the wounds to close up and heal they tapered her down over a month and she was off it. No withdrawal. No “agony”. No horrible symptoms. No cravings.
> 
> I’ve known a half dozen other people in the same position - took an opiate long term for pain, when the problem was cured/healed they tapered off and no problems. No agony. No horrible withdrawal. No cravings. No addiction.
> 
> Yes, some people have problems. Not all do. It’s a myth that opiate use leads _automatically_ to addiction. Appropriate pain management and dosing can minimize the chances of addiction occurring. Opiates are a tool. Like any tool they can be mis-used. The solution isn’t to ban the tool, it’s to use it responsibly.

Prescription pain killers are now the most pervasive addiction problem in most if not all of the country. You do know that don’t you? A lot of doctors hand out addictive pain medication like its candy. You do know that don’t you? The effects of addiction to such medication is horrendous. You do know that don’t you?

I’m not saying that there is no place for pain killers and opiates. There obviously is a place. But they are tremendously over perscribed. I would trust a doctor who was reluctant to perscribe pain killers to one who writes out a script whenever anyone asks for it.

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