Advice needed.

[GoJazz]

So my neighbor was arrested recently and I know he is a good guy that is just addicted to pills. He is about 350 pounds and his knees and back constantly hurt. Anyways here is the news stroy. https://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=14401775&autostart=y does anyone have any advice for helping him? He is obviously totally ruined both emotionally and he has lost his job as a teacher and as a high school football coach. More then worried about him I worry about his wife and 3 kids. My wife and her are really close friends and our kids play together. Anyways I am just wondering what if anything I should say to them and what lines I should draw. He is currently out on a bail but the wife has booted him out to live with his dad while she clears her head. Obviously I don't condone taking Oxycottons but I also want him to know I support him getting off them.

 

[balli]

I alsowant him to know I support him getting off them.

That's all you need to say.

The obligatory political point:

It's pretty sickening that so many people are addicted to opiate meds and that the American pharmaceutical system continues to produce these pills in far greater quantity than there's any fathomable or realistic need for.

And that the AMA or whoever does very little in the way of addressing how obscenely over-prescribed these ****ing opiates are. As if literally millions of good people weren't getting addicted to this **** and watching their lives disintegrate.

Personally, I've cut off a finger and a toe, knocked out my front teeth on three occasions, cracked my ribs, broken my nose, broken an eye orbital, suffered from back spasms and in general have experienced as much or more pain than I'd imagine the average joe ever will. I've never felt the need to relieve it with slow release heroin. These pills are not necessary. Very, very few people should be prescribed them. It's a sad, sad, state of affairs. An epidemic.

 

[YB85]

That's all you need to say.

The obligatory political point:

It's pretty sickening that so many people are addicted to opiate meds and that the American pharmaceutical system continues to produce these pills in far greater quantity than there's any fathomable or realistic need for.

And that the AMA or whoever does very little in the way of addressing how obscenely over-prescribed these ****ing opiates are. As if literally millions of good people weren't getting addicted to this **** and watching their lives disintegrate.

Personally, I've cut off a finger and a toe, knocked out my front teeth on three occasions, cracked my ribs, broken my nose, broken an eye orbital, suffered from back spasms and in general have experienced as much or more pain than I'd imagine the average joe ever will. I've never felt the need to relieve it with slow release heroin. These pills are not necessary. Very, very few people should be prescribed them. It's a sad, sad, state of affairs. An epidemic.

This is one of the best posts in jazzfanz history.

 

[LogGrad98]

That's all you need to say.

The obligatory political point:

It's pretty sickening that so many people are addicted to opiate meds and that the American pharmaceutical system continues to produce these pills in far greater quantity than there's any fathomable or realistic need for.

And that the AMA or whoever does very little in the way of addressing how obscenely over-prescribed these ****ing opiates are. As if literally millions of good people weren't getting addicted to this **** and watching their lives disintegrate.

Personally, I've cut off a finger and a toe, knocked out my front teeth on three occasions, cracked my ribs, broken my nose, broken an eye orbital, suffered from back spasms and in general have experienced as much or more pain than I'd imagine the average joe ever will. I've never felt the need to relieve it with slow release heroin. These pills are not necessary. Very, very few people should be prescribed them. It's a sad, sad, state of affairs. An epidemic.

Is your nickname Lucky?


Anyway, I agree. The best thing you can do is be there to support him. I think sometimes that the meds are too easy to come by, but I can tell you that there are fully legitimate needs for them as well.

I had my fair share of narcotic meds through 3 back surgeries, one to remove a tumor from my spine and 2 to reconstruct my spine. Also been through chemo, chemo-induced pneumonia, bone grafts, bone-marrow sampling (not quite transplant, just as painful), etc. and during all that I relied on narcotics (mostly percocet, oxycontin, methadone, and demorol) to keep me sane and functioning. In the end I had developed a pretty solid physical dependency. That is not the same as addiction, but recovery is very similar. It was way hard to get off the pills. At first the pain even got worse than it really was as my body rebounded (this is common). Luckily I got the support I needed from friends and family, I had a good doctor who helped get me to the right specialists and helped manage my care, and I was able to fight through and have not had any issues with painkillers for 6 years (since my last surgery). His will be harder as addiction is a psychological response accompanying the physical dependency. He needs to get into counseling and work with a pain control specialist to get off the meds physically as well. Stopping cold can actually be as bad as overdose. It actually kills people sometimes.

It sounds like you are in a good position to help: you care and recognize it is something difficult he will be going through and you are not judgemental about it. Often the best thing a friend can do is simply be there. A few of my friends really had a big impact because they were willing to just come over and watch some tv and maybe play cards or even just be in the room with me and we both read books or something. Sometimes it is that simple, just being there. He will need a lot of people there by his side to help keep his spirits up and keep him thinking positively. It is hard, but he can get there. With help from friends like you it will be that much easier.

 

[babe]

I think you have the right idea, GoJazz, and while perhaps we never really know just the right way to help others in spots like this, just stay fluid, adaptable, understanding, and supportive in any way you can.

It looks to me like he will get professional and sympathetic help from authorities and professionals. I bet his athletic activities were an underlying cause of his pain, too. Occupational injury. As he goes through that process, the most important thing is for friends to just track with him, looking for opportunities to show support and understanding but also maybe just acting 'normal'. I'd not rule out the possibility of re-constructing his career and reputation by making a real positive example of how to own up to what was wrong about his actions and how to get help.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

That's all you need to say.

The obligatory political point:

It's pretty sickening that so many people are addicted to opiate meds and that the American pharmaceutical system continues to produce these pills in far greater quantity than there's any fathomable or realistic need for.

And that the AMA or whoever does very little in the way of addressing how obscenely over-prescribed these ****ing opiates are. As if literally millions of good people weren't getting addicted to this **** and watching their lives disintegrate.

Personally, I've cut off a finger and a toe, knocked out my front teeth on three occasions, cracked my ribs, broken my nose, broken an eye orbital, suffered from back spasms and in general have experienced as much or more pain than I'd imagine the average joe ever will. I've never felt the need to relieve it with slow release heroin. These pills are not necessary. Very, very few people should be prescribed them. It's a sad, sad, state of affairs. An epidemic.

Brett Favre?

 

[unluckyseventeen]

My uncle got addicted to them, too. He sought treatment pretty quickly very likely due to the amount of support he received from his wife, brothers/sisters and remainder of his extended family. You really need to show support and show them (obviously in a gentle way) that their addiction is wrecking their lives and hurting the people they care about.

The bad thing about this is an addiction to an opiate such as Oxycontin will have permanent effects even after (assuming he ever gets it) treatment.

And also, you should encourage his wife and the rest of his family to investigate the doctor prescribing these meds. It's pretty obvious when patients have drug-seeking behavior and doctors should be trying to recognize this / prescribing with extreme moderation. If they're not doing that then they don't deserve to be in practice. Although, the chances of him getting it illegally are semi-likely, so that might be a lost cause.

Anyway, hope everything turns out okay.

 

[LogGrad98]

My uncle got addicted to them, too. He sought treatment pretty quickly very likely due to the amount of support he received from his wife, brothers/sisters and remainder of his extended family. You really need to show support and show them (obviously in a gentle way) that their addiction is wrecking their lives and hurting the people they care about.

The bad thing about this is an addiction to an opiate such as Oxycontin will have permanent effects even after (assuming he ever gets it) treatment.

And also, you should encourage his wife and the rest of his family to investigate the doctor prescribing these meds. It's pretty obvious when patients have drug-seeking behavior and doctors should be trying to recognize this / prescribing with extreme moderation. If they're not doing that then they don't deserve to be in practice. Although, the chances of him getting it illegally are semi-likely, so that might be a lost cause.

Anyway, hope everything turns out okay.

I know from my medical history that this is changing. When I started my initial treatments the prevailing theory was control the pain, heal the affliction, then worry about the pain medication later. Pain control specialists were very rare then (12 years ago). 6 years ago they started shifting to alternate methods of pain control. I still needed narcotics to control the pain of spine surgery, but my doctor prescribed them sparingly and my wife doled them out at a rate the doctor prescribed so I couldn't just take a ton of them. At the same time I worked with a pain control specialist to use alternative methods to control the pain, and to reduce the chances I became addicted so that getting off the pills was far easier. In the end I dealt with more pain, but I was able to handle it and getting of the painkillers was much easier than the first time.

 

[VINYLONE]

Dudes a pill popper with no conscience. He belongs in jail and needs to pay the price for his criminal indiscretions. All the garbage liberal ******** in this thread is sickening.

 

[LogGrad98]

Dudes a pill popper with no conscience. He belongs in jail and needs to pay the price for his criminal indiscretions. All the garbage liberal ******** in this thread is sickening.

Don't some forms of that word make it through the filter?

 

[PearlWatson]

And also, you should encourage his wife and the rest of his family to investigate the doctor prescribing these meds. It's pretty obvious when patients have drug-seeking behavior and doctors should be trying to recognize this / prescribing with extreme moderation. If they're not doing that then they don't deserve to be in practice. Although, the chances of him getting it illegally are semi-likely, so that might be a lost cause.

Anyway, hope everything turns out okay.

You didn't read the article did you?

CEDAR CITY -- A southern Utah high school assistant football coach and teacher was arrested Wednesday after school officials say he asked students to bring him prescription drugs from their homes.

 

[Archie Moses]

Prescription pain pills eventually lead to the death of my brother two weeks ago. His addiction began with a neck injury he received while playing football for USU and then being prescribed pain pills to deal with the pain.

The advice I give you for your neighbor is a) understand that addiction is a disease (I personally believe addiction is a disease of both the body and soul) and it completely overwhelms someone once they are addicted (it's very, very hard to help them with words or advice - they will do anything to get their fix - their body is chemically imbalanced.) and b) let them know that even though their actions aren't condoned they're still a human being and no matter what, you will show you care for them and support them. Maybe council him to go to AA. When my brother went to AA he was sober for a year a 3 months before he had his relapse. AA guys were the best love and support my brother felt from anyone. If he didn't stop going, I know he would still be alive. AA rocks!

Be aware though, addicts will take advantage of you.

 

[PearlWatson]

Be aware though, addicts will take advantage of you.

and your children...

 

[TroutBum]

Dudes a pill popper with no conscience. He belongs in jail and needs to pay the price for his criminal indiscretions. All the garbage liberal ******** in this thread is sickening.

If this is an attempt at humor, you failed miserably. If this is really how you feel, then I do, in fact, have a problem with you.

 

[TroutBum]

Other than VinylBoob, this is one of the better threads I've seen in some time. I hope your friend finds the help he needs.

 

[GoJazz]

My friend is entering rehab in Provo today. Hopefully this is enough of a jolt to his system that he gets off the drugs.

 

[unluckyseventeen]

You didn't read the article did you?

CEDAR CITY -- A southern Utah high school assistant football coach and teacher was arrested Wednesday after school officials say he asked students to bring him prescription drugs from their homes.

I didn't, and the actual story doesn't change my opinion. Tons of general practice doctors are still pill peddlers, and I have more sympathy for people addicted to the drugs versus the amount of respect I have for doctors that prescribe pills for people that don't really need it.

Clearly, the reason this (and basically every other case of prescription med addiction) blew up into what it is, is both a lack of education the part of people intended to receive the pills, and a lack of responsibility for the people giving the pills. It starts with the people that already have that education... no excuse whatsoever to hand out pills like they won't have some sort of adverse affect.

 

[Nate505]

Why should I care if people are overprescribed pills? I'd much rather see people get the pills if they need them if the cost is overprescription than seeing people not get them for the moral reason of not seeing people get addicted. I never understood why society's role should be to save people from their addictions. That should be the role of the individual and their family, but mostly the role of the individual.

 

[Gameface]

Why should I care if people are overprescribed pills? I'd much rather see people get the pills if they need them if the cost is overprescription than seeing people not get them for the moral reason of not seeing people get addicted. I never understood why society's role should be to save people from their addictions. That should be the role of the individual and their family, but mostly the role of the individual.

While I agree with you I think many people were prescribed opiate pain pills for a legit injury, took them at the prescribed dose for an extended (but prescribed) period of time and became addicted without really knowing it or doing anything outside taking their prescribed medication. Opiates are a muther****er of an addiction. So now we have soccer moms and HS football players addicted to pain pills when those same people may have never touched any illegal drugs or alcohol in their life. I know a few people who fall into that category.

On the other hand, my mother suffers from several work-related injuries. She's been taking large doses of pain pills for more than 10 years. Is she addicted? Yes, most certainly. Is her life better being on a controlled, albeit very high, dosage of pain pills vs being in constant debilitating pain? Yeah, I think so.

 

[Gyp Rosetti]

Prescription pain pills eventually lead to the death of my brother two weeks ago. His addiction began with a neck injury he received while playing football for USU and then being prescribed pain pills to deal with the pain.

The advice I give you for your neighbor is a) understand that addiction is a disease (I personally believe addiction is a disease of both the body and soul) and it completely overwhelms someone once they are addicted (it's very, very hard to help them with words or advice - they will do anything to get their fix - their body is chemically imbalanced.) and b) let them know that even though their actions aren't condoned they're still a human being and no matter what, you will show you care for them and support them. Maybe council him to go to AA. When my brother went to AA he was sober for a year a 3 months before he had his relapse. AA guys were the best love and support my brother felt from anyone. If he didn't stop going, I know he would still be alive. AA rocks!

Be aware though, addicts will take advantage of you.

Do you not have NA meetings in Utahr?