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Advice needed.

There is a difference between physical dependency and addiction. Dependency is a part of the addiction, but the psychological addiction is typically much stronger and harder to overcome. Gameface I would be willing to bet your mom is more dependent than addicted. That is typical of people on long-term pain control meds under the supervision of a doctor.

For anyone who cannot empathize, you should thank god or providence that you and no one you care about have ever been in such a position to suffer that level of pain.

I certainly wouldn't wish it on anyone.
 
I didn't, and the actual story doesn't change my opinion.

You were speculating on where he got the pills and it says right there in the story that as a teacher/coach he abused his position of power and asked his students to steal prescriptions from their parents. That is much much worse than getting them from a "pill peddler" doctor.
 
Just telling it like it is.

I stand by original statement that this guy needs to see jail time...as well as rehab.

Considering he is facing 2 felonies and 2 class A misses I would suspect some jail time is in his near future.
 
His crimes definitely deserve the jail time. However we can still show empathy for the ordeal he has gone through that got him addicted, and the ordeal he will be going through with rehab and serving his sentence, and the problems he has put his family through.

I hope he gets past this and is able to move on with his life.
 
What would be your stance if he'd been arrested for DUI?

That he should serve his time, if any, and pay his fines completely. Why do you ask? I don't see the connection.

Considering he is facing 2 felonies and 2 class A misses I would suspect some jail time is in his near future.

Well considering that he completely violated the social contract between teacher and student, I think this is only appropriate. If he is, personally, ready to get better, I have no doubt that with the support of his family and friends, such as yourself, his road to recovery should be easier.
 
You were speculating on where he got the pills and it says right there in the story that as a teacher/coach he abused his position of power and asked his students to steal prescriptions from their parents. That is much much worse than getting them from a "pill peddler" doctor.

So, people having excess prescription pills laying around their house has nothing to do with a doctor that is likely receiving benefits for prescribing them to patients that supposedly need it. Uh huh. I'm sure he never got any pills from a doctor which would have started the addiction, but rather started randomly asking around at school. That's likely.

I don't need one case or another to back up my point, which is apparently what you think this comes down to as you're residing on pointless technicalities. Doctors shove pills down people's throat because it's the easiest method of care and makes them just as much or more money compared to being truly involved and wanting the absolute best care for their patients.

Do you disagree with that, or are you only here to poke at people for no reason?
 
So, people having excess prescription pills laying around their house has nothing to do with a doctor that is likely receiving benefits for prescribing them to patients that supposedly need it. Uh huh. I'm sure he never got any pills from a doctor which would have started the addiction, but rather started randomly asking around at school. That's likely.

I don't need one case or another to back up my point, which is apparently what you think this comes down to as you're residing on pointless technicalities. Doctors shove pills down people's throat because it's the easiest method of care and makes them just as much or more money compared to being truly involved and wanting the absolute best care for their patients.

Do you disagree with that, or are you only here to poke at people for no reason?

This particular situation is generally the result of doctors refusing to just go on prescribing the pain meds precisely because they are seeing the reality of dependence emerging. . . . so they don't give all the pain meds the patient insists he needs. . . . that's when they start thinking up schemes for getting them in other ways. The first resort is going to the medicine cabinets of friends and relatives, then they beg from whoever, even students apparently. The thinking just isn't there. . . they need the fix. If that doesn't meet the need, the next thing they do is start stealing, robbing the pharmacy around the corner, or worse.

As much as I don't like the BigGov solutions to personal problems, I think it would be a good step forward if the "wonderfully ethical" pharmaceutical industry put up a hotline for doctors to post alerts for people who are likely to doctor-shop until somebody fills a prescription, and set up or donated to rehab centers where people in danger of going over this cliff could be referred for counselling and treatment. But denial is as real as crocs, and there is no sure way of getting people "helped" as long as they are free.
 
GoJazz, You seem like a nice person to worry about your neighbor and friend. My advice is to let your friend know how you feel and to let him know that you are there for him. That also goes for his wife. I don't know the whole story and the character of your friend but being a good friend should not change simply because your friend has a drug addiction. Unless your friendship would put you or your family in danger then I say be a good friend by listening, helping him and just being there for him.
 
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