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hunter

(40,715 posts)

22. Perfectly fine doctors are afraid they'll be labeled as enablers of addicts...

Mon Jan 18, 2016, 01:44 PM

Jan 2016

... and fear the drug enforcement agencies.

The "war on drugs" has got to stop so we can deal with the problem in a rational way.

Opiates are pretty easy on the body compared to most alternative pain relievers (NSAIDS blow chunks, I can tell you why...) and addictions are simply another medical problem any society has to deal with, preferably without guns and prisons.

The drug warriors end up being, in effect, the price support teams for the most violent and the most politically well connected drug gangsters.

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I�m dependent on narcotics; that doesn�t mean I�m an addict. [View all] UglyGreed Jan 2016 OP

Here's what I don't get about the whole SheilaT Jan 2016 #1

It's because the people with chronic pain issues are scared to death of being labeled as addicts. hunter Jan 2016 #3

I don't think it's really the people with the chronic pain issues. SheilaT Jan 2016 #11

The pressure from the UglyGreed Jan 2016 #21

Perfectly fine doctors are afraid they'll be labeled as enablers of addicts... hunter Jan 2016 #22

I just wanted to make UglyGreed Jan 2016 #23

+1 one_voice Jan 2016 #46

As someone who is in pain management, and dependent on opioids to make it through the day, Ghost in the Machine Jan 2016 #13

Thank you very much for that explanation. SheilaT Jan 2016 #15

You are quite welcome! I try my best to teach people the differences between addiction andde Ghost in the Machine Jan 2016 #16

Well stated, thank you. TM99 Jan 2016 #53

Thank for this reply UglyGreed Jan 2016 #20

You're welcome. I hope that it can shed a little light to a lot of people... Ghost in the Machine Jan 2016 #27

Very good article potone Jan 2016 #2

Dependency and addiction are completely different phenomena Warpy Jan 2016 #4

it's a great explanation of the difference, with one caveat... nashville_brook Jan 2016 #6

I'm able to function tolerably well with a TENS and Ultram Warpy Jan 2016 #7

the author of the essay puts it so well in her last paragraph... nashville_brook Jan 2016 #10

True addicts really aren't all that rare. Mariana Jan 2016 #9

Consider this, then Warpy Jan 2016 #12

You guess wrong. Mariana Jan 2016 #14

This. You can be dependent on a crutch to walk reflection Jan 2016 #18

Drugs are often called a crutch by the people who don't need them Warpy Jan 2016 #38

Yep, and they're hard on the armpits too. reflection Jan 2016 #43

Not if you use them properly Warpy Jan 2016 #45

k and r nashville_brook Jan 2016 #5

Even if you were an addict.. Matrosov Jan 2016 #8

Personally, I'm more worried about people who can't get adequate pain management Warren DeMontague Jan 2016 #17

A single payer option UglyGreed Jan 2016 #19

Couldn't agree more. Warren DeMontague Jan 2016 #31

It's been very humiliating for me sorefeet Jan 2016 #24

People don't care until UglyGreed Jan 2016 #25

Several of my favorite human beings have OI! KamaAina Jan 2016 #26

I've had three back surgeries. NaturalHigh Jan 2016 #28

I have had three back and UglyGreed Jan 2016 #29

I'm lucky to have an understanding doctor. NaturalHigh Jan 2016 #30

It was other doctors UglyGreed Jan 2016 #32

I'm high as a kite on norco at the moment Prism Jan 2016 #33

I know this is a bad time. I am having the same issues with shingles paint relief. CTyankee Jan 2016 #34

That makes zero sense Prism Jan 2016 #35

thank you, prism. Yes, I have had constant pain since Nov. 5, the day I first detected a CTyankee Jan 2016 #39

This may have something UglyGreed Jan 2016 #36

I agree, I don't want opiods forever. But what is their alternative? CTyankee Jan 2016 #37

I don't have shingles UglyGreed Jan 2016 #40

yep, exactly what I have which is Gapopentin and Percoset. You are right, this is exactly CTyankee Jan 2016 #41

Save them for a rainey day. I learned that when I started having dental problems and it lasted 20 Jim Beard Jan 2016 #47

When my brother Pinkie was dying sorefeet Jan 2016 #42

Sad UglyGreed Jan 2016 #48

I guess I'm lucky REP Jan 2016 #44

I gave the doctors UglyGreed Jan 2016 #49

Kick to go along with UglyGreed Jan 2016 #50

Me too. I have type 2 Complex Regional Pain Syndrome cali Jan 2016 #51

I remember UglyGreed Jan 2016 #52

wonder why some Doctors don't do knee replacements? Outcomes usually good after knee replacement Sunlei Jan 2016 #54