There are two types of people. 1) Those who take opiate-based pain killers; and,

[HopeHoops]

2) um, what was the subject, man?

[hunter]

1. Ah, I get it....

1) Opiates

2) Medical Marijuana

3) Legal stuff poisoned with Acetaminophen or NSAIDS.

[astral]

2. and those who have never had a toothache.

[Bake]

3. Nice post, Hitler.

:hi:

Bake

[madinmaryland]

7. You're welcome, Paul Pot!!

:hi:

[Taverner]

4. Ahhhh now that's my kryptonite...

Anything with Opiates in them. Including raw opium.

The most dangerous thing about that stuff is that you feel all is right with the world. No matter what's happening.

[csziggy]

5. Or 2) Those who prefer dealing with reality

I have access to Vicodin but chose not to use it unless I am totally desperate for oblivion.

First off, the Vicodin does not get rid of the pain or treat the underlying cause of the pain. It just makes me groggy and makes me not care about the pain. Since Vicodin leaves me groggy for 24 to 48 hours after I take it, I hate using it. Pain treatment should leave me more able to function, not less, IMO. Pretty much this means I am in pain most of the time, though I can generally manage it so I can do what I have to do each day.

If I have been in severe pain for several days and unable to sleep for that time, I consider taking the Vicodin to knock me out so I can get some sleep and enough rest to let the inflammation causing the pain subside a little. Then I have to allow two or three days for the drugs to work out of my system before I can function reliably. Of course, by then I have already been incompetent to function reliably from the pain and lack of sleep.

[libodem]

6. Not

Necessarily an either or situation.

[REP]

8. Where are these super-magical opiates? Mine don't work that way.

I can only take opiates due to severe kidney disease. They don't make me high, or sleepy, or forgetful or anything fun other than in somewhat less pain than before I took them. They sometimes keep me from sleeping well, but so does pain.

So what are these magical prescriptions that will fuck my shit up? 'cause I want 'em.

I take Ativan, too. No fantastical unicorns or anything. Just not as anxious.

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

9. Living through chemistry

I've spent two thirds of my life on serious meds. MDM's. Major Daily Migraines, inherited from both sides of the family have f'ed up my life.
Life is only bearable with big meds. I've been given everything from codeine to morphine to Stadol and fentanyl (I loved the lollies but they ARE addictive as hell even for me)
along with all the other good ones (percocets/dans, vicoden, etc)

I only came close to having a 'fun' experience once with the Stadol. I was on a trip with family and thought I saw a UFO (it was a radio tower with the blinking light)

I remember the good old days of Middle School when I only had them two or three times a week...