Doctor's shouldn't give drug addicts addictive drugs

[katy_kay08]

I'm listening to the "doctor" on the Today show and I have to say I just heard something that really shocked me, but I think it's a real issue.  

The quote was that "you have to be a pretty stupid doctor to give a drug addict addicting drugs; and once a drug addict ALWAYS a drug addict."  

Personally I find this to be one of the most dangerous and irresponsible comments a doctor could make.   

Yes, once a drug addict always an addict but each situation and circumstance is different and blanket statements like this actually can do more harm to patients in need.  

An example, a recovering addict with 27 years sobriety has cancer and undergoes surgery.  Is it "stupid" to give this person pain management medications in order to relieve the pain and suffering from the surgery?  

It is well known that untreated pain can lead to chronic pain syndromes as it creates new pain receptors in the brain.  

IMO, it is irresponsible to give addicts unlimited access to medications without a plan and discussion in place to insure the meds are being taken as necessary and on a limited basis.  

What do you think?  Should past drug abuse make one ineligible for pain treatment and management?  What prevents them from keeping these things a secret, which could ultimately lead to very real problems and relapse?  

[lovinmykiddo07]

I agree. That is dumb & myself & my father are proof. My dad used to be a drug addict (he said he's done everything but acid). Anyway, my dad had a stroke & because of the pain he has been in since the stroke he is on 3 different types on pain killers. I dont think he takes them to get high, I've seen him without his meds & it is terrible for him. I believe his pain is real & that he NEEDS this medication to not be in constant pain, and his doctor obviously agrees or he would not have put him on them to begin with.

Then there is me. :) lol Pulmonary Embolism at age 19, morphine every four hours for three weeks. It was hard coming off it, but they had me on Vicodin so it wasn't like going off cold turkey. I was on Vicodin for four months. Now coming off THAT was hard. But I was able to do it by myself, and the ONLY reason I did it wsa for my infant son. (He was 3 months old when I had my P.E.)

Now I have endometriosis & cysts on my ovaries. It is PAINFUL. My doctor put me on Percocet. I get my prescription, give it to SO, and if I am in enough pain he will give me one. But I notice a difference this time. I dont crave them, I dont feel like i have to have them (unless I'm having a flare up & I cant even walk because I'm in so much pain).

[elighrocker]

get the point but depending on the surgery you need pain medication, what can dr's do let them suffer?

they should just monitor and cut them off at certain point

[romalove]

 I have a friend who is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict.  She has been clean for about twenty five years.  She still lives in fear that something will set her back.  We were at a party once and there were those liquor filled chocolates.  She almost ate one and got upset.  She had a pain issue with a dislocated shoulder.  She was terrified to take any pain medication other than regular Advil. 

Someone with a disease like cancer and in pain should obviously have pain management, addict or not.

Someone like Whitney Houston likely shouldn't be given addictive drugs like Xanax and the like by a competent doctor. 

I think she would obtain them anyway, though.

[meandjoue]

I think doctors over prescribe pain meds. My mil was addicted to pills, she overdose almost died, now she can't walk and her brain is not right. But she sure knows the names of all the pills she wants. And the doctors still prescribe them and she is still abusing them. There needs to be some regulations, and I personally think there should be some kind of database that doctors can see what other doctors have prescribed to the patients. Fil takes her to several different doctors for her to get her fix. She makes up pain to get more pills.

[BreefullyMe87]

I completely agree and pointed this out in NC while people were bashing Houston for being an addict. Yes, she was an addict ... but aren't doctors supposed to be held to higher standards then the general population?

And yet ... you have millions of doctors peddling dangerous drugs to addicts.

My biological mom used to like pills and dabbled in some coke ando crack every now and then. She went to rehab numerous times, gave up her 6 children, and FINALLY cleaned up her act. 'Thanks' to Methadone and the clinic who fills the daily prescription.

Since she's been on Methadone ... she's just not the same. She gained about 300 pounds in the course of 2 years. She used to be tiny (like me) always weighing less then 130. Now she had numerous health problems, blood clots, and frequent hospital stays. She was better off on crack.

[katy_kay08]

My parents are on opposing sides of the coin.  My mother has 27 years of sobriety and developed neuropathy as a side effect from her chemo treatments.  She lives in a great deal of pain but works very hard to limit her use of meds and brings her med bottles with her to the doctor to show how many she has used each month.  The medications allow her to take the edge off enough to walk on a limited basis.  

My father was a doctor shopper and ended up dying from an overdose of presciption drugs.  The problem with this doctor's opinion is that it's too general and truly doesn't take the individual into consideration.  

Quoting lovinmykiddo07:

I agree. That is dumb & myself & my father are proof. My dad used to be a drug addict (he said he's done everything but acid). Anyway, my dad had a stroke & because of the pain he has been in since the stroke he is on 3 different types on pain killers. I dont think he takes them to get high, I've seen him without his meds & it is terrible for him. I believe his pain is real & that he NEEDS this medication to not be in constant pain, and his doctor obviously agrees or he would not have put him on them to begin with.

Then there is me. :) lol Pulmonary Embolism at age 19, morphine every four hours for three weeks. It was hard coming off it, but they had me on Vicodin so it wasn't like going off cold turkey. I was on Vicodin for four months. Now coming off THAT was hard. But I was able to do it by myself, and the ONLY reason I did it wsa for my infant son. (He was 3 months old when I had my P.E.)

Now I have endometriosis & cysts on my ovaries. It is PAINFUL. My doctor put me on Percocet. I get my prescription, give it to SO, and if I am in enough pain he will give me one. But I notice a difference this time. I dont crave them, I dont feel like i have to have them (unless I'm having a flare up & I cant even walk because I'm in so much pain).

[lovinmykiddo07]

Aww, I'm sorry to hear that. The last time I talked to my dad he said he's cut his usage in half since I was down in December. Said he didn't know why, but he just wasn't in as much pain. I'm HOPING that he will continue to improve. Like I said, his pain is terrible. :(

And I agree.. waaay to general. Every person and every story is different. Shouldn't just lump us up all together like that.

Quoting katy_kay08:

My parents are on opposing sides of the coin.  My mother has 27 years of sobriety and developed neuropathy as a side effect from her chemo treatments.  She lives in a great deal of pain but works very hard to limit her use of meds and brings her med bottles with her to the doctor to show how many she has used each month.  The medications allow her to take the edge off enough to walk on a limited basis.  

My father was a doctor shopper and ended up dying from an overdose of presciption drugs.  The problem with this doctor's opinion is that it's too general and truly doesn't take the individual into consideration.  

Quoting lovinmykiddo07:

I agree. That is dumb & myself & my father are proof. My dad used to be a drug addict (he said he's done everything but acid). Anyway, my dad had a stroke & because of the pain he has been in since the stroke he is on 3 different types on pain killers. I dont think he takes them to get high, I've seen him without his meds & it is terrible for him. I believe his pain is real & that he NEEDS this medication to not be in constant pain, and his doctor obviously agrees or he would not have put him on them to begin with.

Then there is me. :) lol Pulmonary Embolism at age 19, morphine every four hours for three weeks. It was hard coming off it, but they had me on Vicodin so it wasn't like going off cold turkey. I was on Vicodin for four months. Now coming off THAT was hard. But I was able to do it by myself, and the ONLY reason I did it wsa for my infant son. (He was 3 months old when I had my P.E.)

Now I have endometriosis & cysts on my ovaries. It is PAINFUL. My doctor put me on Percocet. I get my prescription, give it to SO, and if I am in enough pain he will give me one. But I notice a difference this time. I dont crave them, I dont feel like i have to have them (unless I'm having a flare up & I cant even walk because I'm in so much pain).

[tooptimistic]

Wow I don't know.

I think the statement once a drug addict always a drug addict is true.  I have many examples of that in my life.  How would a doctor know their patient was a drug addict before prescribing a pain killer.  All the drug and alcohol abusers I know in my life are liars, they wouldn't tell their doctor that they abuse drugs or alcohol.

[katy_kay08]

Those that are serious about their recovery generally tell their doctors, although for some they have had that go badly as their doctors were less likely to take their complaints seriously.  

Quoting tooptimistic:

Wow I don't know.

I think the statement once a drug addict always a drug addict is true.  I have many examples of that in my life.  How would a doctor know their patient was a drug addict before prescribing a pain killer.  All the drug and alcohol abusers I know in my life are liars, they wouldn't tell their doctor that they abuse drugs or alcohol.

[jlo1313]

 I feel that an addict is always going to be an addict.  How seriously they take their recovery is completely up to them, it is the patient's responsibility to communicate their past honestly with their current doctor and the doctor's responsibility to put a plan in place that will work for the patient with their pain management.  I feel the bigger breakdown is the patient communicating honestly with the doctors.

Now, there are some horse-shit doctors out there too!  Docs open up pain management clinics to pedal presecription drugs like candy.  Case in point - one in my area that was just tried and received 4 life sentences for his practices that killed 4 people.  Story here.