I want to say Whoa before you start calling your friend an addict.
I have a chronic pain condition that is permanent. I will never be cured, so I have to manage my pain. I have used several things like physical therapy, Tai Chi. Stellate Ganglion Nerve blocks and medication. Some of these things no longer work for me. I have a prescription for Vicodin that allows me to take it twice a day. I do not take it that often but I have days when I do have to take it, along with other medications. I actually have 3 different pain medications that I can use for my pain control.
Your friend may need to take Vicodin to manage her pain and live a somewhat normal life. If this is the case, your friend may have a physical dependence, which is very different from addiction. She is not taking the vicodin to get high but to function. Addict will do almost anything to get their drugs and will use them at higher and higher levels. Please do research on physical dependence and addiction and learn the difference before you talk to your friend.
I want to applaud your concern for your friend's health. You might ask your friend about her injury and how it is healing? Living with chronic pain is very lonely because it often an invisible disability. We are often told that our pain is not real,that we are being a baby or looking for drugs. Chronic pain can cause depression, insomnia and limits what we can do. Be a friend and listen when she speaks.
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I want to say Whoa before you start calling your friend an addict.
I have a chronic pain condition that is permanent. I will never be cured, so I have to manage my pain. I have used several things like physical therapy, Tai Chi. Stellate Ganglion Nerve blocks and medication. Some of these things no longer work for me. I have a prescription for Vicodin that allows me to take it twice a day. I do not take it that often but I have days when I do have to take it, along with other medications. I actually have 3 different pain medications that I can use for my pain control.
Your friend may need to take Vicodin to manage her pain and live a somewhat normal life. If this is the case, your friend may have a physical dependence, which is very different from addiction. She is not taking the vicodin to get high but to function. Addict will do almost anything to get their drugs and will use them at higher and higher levels. Please do research on physical dependence and addiction and learn the difference before you talk to your friend.
I want to applaud your concern for your friend's health. You might ask your friend about her injury and how it is healing? Living with chronic pain is very lonely because it often an invisible disability. We are often told that our pain is not real,that we are being a baby or looking for drugs. Chronic pain can cause depression, insomnia and limits what we can do. Be a friend and listen when she speaks.
Reta
October 23, 2009 - 9:13pmThis Comment
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