I believe there should be some sort of legal action

[TaperPlan]

I've been a member of this site for a few years.  I've had my share of addiction battles with painkillers.  I've seen and read the hundreds of posts by others who have had to suffer like I have; some much worse than mine.  I think it's time we do something about the core of the problem by sending a message to these massive pharmaceutical companies who have pushed their products on good, but naive people knowing full well people like us would get "hooked."  I'm just trying to gauge how many people feel the same way?  How many people's lives have been ruined or suffered long-term side effects of these painkillers?  Enough is enough!  The tobacco industry, the asbestos industry and others have long tried to hide the long-term, debilitating and life-threatening effects of their products and have been exposed for their cover-ups!  Thoughts?

[Eddie202]

I learned a lot reading all of this. And I agree with most of the above thoughts. I am an addict; I was/am responsible from the very first time I took a pill. I happened to have very good doctors who questioned my lies, and who cut me off long before I wanted to be cut off (like never).
I think whenever you have a large group of people in any organization - doctors, police, the military - you will always have bad people within the group. And then it's our responsibility to recognize that and find a doctor who won't over prescribe, etc. (although if I had one of those I probably wouldn't be on this site right now).
It is taking me a long time to come to grips with this, but all of my problems are my fault because I know I'm an addict, but accepted the meds anyway.

[hormonejunkie]

I am with you. Life is too short to be in pain - physical or emotional - when there there are things that have been invented to help!

[hormonejunkie]

I think there should be some maintenance option that doesn't suck. Low dose opiates work better than any other medicine I've tried for anxiety/depression. Subs have side effects and it scares me that if I have real pain I have to wait those out before I can get treatment. I would be open to a maintenance program with full opiates that included drug testing and working with a doctor. I don't blame the companies, or the doctors for over-prescribing. I blame the system that puts my pain level at a doctor's discretion. The more I say I need meds, the more likely it is I will get a note in my file and never receive them.

I'm not in the "I chose to take them, I chose to get addicted" camp. I'm going to do what I have to to make my life better, period. I'd rather be addicted for life than miserable and always knowing there is something out there that could help but I'm just not allowed.

[krisnile]

I to enjoy this debate! Everyone  has different  out looks on things, I love reading  about them and sometime changes my opinion on things...I've been on pain killers for about 11 years now and not always had a perspition for them...I know I'm addicted to them, depending on them! My life revoles around them....but like I said if a pill will help me from hurting so bad I'll take it. My now x husband use to get headache's I'll say take a BC he'll say no, I'll say don't keep complaining to me then dum ***!!! Lol...

[TaperPlan]

nursegirl,

I think you misunderstood me.  I never said NO ONE should be taking medications.  My point - and it is valid and one that's been debated ad nauseum - is that companies are quick to push the pills and promote their product to doctors, telling them it's a "miracle drug" and hoping the doctors will prescribe more for people coming in with minimal to moderate pain.  Of course I can understand the need for cancer patients (or anyone in severe pain for a wide-range of reasons).

Also, your point about dependence v. addiction is well-taken.  It's not as "massively flawed" as you suggest it is though.  While I recognize the difference between the two, they are often conflated into one because one can argue that addiction causes dependence.  Furthermore, someone dependent on medications can realize later on when off the medication that they're also addicted to it.  

A teenager from my community recently died on an OD from Oxy.  Did he really need them?  I don't know.  But as far as I know, he wasn't suffering from any debilitating illnesses.  I mention this case because it's a prime example of someone who most likely began with a first time script and then started abusing because of lack of control.  Anyone who has taken oxy knows that can very easily happen!  More so for some than others.

I think if it wasn't that big of a deal, why is the FDA tightening their restrictions?  Why have counties and states sued these companies for costs associated with drug enforcement?  It is a FACT (and you can look this up) that MANY doctors have been "taken care of" by the big Pharma companies to pump and promote the pills.  There is no denying that.  They are not targeting cancer patients, as you suggest.  They know doctors can and will prescribe for those illnesses.  They're targeting people with acute pain and marketing it as if there are no issues.  When I asked my doctor to get me off, he couldn't care less.  He prescribed me another 180 pills and told me to just reduce the amount and don't have anything to worry about.  Although I'm off of it, there's no denying the urge is still there and will always remain there.  So the representations by doctors that "you won't get hooked" is a joke.  Stopping and tapering are completely different elements than quitting for good, which is why so many people, including myself, have had relapses.  

I thank you for your well-thought response.  I'm really enjoying this discussion and learning different people's perspectives...

[krisnile]

I agree with you, pain meds are out there for helping people with real chronic pain, I've been in a motorcycle accident in 2003 was out of work for almost a year, if it want for my meds I couldn't have gone back to work for another 9 year's till I got breast cancer and once again thank God for meds... Yes now I'm depended on them now cause I wouldn't be able to injoy life , being in pain 24 7 ***** and if there's something to give me a good quality of live I'll take it!