My name is Danielle and I'm almost 17. I'm a recovering IV drug user (roxicodone "blues"). This stuff is pretty bad where I live. My best friend is on it too. I've been using for about a year and a half but switched from snorting to shooting about 4-5 mo ago. I realized how bad I was getting when I lost my job, got kicked out of cosmo school, was forced to sell my horse, and was stealing to get high. I came to my parents and told them I wanted help. At first they thought I was joking I guess. I mean why would I joke about something like this !? I went on with no help, so I kept on using. I developed a infection on my arm from my IV drug use. I went to my doctor to have him look at it. What I was doing was quite obv when he seen my arms so I began to tell him about what I was doing. He immediately had me blood tested for hep, HIV, that sort of thing... And talked to me about getting help. I had him call my mom to tell her the seriousness of the situation.
Finally, I was admitted to Manatee Glens Hospital for addiction and mental health. While I was in the hospital my blood test results came back, I had contracted hep c. There I detoxed for 3 days and was relased to out-patient care. As soon as I got out I began using again. At first just every once and awhile but soon enough I was just as bad as before. In out-patient care I was to see my counselar once a week, be drug tested once a week and attend group once a week. As I was in this program, I really felt the urge to quit. But I just couldnt. I would wake up in the morning and tell myself I wasnt going to use today. But before the end of the day, the addiction was talking. "Just one more time... I'll never quit anyway...".
I had heard about suboxone and friends of mine had told me its the only thing that worked. But I also knew that it was not FDA approved for minors. I talked to my doctor about suboxone and he really recomended it. However, he had a hard time finding a doctor to take me. After about a month, he found a doctor that would take minors. I was estatic. I have now been on suboxone for about 2 weeks and have been clean ever since. It's amazing. No withdrawals and it even keeps the addiction from talking.
The only problem is its bad on my liver. As I mentioned before, I had contracted hep c (most likely from my IV drug use). My doctor says that even though its bad on the liver, its not as bad as using. I am genotype 1A (the hardest type to cure) and am scheduled for a biopsy and will start treatment soon after. I'm scared if I stop taking suboxone I will begin using again. Should I take the chance to give my liver a break, or no ? Whats your opinion ? HELP