My friend is popping a lot of pills

I'm in my  mid 30's, and a new friend that I met several months ago is always sneaking off to pop various pills - mostly she's got Adderall (adderrall), Xanax, Alprazolam, Suboxone 8mg, lexapro, roxicet, and a few others that aren't in any packaging.

What would be signs of abuse?  Sometimes she seems very out of it altogether, and it can take her a long time to put her thoughts together & spit the words out, and other times she acts very normal.  She drinks alcohol daily.

I've never *done* anything other than pot, so as naive as it sounds, I didn't really even consider that people were getting high off of pills...  Is she?

Georgina.

[cathy5841]

wow, i would definately saying she is abusing pills.  but, if she is taking sub she would not feel the effects of roxicets.  sub is and opiate but, blocks other opiates.  adderral is is a methamphetamine...and very addictive. xannex is a benzo.  and very addictive also.  i would confront this friend, for her own good.  good luck to you and her.

[enemy48]

I would say she's absolutely abusing.  I don't know of any doctor that would prescribe the combination that you listed.

The question is, do you want a friend like this?  Apparrently you two are close enough for her to tell you what all she takes.

At this time she may be very content with her life.  If you don't think so, then indroduce her to this forum.  Not everyone here is clean.  But they come for advice and are filled w/hope.  Maybe she doesn't have anyone to talk with that can understand how she fell into that trap.  I promise.........we know!  We've been there!

I failed several times before I finally stuck with it.  Living life after dependancy is hard and we all share that in common.

[addictedme]

Actually living life in recovery is much easier then living in active addiction. Like they say "my worst day clean is better then my best day using". Living life not using but not in recovery is hard.

[drmwvrjean]

i would agree with the others on here and say that it sounds as if she is definately abusing pills!!!  i agree with cathy...if she is on suboxone, she wouldn't get the high off the other pills.  i am on suboxone right now, and although i have never tried anything while on them, i was warned by my doc. not to dare try and take something with sub....he said it would be worse than any other withdrawl (withdrawal) i had ever experienced.  i would definately confront your friend and share your concerns with her!!

best of luck and i will keep you both in my prayers!!!  xxxxx

[Georgy_Pordgy]

Thank you so much for all your answers...

Actually I just found out that the prescription for Suboxone just got filled yesterday.  Would she have put herself on that to wean herself off the other pills?  What would you have to be addicted to, to be prescribed that?

When I told her I had a wicked migraine headache this morning, she told me that I could try taking a Suboxone because she was all out of something called Imitrex - and that I'd be fine taking a Suboxone because unless you've abused pain pills you wouldn't have any other effect, other than it acting like a pain pill to kill my migraine.... is that true?  

Because I've never done any kind of pills before to get high, I'm a little curious, what kind of high is she getting off Xanax, or Adderall (adderrall)?  How many does someone have to take to get high on them anyway?

Georgina

[BigWill79]

Don't take the pills unless you are given them by a doctor.  Period.  Don't look to this post for information on ways to get high.  I'm sorry if I sound like an a**, but your friend needs serious help.  Just like all us do or have.  We are here to help people who are trying to get clean.  If your "friend" is on Sub, good for her.  She is trying.  Don't take pills to get high, you are heading down a dead end road.  Thanks.