abuse of pain meds

My 39 year old brother was diagnosed with rapid progressing MS 6 years ago. I am concerned with his abuse of
prescription pain meds. He is prescribed morphine and oxycontin which recently he has began using intravenously. His 30 day supply of pills lasts him about 10 days and then he is on the street selling things he steals from our parents, after he spends his disability check on more pills. He has friends that come around and I think he shares with them as well. I guess my question is how can I help him? Is it a pain issue or is it an addiction issue? How can he be drug free if he still needs pain medication?

[Heather3418]

When you say that your brother has been using these drugs intravenously, do you mean as prescribed by a doctor, or of his choosing?

Whether he has MS or not, he is in either extreme pain that is not be treated or he is abusing the pain medications.

Possibly your parents cane speak with his doctor's about this, even though the doctors will not share any information with your parents, due to his age.  Aphone call to the doctor, if they are absolutely sure about the abuse, would be all it takes for the doctor to take control of this situation, by possibly putting him a nursing/rehab facility.  There may be a place where your brother will be given his proper levels of medication, since they cannot be withdrawn from him if he is in real pain.

This is a really sticky situation and a difficult one for your family and your brother.  I think his doctor is the best one to take the lead, after some information from your family.  The doctor can do some blood work and find out what his levels of pain medication are.  If he is injecting it into his veins, the doctor's can also find this out.

I am so sorry that your family is going through this.  There is an addiction forum on MedHelp that you may also find helpful, as well as this one.  Please keep us informed and let us know if there is any other way we can help you.

Best Wishes,
Heather  

[lbradley35]

HI Nalc,

I'm Lori and one of my degrees is in counseling with a specialty in drug and alcohol abuse, my other degree is in criminal justice. So, in the past I have worked with lots of alcohol and drug addicts, who were on parole.  Your brother  has a drug problem.  I'm assuming he is age 18 or over?  He is only making his pain worse  by the use of these two deadly drugs, especially when used in combination. I know this sounds harsh, but unless he is will to voluntarily admit himself into a rehabilitation facility....and most alcohol/drug and users are in denial about their problem. The only thing you can do is when you know where he is at, or steals from you and/or has drugs on him....call the police. In most instances, the individual always becomes combative with the police. At that time you can request, (if a judge doesn't do it first) for your brother to be committed to a rehabilitation facility for a mandatory 3 days. AT that time, he will checked by a physician and a psychiatrist.

We all have pain with our MS, but we are not all on those class 2 narcotic drugs. If he is going to a pain specialist, then I would call the physicians office and let them know about the situation. Alcoholic and drug addicts all do three of the same things: Lie, cheat,.and steal. They are very good at manipulating family members and friends to get you to believe what they want or to give them what they want. Unfortunately, it takes some people years to hit rock bottom before they are willing to change, and then some people never hit the bottom.

I know what it is like to deal with individuals with these problems, and I know it has to be even harder when it's a family member; but it's what he needs. Like most people with MS, we deal with our anger, pain, and grief in different ways and it sounds like your brother is masking his MS with drugs.  You are in a very difficult position and if you would like to talk further about this in private...send me a private email. This is why I gave up being a counselor, because you try and try to help these individuals and sometimes you can't.  It's heartbreaking and I worried over my clients because I gave them the help and resources they needed to change and yet so few did.  I had to let go for my own sanity.

Let me know if I can help you,
Lori

[doni54]

Hi nalc, and welcome to the forum.  I am so sorry you are going through this and also sorry that your brothers pain from MS has brought him to this point.

I agree with both Heather and Lori, their suggestions were great.

Please take care of yourself and I pray for a resolution to this situation for you,your family and your brother.

doni

[patientx]

From what you describe, your brother clearly has an addiction.  Your desire to help is admirable.  But keep in mind you cannot force an addict to do anything; the will to change has to come from him.  Yes, you can have him involuntarily committed for a few days, but this alone is unlikely to start recovery.

Lbradley35 mentioned she was a drug counselor and offered help; I would take her up on this, or talk to an addiction counselor.  Such people really know what they're talking about.

[Lulu54]

Dear NALC,
First let me tell you how sorry I am that you and parents are going to be facing some tough times ahead with this problem.  Lori has written great advice on the addiction side of your brother's problem.

Please make sure that your parents know the serious nature of this problem.  My concern is that your parents would prefer to dismiss the problems or overlook them because your brother does have a serious medical issue with the MS.  If he and his friends are using your parents to fund their addiction, my big concern is for their own safety.  Desperate people, which addiction can cause, are capable of doing desperate deeds when looking to continue their habits.  

Neither you or your family are schooled in intervention and I would not want this to endanger any of you.  The advice to enlist the help of his doctors and/or the police is probably the safest way to approach him.

be well and be safe, Lulu

[young at heart]

NALC,

WELCOME, IT SADDENS ME THAT YOUR BROTHER HAS BECOME ADDICTED TO

THE MEDS WHICH WERE PRESCRIBED TO LESSON THE PAIN AND HELP HIM

WITH A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.

YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN FANTASTIC ADVICE,IS YOUR BROTHER ABUSING HIS MEDS

OR IS HIS FRIENDS ABUSING THEM?

I HAVE A NEPHEW IN PRISON FOR 5 YEARS DUE TO MED ADDICTION(NON PRESCRIBED FOR HIM) HE'S 21.

I AM ON A FORM OF MORPHINE (8MGS DILAUDID)AND OXY  4 TIMES A DAY, BUT I DO NOT ABUSE THEM NOR DO I.PLUS A TENS UNIT.

I KEEP A REGULAR SCHEDULE AND DON'T MISS IT.

THESE MEDS AREN'T BY CHOICE,BUT NEEDED TO WALK AND TAKE CARE OF MY CHILDREN.

DOES YOUR BROTHER SEE A PAIN MANAGEMENT DR? IF SO HAVE THEY EVER DONE A TOXICOLOGY REPORT.

MY NEURO PRESCRIBES MY MEDS, BUT CHECKS REGULARLY AND IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR  HIM TO CALL AND HAVE ME COME IN FOR A PILL COUNT,MANY WOULD GET AFFENDED,BUT I RESPECT HIM FOR DOING THIS.HE HAS MY BEST INTEREST AT HEART.

MS DOES CAUSE PAIN,BUT I'M PUZZELED WITH YOUR BROTHERS DR.PRESCRIBING  MORPHINE.

I HAVE MS BUT ALSO AN INCURABLE NERVE DISEASE IN THE LUMBAR.

YOUR BROTHER NEEDS INTERVENTION,BUT FROM THE PROPER SOURCE,TRAINED EXPERTS.I'VE SEEN FIRST HAND WHEN AN ADDICT IS CONFRONTED MY FAMILY MEMBERS.

MY HEART GOES OUT TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

T-LYNN