High at the gym...

[Bearclaw2]

Yesterday I was at LA Fitness gym, at the end of my workout a guy was asking me about the roundhouse karate kicks I do over the machines in between weight training sets. While I was explaining my workout routine to him I had a sense that he might be high on pain meds. He had this calm peaceful look with a faint smile and his eyes were glassy and a little red. I thought I might be imagining things because of my opiate experience and recently getting over a mild relapse. As we talked longer, I became more suspicious he was high. Not wanting to play opiate police and be critical of him I just listened and it came out, a recent neck bone fusion and an old bulging disk. He was a younger man late 20's or early 30's. I sensed more addiction than a need for pain. I could tell deep down inside he knew this so I gently dug deeper. Said he'd been on pain meds for 3 years now, 2 scripts, one for Oxycodone, one for Morphine. He was happy to tell me everything, like he knew there was a problem and wanted every piece of info I could give him. He said he only ran out of meds for one day a couple times and felt horrible. Told me he's really shy and never talks to people but can easily do that when on his pain meds. He soaked up everything I told him, how longer term use can cause the sensation of more pain, that the addict in us can invent pain to stay on meds. He agreed saying he felt like he'd been doing that and never knew what his real pain was anymore. Told me he was sick of staying home, that he wanted to take trips but got nervous about running out of meds. I sensed that God had put me before this man to help begin his journey to freedom. We said goodbye and a few minutes later I saw him walk by in the locker room. His calm smile was less and he had a concerned look, like he found out his best friend was not really a friend, that he was living a lie and it had to stop someday. I will look for him in the future and check on him. I felt sad for him while feeling more grateful for being opiate free myself. I thought some MedHelp members might enjoy reading & relating to this story. Has anyone else seen someone that seems high and you felt compelled to help?        

[selfinduced]

I was not sure how to put into words what you just said, but many months before I was ready to quit, but I knew I had a problem. I kept being put in the situations you just mentioned. I was the one facing the clean person, gently picking their brain without quite admitting I was in trouble. It was all those predisposed  random meetings that collectively gave me the strength to take action. Without fully realizing it, you have impacted someone toady on a much deeper level than you may realize. Please, by all means, keep tapping in with him to see how he is. You may one day become his safe zone. xx

[kyle505]

My wife's friend has gone from legit use to abuse. In fact, she's one of the people I took pills from a few years ago (lets say, without her knowledge). We saw her a couple of weeks ago, and my initial emotional reaction was envy. Then, after about two hours I noticed the tell tale signs of the warm & fuzzies wearing off. But my natural high was still with me and I was so grateful. Nuff said.

[Bkitty]

I do believe the saying "Takes one to know one" now as I have several co workers that I believe are addicts. I can just "tell". Its weird how you can pick that up in others. Makes me wonder if they saw that in me. I havent had a chance to ask them or fish around though. You did the right thing. ~Bkitty

Thanks for yesterday too ;)) I needed that.