Has anyone else stolen pain pills from family?...

[pandas42]

I need help in how to stop myself from stealing hydrocodones from my sister... Has anyone else here stolen from family or friends? I feel horrible every time I stoop to doing this but I cannot seem to quit.

I do not have my own prescription because my doctor will not prescribe narcotics. I room with my sister who uses hydros for chronic pain and she uses it very responsibly. Since I have chronic back and joint pain, plus chronic migraines and can't get my own prescription, she has let me use hers if I've needed it because she knows I'm in pain and she never uses her whole prescription in one month.

However, I became addicted even on a low dosage of an overage of only 1 hydro 7.5 per day, because it also helped my mental status. I have chronic depression, anxiety and panic attacks. So I started sneaking into her things to find her pills and one at a time, taking more thinking, "OK -- tomorrow I will stop this -- just one more pill..." I became willing to risk ruining our great sister relationship just to get what I felt I needed so desperately. Well, she found out she was missing some finally.... She hasn't been very good about counting her pills and I got away with this for months. She forgave me and wants to help me because she knows I would normally never do anything to hurt her. But I did it again and she caught me in the act. Again, I apologized and cried and she forgave. Now she's so proud of me because she thinks that this last month I did not take any without her permission....but I did....somewhere around 20 pills... So I've been taking around 3 per day (including approximately 1 that she gave me plus the ones I stole.)

I've stolen 5 pills between yesterday and today! Please someone, what can I do to stop this?!! I just can't confess it again to her....I need to stop this before she finds out again when she runs short at the end of the month.

I feel so rotten. This is so not like me to do this -- to lie, steal and deprive her of some of the pills that she needs for her health problems.

[wardtho]

Just found this after dealing with similar crap. My wife has a neurological disease (SPS, very rare) and takes pain killers and benzos. I'm a sober alcoholic and she asked if it would be a problem. I said no because I knew that I wanted to take the pills. A few months later she ran out and they wouldn't fill her rx. If she doesn't have her meds she has seizures and it can get quite nasty. Our solution was a big 'ol argument where I had no leg to stand on (but when does that stop a drunk?) and then we got a lock box with a key that she keeps on her at all times. I've never looked for the key. It's helped immensely and it's been a year. Best of luck to all of us.

[chubbers]

hey i stole pills from my husbadn for 7 months he has oxys and i would steakl about 15 every 2 weeks form him, yeah and he finally cfaught me bc he wasnt counting bc he got a lot of them at a time now he cant trust me and locks them up but still give me some so i wont go into withdrawal. i hated myself for that and it did put a damper on r relationship so i now how you feel it sucks.

[pandas42]

No problem.... I am sorry -- I tend to be offended too easily. :(  Too thin-skinned I guess!  Thanks -- I do understand what you were saying.

[avisg]

yes i did i think i took every old pill my parents had laying all they way back to about 1978 (why they kept them is beyond me ) .....

[CATUF]

Sorry.  It was a joke.  When I said "I simply accepted the gift of pills that the family members were not aware they were giving," I intended to make it clear that I stole from my family left and right.  There was no such thing as a pill that was safe from me.  I even (i'm not kidding here) stole pills from my dog.

Don't be ashamed of the stealing.  It's simply a symptom of the disease of addiction.  Pay attention, however, to the fact that you are showing a symptom of addiction -- stealing pills is a clear sign of addiction.

Sorry I offended you.

CATUF

[worried878]

It is amazing what you have to say to offend people on here  LOL  nah it happens but I am sure catuf understands...everyone has a different communication style and typing is a difficult way to communicate...things get misunderstood...if a guy keeps emailing me all the time and wont ever call...or keeps texting...he is history!   LOL

[newgirl2708]

From Catuf:
Santa was the family giving gifts...
"Stealing" was reserved for friends...
I too am like you and mizdemanor, if they're there, they're mine and I'll take'm.

[pandas42]

Thanks... I'm probably just feeling sensitive. If I could delete my comment to CATUF I would. Hope I don't offend.

[MizDemeanor]

That post was a satire, honey. I know its hard at first because its hard to admit all of this kind of terrible stuff. It sounds to me like you are similar to me in that if its THERE you will take it. I never could taper at all. I'd just say, oh I'll take these tonight and stop TOMORROW. Tomorrow can never come for you, until YOU want it to.
I have to say that if I hadn't found this board almost a month ago, I'd probably be doing something stupid and illegal to get more (not that I havent before...doc shopping is a big no no federally) I hope you can tell your sister to get those pills and lock them up. If you cannot, eventually either you have to stop or you will either die, or go to jail, or live the rest of your life on a merry go round. I am no expert and I am no saint. Just wanted to put out some thoughts. Good luck on your quest. This is a personal decision for everyone. I'm just glad I stopped before I burned too many more bridges.
Peace.

[worried878]

Not sure but the way I read it was like...duh...most any addict will do this in a heartbeat!"   It is part of the twisted behavior that comes with being an addict...it is just not surprising behavior for people like us who have this disease...I am clean and never stole before til I became an addict.....My values changed..I dont think it was meant to be offensive other than the fact that we all have the potential to do this so we are all have the poatential to be guilty!  It is good reflection...I do not like myself at all for some of the things I have done....but there is not much that will surprise many on this forum on what an addict will do get their drugs

[pandas42]

I'm not quite sure how to take your comments... I'm new on this forum and do not know you so I'm not sure if you're being rude or trying to be humorous in a sarcastic way. (Your comment of: "STEAL from my FAMILY??  OMG  What is wrong with you people?") Anyway, maybe you meant no offense, but to me, reading your comment felt like a slap in the face. I'm hoping it wasn't meant that way.

[CATUF]

I haven't posted in a while, but this caught my eye.

STEAL from my FAMILY??  OMG  What is wrong with you people?

When it comes to family, I did what any good addict would do, I simply accepted the gift of pills that the family members were not aware they were giving.  In an odd twist of the Secret Santa, I went to great pains to make sure the GIVER doesn't find out what the GETTER (me) was getting.

SEALING PILLS?? I saved that for friends and strangers.

CATUF
991

[pandas42]

I've been so bad today... So now that I posted this topic and asked for help, I turned around and stole 3 pills -- just today! I am horrified with myself! I keep telling myself I will stop this right now and since it's the beginning of the month with her prescription, by the end of the month she won't notice a problem if I just STOP right NOW and then I would not have to tell her what I've been doing. Of course, that's if she doesn't count her pills at least for a couple weeks...  I want to ask her to hide her pills somewhere else, but then she'd realize I've stolen and if she finds out I've stolen 8 in the past 3 days..... well I don't want to risk losing my sister as my friend! (Yes...I'm risking that by stealing, I know...) Why am I behaving WORSE after asking you all for advice? I wish I could just run away and hide.

[newgirl2708]

Sad/glad to know we're not alone isn't it? My mom takes quite a few for fibromyalgia...she takes so much she doesn't know how much she's taking..xanax and vics...therefore I go undetected. I'm so sly and smart aren't I? Yeah for me! What an accomplishment...I feel so proud. I sneek in, make an excuse, diversion tactics, lies, waste precious gas, time and effort. Time with my boys...so on and so forth. But, no one knows but me...and now all of you. This is why this is a good place to be. Every time is the last. I swear. As a matter of fact...Just last Sunday after church, I swear it was the last time...I swear...

[lostsoul2]

The only time I stole pills was from my own mother after she had foot surgery.  What a bum!!!  She got Darvocet and hydrocodone.  2 weeks after the surgery she said she only took a few of the hydros and was done with them.  A few weeks  later I ran out of pills and went to her house, knowing she was at work.  Sure enough, an almost full bottle of pills was sitting in her cabinet.  So I rationalized that she would never know they were gone.  I don't think she does yet.  But inside I hate myself and feel so guilty for doing it.  It makes me feel dirty.

[Amanda6900]

I would steal the pills everyday from my husband. Like you he does need them for his back pain and like you he never counted but he was always coming up short, I finally had to confess. I think that was the worst day for me. You are not alone.

[catmagnet]

I'm glad I'm not alone with this, I have stolen pills from my husband and I felt awful about it. 2 or 3 a day eventually leads to several a day, and I'm finding it just about impossible to go off these darn things. Maybe it has to do with the length of time on them. Almost 15 years around the clock I am really ashamed of this and I hate myself for doing it, but I can't stand the withdrawl either. I don't think anyone even knows what an addict I am, as I don't appear to be a "druggie', or maybe I'm just fooling myself. I wish I knew the answer, if anyone could help I would be grateful. I am not a bad person, just a real bad history of addiction. Never been in trouble with the law or in jail or anything like that, but I know I'm just hurting myself:(

[pandas42]

Thank you again to all of you caring people! Your suggestions are helpful and I will try to follow your advice. I've already screwed up today and stolen another pill this morning... Obviously I have a serious problem.  It's so complicated as you know, when there is legitimate physical pain that I need help for. If I do find a doctor that will help me with the pain management, I would turn over my prescription to my sister to give to me as prescribed. But she will have to lock it up or something... I'm too good at finding things.

Someone suggested the health food items for depression, but I'm already on a prescription anti-depressant so I can't used the natural supplements.

Even though I've only taken 2 or 3 per day, I still have a lot of problems when I try to taper off. The restless legs and body aches are awful! I have RLS anyway, even without  w/d symptoms, so I think that's why I have it bad when I taper off.

[pandas42]

suppdawg  -- If I tell a doctor that I've been using my sister's pain killers is it possible that I would get in trouble for that? Would she be in trouble for letting me use them (the ones that she has allowed me to use...)?  I'm afraid to tell anyone and get into legal trouble.

[luvmyfrogs]

i have never stole from family.. NOBOBY in my family uses them regularly.. otherwise im sure i would have.. but i have used people's bathroom and looked for pills in the past, never found any or im sure i would have taken some..

[allaboutmary]

Guilty, guilty , guilty.  I am so ashamed of this but ...I went to pick up my mothers perscription. Found it was cough med with hydrocodone in it.  I bought a bottle of Robitussin and switched them.  I also refilled my mothers darvocet perscription 3 times while she was in the hospital.   I used to be so proud that I was such an honest person.  These pills make you do terrible things.

[Flutterby111]

I stole 2 from my mother-in law, they were vics, My DOC was percs, I was mad, they didn't get me a buzz so I slammed a couple beers, it was noon.  I felt like an a$$.  More because I didn't catch a buzz.  And I had percs, but I was running low....  I'd take them from my dad, but would tell him it was for pain, in hindsight, it was because I was starting to w/d....I was so naive, I didn't know about w/ds until I was in full blown w/ds....dumb

[suppdawg]

If you have legitimate pain the you must find an MD that will realistically deal with your pain. Beyound that you need to make the new guy aware of what has been going on so he can control you in a way that will not let things escalate. When I was a paramedic we would have patients complain that we took their pain meds when we took them to the hospital and kept them.  Every case was investigated an every time it was a family member who took advantage of mom or dad being in the hospital so they took their meds.

Personnally, I would quit CT and if you still have cronic pain in 6 months see a new doc. Make the commitment to only take your meds and only as prescribed.

[determinedmama]

i have taken vicodin for several years, mostly for back pain from a car accident, but then i was addicted to them before i even realized what had happened.  
i started the same way you have, 1 which led to 2 and so on... trust me it only gets worse!! do yourself a favor, stop before you can't, i mean really cant!!
with the amount you are taking your withdrawal symptoms will be short lived and not nearly as intense.the first few days will fell like absolute hell, but once you get past the first few days it will become considerably easier to deal with!!
please don't think i am discrediting your addiction because i know its real, first hand, but where i'm at now and what i now know, i wish i would have known before it got this bad!! i would give anything to go back to taking the amount you take.
look up pill "half lives" on the internet, it will exlain how long it takes the pills ingredients and effects to completely leave your body, i think it will definitely help you on your road to quitting!!
i also used to suffer from migraines, and i didn't realize that vicodin made them worse.
i have also found that migraines can be the contributing factor to back pain and other body pain. but there are some terrific meds exclusively for migraines that work wonderfully, and it usually takes trying several until you find what works for you, but when you find the right one it will most likely relieve all the other symptons that you don't realize migraines cause!!!
also chiropractic care helps tremendously
there are doctors that base their fees on your income, "sliding scale fees"
no income-no charge or your local health dept. can refer you to free or low cost health care.
please research pill half lives and check out your local resources to get medical care tht you can afford!!
also depression can make your body hurt, pain pills will not take that kind of underlying pain away... it only masks it!!
best of wishes to you and the journey which lies ahead of you!!