Help me understand why ppl smoke painkillers

[Whyhow7478]

I just lost a dear friend. Autopsy is pending. Going thru his things we found foil with black residue lines and cut straws with burnt ends. My friend would pop painkillers in the past but I never expected this. I don't understand how this progression happened. I didn't even know smoking them was possible. I'm searching the internet regarding the description of what we found and all I keep coming up with is smoking oxys. I don't understand. I thought they were made so they couldn't be altered. What are the signs of someone smoking painkillers? Are they able to detox without hospitalization? Any help would be appreciated. He died in his sleep. We are just so lost. Thank you.

[Whyhow7478]

Thank you. I don't think there was heroin involved but I obviously knew nothing.

[Whyhow7478]

Thank you. Your post was helpful. I'm just wondering if I missed something. I didn't even know you could smoke pills. Someone told me that it becomes less traceable if the person smokes it. Is that true?  I have so many questions and zero answers. Do you know where I can find a good article on this?

[clean_in_ks]

Sorry to hear about your friend.  It's obvious you are searching for some answers.  The autopsy will surely provide more answers.  Yes, the paraphernalia found is indicative of smoking pain pills.

Progression happens because with addiction....you require more and more and more....it only gets worse.....never better.  Maybe this definition will help:  
"Addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disease.  Brain imaging shows that addiction severly alters brain areas critical to decision making, learning, memory and behavior control"
You can learn a lot more at http://www.hbo.com/addiction/

Yes, many of us are able to detox without hospitalization.  But no one can convince an addict it's time to quit.....we end up in one of 4 places if we are addicts:  in jails, an institution, dead or in recovery.

Thank you for posting....it is so tragic you lost your friend to addiction....maybe this post will touch someone considering getting clean before it's too late...
Blessings to you~

[snrich7420]

Honestly I use to smoke pain killers but it was after I started smoking heroin. If I could only get the pills I would smoke em. That wad 3 yrs ago tho Idk if u can now. So sry for ur loss