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how many people out of the 2 million addicted to pain killers actually stop using.

how many people out of the 2 million addicted to pain killers in the U.S. actually stop using, whether it be daily weekly monthly yearly or a percentage
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2120911 tn?1350922661
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found nearly 40 Americans die per day One report said 100 /day -- about 15,000 per year -- from overdoses of painkillers such as Vicodin and OxyContin, eclipsing the number of deaths caused by heroin and cocaine combined

bummer


Some will die in that pit of despair never knowing there was a way out.
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Avatar universal
very, very good question.
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2107676 tn?1388973859
1,792,463
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2333944 tn?1342912367
I won't take them again....but I think the 2 million figure is low.   I live out in the boondocks and live kind of a sheltered life, but I know several people who are addicted to pain killers and three people that sell them, and they can't keep enough of them for their "customers".    Two of them asked me to keep getting my prescription filled and sell them my pills.   (I won't be doing that).
If an old woman who lives in the country like I do, knows that many people who are addicted to them....I think the number is much higher than two million.    Just sayin'......
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3112530 tn?1434032033
Thank you for the encouragement and the facts. Yes, I am fentanyl free also for over a month and proud of taking back my life. It will never happen again. People like you are a glowing example of what can be done and I am glad to be among the living doing it! Thanks appreciate the support.
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Avatar universal
I did drugs for 40 years, drank for 25 of them, and went on Suboxone 3 years ago to kick a 10 year Methadone addiction. I also stopped smoking weed during that time, tapered myself off Sub almost 5 months ago and have been clean since.

I didn't stop till things got so bad I didn't want to continue on like that and in my experience most people don't. I've had enough of the high life and the lows that go along with it to last me the rest of mine and am happy with the way things are now. I've outlived most of the people I ran with and have led a charmed life, but leading a charmed life involves knowing when not to press your luck and to quit while you're ahead.
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1801781 tn?1461629469
I promise it can be done.  You just have to start the journey and keep going to get to the other side.  Easy???  Nope!  Fun?? Nope! But, nothing worth doing is easy.  I stay clean a day at a time and that is all I can ask for and all I expect.  
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3112530 tn?1434032033
Now that is something to be proud of!!!
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1801781 tn?1461629469
I did 173 days ago and will never go back!
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3112530 tn?1434032033
I guess I am one of the people who had to stop using. I started on Fentanyl 50mcg in Jan of 2012. My family doctor who knows my degenerative joint/disk disease knows my history but this is not his area of expertise. I was in pain after my surgeries and could not reach my orthopedic doctor or pain management team. My family doctor who I know for 25 years recommended fentanyl with morphine 15 as breakthrough pain relief. By June of 2012, I had NO IDEA of what this medication was doing to me. I was down to 108 pounds from 150lbs. When I looked in the mirror one day, it scared the HELL out of me! I looked like I was dying and probably would have if I kept up this medication. This combination of medications affected my digestive tract and I developed pancreas problems. That was enough for me and I HAD TO TAKE CONTROL. Now I understand what my family doctor was trying to do and that was help me with the pain issues. He did what he could but the side effects outweighed the health issues.
On June 12,2012, I stopped the Fentanyl patch 50mcg cold turkey and stopped the morphine on June 25th, 2012. I read up on the withdrawal symptoms and knew what to expect. I knew what I had to do to gain my health back again and wad determined to do this before these drugs killed me. Fear is what made me quit when I realized how much control these drugs had over my mind and body. Heavy dosages of vitamins, hydration and I had to take an enzyme recommended by my GI doctor to get my pancreas working again properly. The only medication I took for the withdrawal was diazipam 1/2pill (5mg) as needed to help with the restlessness and sleeping. I also went back to taking Gabapentin/Neurontin to help with my nerve issues. I stopped the Gabapentin because I was dumb enough to think that this medication was not helping but this medication did help me through the withdrawal symptoms. Yes, it was a rough road but I had to take control of my health and life again when I saw how these drugs were killing me. It was the fear that made me do this and what ever it takes to keep yourself focused on getting off these drugs because you are not aware of how these drugs affect your mind and your body. These drugs work on the brains perception of pain but have many side effects. The withdrawal was a rough one, I will not lie but with the proper guidance and proper health medications, it can be done and I have done it and will never go back to using Fentanly again. Fentanyl is 8 times stronger than morphine and there is not much help from the medical community about how to get off this drug so read up and educate yourself on how these drugs take control of your life, mind and body. I have been off these medications for over a month now and gaining weight, have energy, clearer thinking, sleeping better and have an appetite once again to want to eat food. I took back my life out of fear and stayed the course because I had to. Yes I had help from my caregiver and support from family friends but I knew I had to do this alone to gain control of my life once again.
Read up on the damage people complain about. Educate yourself on how many people want to stop but their doctor just prescribes one more pill just because they complain about pain symptoms. Doctors can only treat what you tell them but many people are not aware of the side effects of what these drugs do until it is too late. I have had 5 surgeries, metal put into my back to help correct the bone degeneration and had to have the metal removed 5 years later due to complications from the metal. I have continued problems with my condition and may require more surgeries, another nerve block or more cortisone shots but no more pain medication like what I was on. I have an orthopedic surgeon and a pain management team that I trust after doing much research to find the right doctor to treat my condition and trust this team. They have done me some good and it was not with heavy drugs.
Yes, I am one of those who quit and glad I did and have control back again of my life. I got one hell of an education after finding out the side effects of what these drugs did to my body and now that I understand how much control they take over your life I am Fentanyl clean, morphine clean and seeing positive results in my health again. Yes, I am one of those people who stopped using and it can be done and needs to be done when you realize how these drugs affect your daily life and body. Don't let this happen to you! Understand and educate yourself on these drugs and the side effects. For what ever it is worth, I hope I answered your post.
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495284 tn?1333894042
COMMUNITY LEADER
Why do you ask?
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Avatar universal
Only the ones who really want it.
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