I was on prescription opiates for nine years and I did become physically dependent. There’s no way to avoid it. I hit that wall where they weren’t working anymore and I had two choices. Go up again in dosage or see what would happen if I stopped. I managed to get myself off of them on my own.
It was one of the most drawn-out, painful experiences of my life. Right up there with unmedicated post-op pain. It was terrifying to face that and to trust that I’d survive it and it took a long time for me to work up the courage to do it.
I was on opiates for legitimate pain, but my brain reacted as any human brain will after years on opiates. I have all of the sympathy in the world for drug addicts. One you’re hooked, you’re trapped.
And where can they go?
The few *humane* drug treatment programs cost an arm and a leg. The free stuff is horrible (and difficult to get into). Insurance doesn’t always pay for it. (The other issue that I encountered was that they don’t exactly differentiate between the pain patient and the hooker who’s been shooting up for years. We’re all equal garbage and it’s all an ‘excuse’.)
Trump is right. This is going to take a two-pronged approach. Cut off the supply AND help the addicts.
At the same time, we’ve got to help the pain patients. Their suffering matters, too.
(And no. I’m *not* all right now.)
I feel you and I admire you for your courage.