In earlier posts, I provided background for a problem that has captured headlines in recent years, namely the problem of addiction to opioid pain medication. My reason for providing background was to make clear that addiction to opioids is not a problem confined to high school kids or back-alley junkies, but rather cuts across all age groups and socio-economic divisions.
Moreover, the problem of prescription drug addiction blurs the dividing line between illicit use of substances and the appropriate use of medication; appropriate use that can become problematic over time. And while there are people, policies, or companies that can be blamed for some of the increase in opioid dependence, a number of cases arise from reasonable efforts by doctors or patients to relieve pain and suffering.
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Don DeLong
12:08 pm on
October 6th, 2010The withdrawal from Zanax was one of the most difficult experiences of my life. My doctor wrote the script to help me sleep. The problem was I had to keep increasing the dose in order for it to work. Zanak was created to help control panic attacks. Now primary doctors hand it out for just about anything related to emotions. Advice: Find a better way to cope.
You are absolutely right. Many people assume that alprazolam (the generic name of Xanax) is the appropriate treatment for anxiety, and that SSRIs are only ‘anti-depressants.’ In reality SSRIs are the proper treatment for anxiety disorders (or SNRIs), and medications like alprazolam are best limited to short-term use, or in some cases for the longer term if taken very infrequently.
Vicki Wiesner
3:50 pm on
October 13th, 2010My son 23 y/o son is a heroin addict. He has spent most of his life in rehab or sober living. He had 2 years clean and went out again. This time our primary physician gave him suboxone. He also told us to get a prescription for Xanax to help with the withdrawls. All looks good…he is happy and so are we. Long story short. Off the heroin, taking the suboxone and supplimenting it with his new addiction to Xanax…
He has gone back to the lies and deceit and no longer attends meetings. We told him to pack his things today…breaks my heart. I can’t blame the doctor for the Xanax addiction.When treating a heroin addict what can be given if anything for anxiety?
To be frank I MIGHT blame a doctor in that position for the Xanax addiction, depending on how things were handled. Alprazolam (the generic name of Xanax) is very addictive, particularly in people in early recovery– for reasons I’ll describe in my next blog post, but in short because of difficulty living ‘life on life’s terms.’
I’m sorry about your son, and about the difficult actions your are being forced to take. I have known many parents in a similar position over the past few years. Realize that you truly have no choice; if you prevent your son from the consequences of his addiction he will never get to the point of wanting or needing treatment, allowing him to die slowly at home. I understand that horrible fear that something will happen if he is ‘put out,’ but there are consequences to inaction as well. I wish you the best.
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