Quit using Opiates, Benzos, pills? They hold me together! Really?
The following are real life people who are/were using Opiates, Benzos, or other types of pills on routine basis who decided to quit for a variety of reasons. Information is being provided for you to consider whether or not your opiate, benzo, other pill use is "really working for you" as well as and understanding that if it becomes an addiction in your life, these WILL BE the consequences of continued use in your life! The format for these posts are 1) short demographics of the person, 2) their drug of choice, 3) benefits of using that drug, and 4) the negative consequences that occurred which caused them to want to quit.
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- 20 yr, white man; ACID & ECSTASY; benefits of use: "Makes me feel
euphoric." Reason to quit: "Felony charges for activities surrounding my using." - 23 yr, white man; OXYCONTIN & HYDROCODONE; benefits of use: "Forget about reality & my problems & also means of entertainment." Reason to quit: "Found that my addiction would lead to increase personal and family problems." - 26 yr, white man; BENZOS & OPIATES; benefits of use: "Short term solution to life's problems." Reason to quit: "Returned to or continued to avoid things that caused me pain or guilt." - 26 yr, white woman; HYDROCODONE; benefits of use: "Help me cope with life." Reason to quit: "My family was seeing me going down fast and I couldn't stop." - 26 yr, white woman; XANAX, SOMA, & NORCO; benefits of use: "Pills helped me calm down. Made me feel less wired/cracked out like a crazy person." Reason to quit: "Parents & boyfriend found me sitting in my car passed out from taking too many pills & I don't know why I did that." - 28 yr, white woman; VICODIN & VALIUM; benefits of use: "Takes the edge off of life." Reason to quit: "Due to the fact I have a wonderful marriage & beautiful little girl that I want to be there for." - 29 yr, Hispanic woman; CODEINE; benefits of use: "It numbs the pain. It makes me feel right because my body already needs it." Reason to quit: "Tired of spending money on it. Tired of always having to look for it. Tired of feeling terrible when I can't get it quick." - 29yr, white man; LORCET; benefits of use: "Keeps me normal, & helps block a lot of things I am afraid to think about." Reason to quit: "Becoming more depressed and also have become addicted to pain pills." - 30 yr, white man; VICODINE & SOMA; benefits of use: "Gets me going, helps start my day." Reason to quit: "Drug use increased beyond my ability to hide or control it." - 31 yr, white man; LORATAB, SOMA, ADDERALL; benefits of use: "Makes me numb." Reason to quit: "Had 1st blackout at parent's house and injured my ankle." - 34 yr, white man; VICODINE; benefits of use: "Keeps the pain of my back injury away. More recently, it just kept withdrawal symptoms away." Reason to quit: "My inability to stop taking Vicodin. I began taking them 10 plus years ago for a back injury." - 36 yr, white woman; HYDROCODONE & XANAX; benefits of use: "Makes me feel more energetic & feel like I can get more things accomplished." Reason to quit: "Problems at home. Husband gave me an ultimatum - either leave home or quit using drugs!" - 38 yr, white woman; HYDROCODONE; benefits of use: "makes me feel normal so I can function." Reason to quit: "Family is falling apart and I have no self-esteem." - 38 yr, white woman; HYDROCODONE; benefits of use: "Nothing good anymore, caused me to be mean to the person I love most." Reason to quit: "Lost custody of my 12 yr daughter." |
- 42 yr, white woman; DIET Pills & XANAX; benefits of use: "keep off weight."
Reason to quit: "Couldn't work! Made me miserable and caused me to wind up in looney bins." - 43 yr, white man; DILAUDID; benefits of use: "feel like the stress & problems of life are not a bother to me any more. Makes me feel important, care less about my problems in life." Reason to quit: "Opiate over useage, can't stop!" - 43 yr, white man; OPIATES; benefits of use: "Nothing except changes the way I feel." Reason to quit: "Drug useage is ruining my life." - 45 yr, white woman; OPIATES, SOMA, & Alcohol; benefits of use: "Makes me feel confident - sure of myself; pills make me entertaining & assertive, drinking relaxes me." Reason to quit: "Memory losses, slurred speech, my young child upset; husband gave me ultimatum of divorce if did not quit using all substances." - 47 yr, white woman; FIORICEt & STADOL; benefits of use: "Takes away the pain." Reason to quit: "Dual diagnosis of Rx drug problem & Dissociative Disorder." - 48 yr, white woman; NORCO, VALIUM, XANAX; benefits of use: "It warms me & makes me not feel all of the pain." Reason to quit: "DWI" - 50 yr, white woman; AMBIEN & ATIVAN; benefits of use: "Forget my true feelings." Reason to quit: "Losing everyone in my family; also lying!" - 51 yr, white woman; FIORICET; benefits of use: "Numbs me out to emotional pain." Reason to quit: "Taking to many, lost control; brings me & my family nothing but hurt & pain." - 53 yr, white woman; HYDROCODONE & ALPRAZALOM; benefits of use: "Feel better when I'm not hurting most of the time & anxiety is less." Reason to quit: "Being on so many prescription pain & anxiety meds & taking more than prescribed." - 57 yr, white woman; OPIATES & BENZOs; benefits of use: "Makes me have a feeling of usefulness and self-worth." Reason to quit: "Relapsing on pills, can't stop!" - 63 yr, white man; XANAX & AMBIEN; benefits of use: "relaxes & puts me to sleep." Reason to quit: "My niece & sister-in-law convinced me that I had a drug problem." - 64 yr, white woman; XANAX & VALIUM; benefits of use: "Takes away my anxiety & feelings of depression." Reason to quit: "I could not see my grandchildren ages 5, 7, 10 any longer, & I was fed up w/ myself trying always to be a people pleaser. I was more of a pill popper than a drinker but both ruined my life so far." |
