Paddy,

Thank you so much for sharing such a personal part of your life. It is wonderful that you feel safe enough here to be able to share. Your words paint such a perfect picture of what you went through. I am sure that there are many here who share similar experiences & hopefully sharing this may even be able to stop someone who may not be there yet, but just in the starting phases of addiction.

It is possible not to become addicted when prescribed pain medications. I have to say that I have been one of the very lucky ones. It seems that there must be something inside of us that causes it to turn into addiction verses it not going in that direction. I have been on the same high dose of pain medication for over 8 years & have never had the need to increased the dose, nor have I felt a high, or a buzz, or any effect at all except for the pain relief. My pain specialist said that it was because they found the right dose that took care of the pain. I have not even become tolerante of the med requiring a higher dose. However no matter what, anyone using these kinds of meds become dependent on it which just means that they cause withdrawal symptoms if we go off them abruptly. Everyone experiences that, whether addicted or not....it's just how the med works just like some of the AD's or benzodiazipines, etc.

I am so glad that you have your support group NA, & that you are determined to keep from going back to that situation with your life. Keep up the good work & the determination to not go back to that life.

Wishing all who struggle with this, the strength it takes to keep from allowing the addiction to win.