Reporting Someone

Hi, I'm Joann.

I have a friend who is abusing her prescription meds in a BIG way. She's mixing pain killers with valium and God knows what else. I have seen her pass out/fall asleep. She has fallen asleep at the wheel and caused accidents. Lately, she has been going to the emergency room and once or twice a week to get pain meds. The only reason I can think of that they haven't reported her as a drug seeker is because she has lupus. Now I know several people with lupus who don't act like her. She will take a pain pill for anything from a headache to bumping her elbow. Her favorite is diluated (spell check?) but she will settle for percocet. She is CONSTANTLY out of it, slurring her words, not making sense, falling asleep, ect.

I know that she is an attention seeker but this is ridiculous. She's on disability and when she abuses pills like this and sees multiple doctors to get the pills she needs it makes me angry because I think she is using the system.

This might not seem like a problem to others, but being around her and seeing how much she takes I know that it is. I know she has a problem and I just don't know who to call. Please help?

Do you have a crime stoppers in your area - you could inform them of how she doubles up on her addictive meds. You should also tell your friend that taking these meds daily can cause liver failure. Does she have family and are they aware of her drug problem?

She only has her mom here and I have mentioned it to her but she is in denial. She's 75 and while she's had enough of my friend's bullcrap she doesn't want to believe that she's taking too many meds. She says "Oh well, she's taking what the doctor prescribes her" BULL CRAP. I've seen her take two percocet and some valium together and I know a doctor wouldn't say that. She thinks I am an idiot apparently because we have some of the same stuff wrong with us and I know the treatment. She will also make up having things. She said she knows she's bipolar from a blood test. Are you serious?!

I'm not aware of a crime stoppers in our area but I will look into it. Someone said to call her doctor but she has so many. She goes all over.

You probably could call her doctor and let him know she doubles/triples on her prescriptions by going to other doctors. Honestly if you take too many of those narcotics her breathing may stop when she's sleeping.

Call the pharmacies that she go's to the pharmacist will contact the doctors etc.....They will red flag her. I know this for a fact. My step son is a pharmacist and my daughter is a tech and I have worked with doctors. She needs help!

Also I wanted to tell you the one pill that you said was her favorite makes you feel like an heroin high. I also had an addiction problem. So I know this also.

That's a good idea gma45. It harder for people to get away with this in Canada although it happens occasionally. Clinics here aren't allowed to give narcotic meds and they have a sign saying this in the waiting room. The ER will give a shot of demerol but then pass you onto to your family doc and they can spot repeat requests.

This is really NONE of your business. Addiction is a personal thing and spirals out of control before you even realise there is a problem. If you REALLY can't help yourself from butting in, have a chat to her doctor.

When she became a danger to other people by getting high and driving around it became my business. She crashed her car (thankfully she hit a parked car this time). I don't care if she doesn't realize she has an addiction, I'm not going to sit by and let her hurt someone else because it's not "nice" to call someone out.

joanna i agree with some other replies. the constructive thing you can do is call or write her primary doctor. he/she can't discuss this her with you but you can advise re what she is doing. then the doc can take it from there. if you know her lupus doc i'd do the same.
i feel u're correct in being concerned re innocent others. you can't change what your friend chooses to do but you can make a road block. i feel it's the responsible thing to do.

yea, i get you...good luck, srry, im not too much helo

I am extremely familiar with drug addiction recovery, techniques associated with them, with pain medications, and prescription pills ,and illegal drugs for that matter, from seminars at Harvard Medical School ,and I can tell you prescription pills are, especially that of high milligram doses associated with pain medications for lupus, the most destructive and easily overdose able drug present in the rehabilitation centers today. With the tremendous amount of patients with prescription medication addictions, our therapists and rehabilitation facilities are very well prepared to treat these patients.
If your friend does not realize she has an issue with drugs, family is not necessary of involve but you could perform an intervention with 5 of her closest friends and family members and find a facility (that will financially aid her with your appeal) or one that's affordable through external means so as to diffuse her financial responsibility to the situation which will make her more likely to go to detox and rehab.
Dilaudid is a particularly striking drug for it inhibits basic motor skills to the point that the individual taking it may feel paralyzed and completely unable to move while still being conscious at very low milligram dosages. For this reason, upon stacks of others, you must act quickly getting your friend the help that she needs. Addiction may be a personal struggle for many which is why it is still a problem with them. There are a very limited amount of obstacles in this world that we can overcome to be better people or to be healthier without the help of friends. By helping your friend you are providing the necessary steps for her to get better and start living a productive life.