Exaggerated fear of addiction on this site

Thinking back, I can remember exactly what motivated me to post.
I recall seeing a posting by a new member, a young guy, who was very depressed, even hinted at suicide, yet was emphatic about not taking meds because of possible addiction to them.
I've read posts saying "I can't sleep, can't get through the night but don't want to take ambien cause i might get addicted to it", etc., etc., not to mention a similar number of chronic pain sufferers who stoically put up with pain rather than risk addiction.
And I'm not suggesting by taking meds, they will solve or cure anything...i'm not that naiive.
I just believe if science has invented something that will alleviate a particular troublesome symptom and it can be done safely, then it shouldn't be dismissed as a result of fear tactics.
The short term help they provide may indeed be much greater and important than the potential for long term abuse.
(note the word: may)

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justsignmeupalready said:
Im addicted to xanax and happily so. If it keeps me reasonably sane and I have them, why would I want to stop taking them. The dont intterere with my functioning they, they allow me to function. The only reason it is a big deal is becasue docrs dont want to get sued, and becasue the substances are watched closely by the government so doctors are afraid to prescribe.

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I agree with you JSMUA.....I too have been on xanax for GAD and depression for many years and never go up on the dosage. In fact I have reduced it to a small amount, and my pdoc has given me a letter he wrote to my doctor that I should stay on xanax, I am a low risk for abuse since I do not take illegal drugs, very low alcohol use, and do not seek out other drugs.
Quality of life is indeed very important, and this drug helps me to function without increasing the dosage.
Olivia

"Holy $ht, it seems every other post is about a fear of addiction to tiny doses of benzos, sleep aids, painkillers or even antidepresants.
And, there are all kinds of alarmist warnings posted that, frankly support or promote this to be true.
This site is filled with comments like "I feel like ****** but I don't want to take any meds cause I don't want to get addicted to them"
I simply don't see how all these "warnings" are helpful to people who can really benefit from the positive effect of medication.
I think there's an unbalance here that may be preventing people who otherwise have no alternative other than (temporary) med therapy. gtr"..........................................

*********** the words Exaggerated and Addiction**********

1st : Its wonderful that people have this "respect" or "fear." If I didn't, I would've been dead long ago.

2nd: Medication does save lives, there are many of us here that will atest to this. Therapy and antidepressants saved my life.

3rd: Family history; generations of drunks who couldn't put the bottle down. Generations of rx abuse, turned meth abuse turned "whatever" created the high abuse.
Several family members have died to do addiction.....and there are more that aren't far from it. A few that are in prison for life. I wish with all my heart that ALL of them would have had an EXAGGERATED FEAR of addiction.

4th: Drug addiction, physical abuse & sexual abuse go hand & hand in our family....generation after generation.

5th: Do I have an Exaggerated fear (respect) of addiction?? You bet your life I do!! I'd be an idot not to. And I continue to shared this reality with my children.

Do I take medications for severe depression, dibilitating pain, ect...? absolutely. However, each doctor is aware of this family's history and only one of them write rx.

Please, please.....lets continue this EXAGGERATED fear/ respect for addiction. Each rx is researched, I ask for this boards experience and the doctors knowledge.

Does this help to understand the context of my intial reply?

ummmm..... I don't think people are reading my post clearly......I didn't lump alcohol, meth or street drugs into my post. i said "to tiny doses of benzos, sleep aids, painkillers or even antidepresants"....that's all I was referring to for addiciton.
i was implying that popular, generally safe and benign drugs like xanax, ambien, even vicodin and of course ad's, seem to be getting an overly bad rap for being terribly addictive, preventing people who may need them from taking them.
that's all.

gtr,

ok, i understand.

please know, for some people it is that "tiny" dose of a popular rx that has started the addiction process.

it's still much, much better to be very cautious and have all the information.

I found this on a member's blog not too long ago (since it's public, i have no problem reproducing it here:

To david: I know that suicide ends everything, and that it is selfish to do it. However, everyone has a limit. If mine is reached, I'm not sure what I will do.

To ThatLady Thanks for the care. I am not on any types of medication. This might sound weird to you, but I am afraid of meds; they seem so artificial and temproary, and I am afraid of possible bi-effects and addiction. Illusion seems as a good word to describe them.

I iwll look for a few more to emphasize my point>