guitardude
Old Hand
Reged: 09/11/02
Posts: 421
Loc: midwest
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"Both an addict and a CP patient, dependent on opiods, will go through withdrawal if the drug is removed...however the addict will not go to work, will bounce a check and steal your walkman to get his drug.the CP patient will call his doctor or the OP for overnight delivery, and wait.....THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE."
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You are of course assuming the CP patient has the money, or the caring doctor to enable him to get his required meds. What if he is broke and going through withdrawls? Does the lack of funds change the CP patient into a junky? I've never bounced a check for my meds, but I have had to post date them in the past. Not all chronic pain patients have the resources to just get online, or call their doctor to get more meds. And I'll tell you something, there are lots of junkies who hold down jobs, have plenty of cash and don't need to steal. Money is not the difference. The difference is CP patients are in pain from a physical ailment and addicts want to get high.
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"once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right."
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phinny
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/09/02
Posts: 247
Loc: Canada
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Man, ya step out for a few weeks, and look what happens. I have been away for a while, and just can't let this go.
Quote:
In layman's terms, dependence and addiction can take on the same definition. In the medical field, they are two different things.
What world do you live in? I just came back from a stint "with the best team of psychiatrists and psychologists in town" who forced me to repent my sins to "addiction councillors" for daring to say that I needed proper medication to live, and rejecting their stance that "all we need to do is try a new battery of antidepressants on you" coupled with "close your eyes, take a deep breath, blow out slowly and while keeping your eyes closed, tell me what you hear" snap-out-of-it bullcrap. Not one GD person in the whole debacle understood the difference between dependence and addiction. That is in large part what is wrong with our medical community and our laws. I was a fool to be honest and straight up with them. Now I've been labelled a "drug seeker", and what pitifull amounts of opiates I was on, were suddenly cut off as a result. You are trying too hard to make everyone see "your point". I see it very clearly. You don't see your very thought process is the root of the problem. I guess I'm a "junkie" - not that there's anything wrong with that!
Prettyday, your note almost made me forget what I was going to say. I can see why posting to something like this (is this now officially a flame war?) can make you feel the way you do. It has drummed up similar emotions in me, considering my most recent nightmare with the medical community. I am unable to talk as openly about this as you have, but much of your story is very similar to mine. You explained it so well (except about the girl stuff) I feel don't need to. As a matter of fact, there seems to be a piece of me in many of the stories.
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Sherman, set the way-back machine to 1970.
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guitardude
Old Hand
Reged: 09/11/02
Posts: 421
Loc: midwest
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Phinny, who are you directing this post to? I for one don't see a flame starting. I just didn't like the notion that the difference between the two was cp patients just "call their doc" or "pay their OP" whereas "addicts" steal and bounce checks. It is not as cut and dry as that and everyone here should know this....... I certaintly am not calling anyone a junkie.
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"once in a while you can get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right."
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antique
Banned
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 215
Loc: east coast
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Phinny, that's what I said kinda. We (medical community included) lack clear definitions that distinguish these terms AND I think that is a big problem. We (society) love our labels and a lot of times the labels make all of the difference on how society views things. Also, if you have a label that becomes associated in the mind of some critical mass of people with something negative, then you're either gonna have to expend a lot of effort to reform society's view of that label or come up with a new one.
When did the term "drugs" become associated with something bad? When did people start to use the term "medication" instead of "drug" to refer to something that was obtained through a legal subscription?
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phinny
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/09/02
Posts: 247
Loc: Canada
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Hey there GD,
If you want to know who I was talking to, look at "[re: . . .] above the post.
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Sherman, set the way-back machine to 1970.
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phinny
Enthusiast
Reged: 04/09/02
Posts: 247
Loc: Canada
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Hello Antique,
You are so right - society loves to label and stereotype. And I agree with your feedback for the most part, but the definitions, terms, and criteria have been made (reference the DSM and Nida publications for example), it is clear and understandable. However it never ceases to amaze me how far behind the legislators and the medical community seem to be (i.e., my last encounter with psychiatrists/physicians/counsellors) - it is infuriating, it's tragic, and it's unacceptable. I was labelled an addict from the very beginning, and there was nothing I could do from that point on. It will undoubtedly stick to me for years to come.
Many folks here made some important points. Regardless of the anger and emotion that was predictably incited, it is important we all keep talking, debating, communicating, and educating each other. Thanks to Maria for speaking out.
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Sherman, set the way-back machine to 1970.
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antique
Banned
Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 215
Loc: east coast
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Phinny, I don't have access to the DSM or Nida Pubs. Are they accessible online?
How do these sources define these terms and what are the differences?
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