Replies to '08/29 Secret Lives of Single Moms'

As I read your letter I flashed back through the last 5 years of my life. I went through almost exactly what you are going through now. What you need to know is it is possible to quit and it is possible to have a healthy, happy life after the painkillers. I'll give you the edited version of my fight with the drugs because the full length would take hundreds of pages. I grew up in a family with one parent that had never done drugs and one that was a severe addict. My mother has used drugs and alcohol my whole life and I kept my distance from them because of her. When I was in my early twenties I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I had numerous surgeries and was prescribed painkillers to help with the pain. I started with a half a vicodin a day to 15-20 percocet and finally oxycontin. This progression happened over a time period of only a year and a half. During that time period I lost my job, my home, the respect and trust of my family and my friends and found myself in the middle of a custody battle for my then 6 year old daughter. I knew I had to quit for myself and most of all for my daughter. I went through with-drawls (10 days) which was very hard, and then went through the emotional part of it for the next year. (I believe the reason it took so long to get through the emotional with-drawls is because I was afraid to get help.) I moved away from the town I had lived in my whole life because I had to. I had to change everything about my life. I moved closer to my family and fought the 2 year custody battle and got full custody of my daughter. We have been together now for 2 years I have been clean for over 4 years and slowly but surely have gained the trust of my family back. I am currently in nursing school and hope to work in a drug and alcohol treatment center. I still see a counselor and so does my daughter. I have changed my whole life style and that is what has kept me clean. My focus is no longer on escaping it is now on my daughter and being the healthiest mom I can be. I don't know if any of this will help you?? I just want you to know that you can do it. It is not easy, but you can beat it and you won't believe how sweet life is sober. I know that sounds corny but I am a completely different person and even though I always thought I was doing a great job high I wasn't. I missed 2 years of my life and my daughters. Fight for your daughter and fight for yourself!!!!!

I totally relate to you and to Stephanie.  I had a 2 year long percocet addiction.  Interestly, I went to Florida Detox, which is only 3 hours from where I live.  This is the facility that Dr. Phil sent Stephanie too.  I had the opportunity to meet Stephanie while I was there.  We detoxed around the same time.  I happen to know that she has been clean for about 4 months now.  I, too have been clean for 4 months.  It is so wonderful to have my life back.  I honestly feel better now than I ever have.  Trust me, the price you pay to get clean is far less than the price you will pay if you continue down the path that you are on.   I was at a point in my life before detox that I simply could take no more, I had to do something, I had to get help.  Thank God I found Fl Detox.  I have not had one single craving, or one temptataion and I no longer have a drug controlling my every move.  Please check out Fl Detox website and do whatever you have to do to get the money together.  Borrow it (which is what I had to do), beg for it, whatever, but you have to get help.  It is not something you can do on your own.  Whatever you do, DO NOT GO TO A METHADONE CLINIC.  While I was at FL Detox, I met many, many people who were detoxing from Methadone, (my sister detoxed from Methadone too) If you think you have a problem with Vicodin - Methadone is much much worse.  The people that were there detoxing from Methadone had done exactly what you just mentioned.  They thought they were doing the right thing my going to a clinic to get off of some other drug, then were then addicted to the methadone.  It is much harder to come off of and the withdrawals from Methadone are severely worse than Vidodin.  Check out the website www.floridadetox.com.  Feel free to call there and ask to speak to the nurse - she will spend as much time on the phone with you as you need answering questions, etc.  The entire staff there is absolutely wonderful.  Please do something or you WILL end up dead.         

I am addicted to oxycontin. I went to my local hospital & after 3 days they told me they couldn't take me in the rehab/detox program because I don't have insurance. I have been doing research online on how to detox. To make a long story short (too late) I found a site that has a lot of helpful info. It's www.Heroin-detox.com Don't let the site name fool you. There are many people there who are/have detoxed from painkillers. You may want to try it. With the info from that site, I have gotten myself from 160-180 mgs a day to 10-20 mgs a day. Feel free to email me if you need to talk or if you want the info I have collected on the ways to detox. You are NOT alone. email: 3peasnapod@highstream.net I check my email every other day or so.

I am a female about 25 years old though...and I am addicted to Oxycodone...This is something new to me...I never did drugs and never had a drink.  I tried to stay strict with my life because I have addiction genes from my mother and father.  I started taking Oxy for pain and after awhile I got hooked on it.  Its actually been an on and off thing.  I didn't have the money to get it off the internet, a relative was in the house and she had the medicine.  She didn't know that I had this problem.  At this moment I am making plans with my counselor to start going to NA meetings in my city. I do live in new york city and there are lots of options, but, I am terribly embarrassed.  My family is also very judgemental.  I don't totally agree with Methadone because I know of a person that gets high off of Methadone pills.  I never understood how they would get a person off a drug with another drug.