I have two scenarios in my immediate family where I place blame on the physicians enabling the addictions. First, my 70 year old mother, given Vicodin in 2001 after a hip replacement. She discovered how "even and anxiety-free" it made her feel and convinced her psychiatrist to prescribe it to her for her anxiety issues. She denies she is addicted since her doctor prescribes it. Thing is, it is not her primary care doctor, nor her pulmonologist (for which Vicodin can be very dangerous for the elderly who have breathing conditons). In fact, I believe my mother keeps this information from her PCP's. Regardless, for her psychiatrist to write her refillable scripts (up to 5 refills at a time) for 120 pills a month is irresponsible. He doesn't even see her in theraputic sessions anymore, rather, only requires a monthly 15 minute visit to his office to ask "how are you doing", thus, he can bill her insurance for on-going care. Her breathing condition, "COPD", can be complicated by so many factors that this doctor is not monitoring - such as weight gain (carb munchies from the opiates), suppressed breathing (from the opiates)...all things working against the regime her pulmonologist has her on. I blame my mother, mostly, for being devious about her Vicodin use. However, I blame her board certified shrink the most for not treating her addiction, rather, increasing it. My worry is he will drop dead, Mom will suddenly have no access to the pills and a devastating withdrawl will occur. I certainly can't see her finding another doctor who will re-up her, given no immediate pain issues. Isn't treating anxiety with Vicodin unethical, especially in the elderly??? I've often toyed with contacting him with threats of reporting him. Of course, she could always Dr. shop....which leads me to the next family member...........
He has legitimate physical issues for pain managment and for many years has been on Vicodin. However, he was recently disagnosed with two mood disorders and put on Risperdol & Lexapro. Things were fine until his orthopeadist told him he would have to get future pain meds thru a primary care doctor.
When he couldn't get an immediate appointment, some friend of his turned him on to doctor who would prescribe whatever he needed, as long as he provided a printout from a pharmacy showing a history of any requested Rx use. My family member USED to get Zanex over a year ago and decided he would provide a printout that indicated the Zanex as well as the pain meds. He paid $220 for the office visit, spent under 5 minutes in consultation with this doctor (of course, never revealing he was on Lexapro & Risperdol by his attending psychiatrist - who refused him zanex!) and walked out with 2 scripts for 120 each of Percocets and Zanex. My family member ate those zanex like M & M's and all hell broke loose! He's lucky to be alive, as he can't recall a period of 4-5 days nor where 90 each of the zanex and percs went, other than he must have consumed them. In those days of his stupor, he didn't take his regular meds and the psychotic monster in him came out. None of us can convince him to return to his "good meds", because he feels he doesn't need them any more, that he can manage his issues with the Zanex and without monitored therapy. While he admits he was irresponsible with the Zanex and won't abuse them again, none of us are convinced. He believes he has an easy access (and he does!) to a doctor who requires nothing of him except some cash. Apparently, these kind of doctors abound and with the escalating rise in teen abuse of Rx med's, someone needs to seriously curb the availability made by unethical doctors!
Yvonne & Yvettes addictions are as much their own problem as it is the prescribibg doctor who is not monitoring the use or being more judicious for the reasons they are prescribed to begin with. And if they aren't getting them from a doctor, rather, off the street - that just proves my point further that it's easy for everyone to get them and become addicted!
They were beautiful twin sisters until they started abusing pills. Yvonne says she had the perfect life -- a great husband, nice house and three happy children -- until her introduction to pain pills six years ago. Shortly after, her twin, Yvette, picked up the habit too. Their lives have spiraled out of control. Their younger sister, Maria, wants to confront her sisters and make them take a hard look at what their drug abuse is doing to their kids and the entire family. You won’t believe the extreme behavior the Dr. Phil cameras capture in their home. Is one of the sisters pressuring the other to keep up her pill popping? The women live with their mother and Yvonne's three children. Find out why Yvette's daughter only sees her on the weekends. And, Yvette and Yvonne have a rocky relationship with their mother, Debbie. Why do they say she hates them? And, what does Dr. Phil say that upsets Yvette so much, she turns away and breaks down. You don't want to miss the first part of this disturbing story, and find out why this could happen to you! Share your thoughts, join the discussion.
