Posted by Mike L (216.67.122.253) on November 11, 2000 at 00:38:10:
In Reply to: at what cost in the long term? ex-junkie! NT posted by sailpappy on November 07, 2000 at 07:48:54:
What do you consider "in the long term". 10 years of clusters and the last 6 1/2 chronic with little or no end in sight. I think the long term is here. When I started this therapy I was warned that I might be on these meds the rest of my life. I read a very interesting book that had a chapter plus more about the long term use of narcotics. Back when opium was legal and availible in most any store many people became addicted. Since the main intention back then was for pain relief and nor for getting high people usually kept the dosage at a point of reducing and and perhaps a little extra to feel good. Many of these people were well to do and kept themselves clean and worked every day, supported their families and ther was no indication whatsoever of a shortened lifespan. When opium became illegal the Italian Mafia came in and supplied many with heroin. I read many interviews about problems starting because of dirty injections and impure cuts. Some are still alive today and living fine on methadone tereatment. The side effects I had from other meds included sever halucinations, chronic vomiting, a medicine induced form of some desease that would cause me to black out shortly several times a day, not to mention even worse fatigue the the clusters alone gave me and neverending blood tests for liver and many other problems the meds caused. After being on methadone for over 3 years with little or no side effects I would have to say the long term use of this seems better for me then anything else I have tried. Because of my experiance with this type of pain I have become more tolerant and caring of others and a much better father and husband then I ever was before. No not due to the narcotics rather due to the intense pain and the eventual relief from it. I just keep reading post of chronic Chers who go on for 20-30 years with little or no relief and think if I do nothing then I already know what the long term will probably hold for me. Thanks Mike L