Many addicts, myself included, after having been clean for many years, are faced with the decisions that need to be made about what types of medication are appropriate for you. Following a car accident, I was prescribed medication for my pain. The affects of the medication were similar to the feeling I had experienced years ago, during my active drug addiction.It was very challenging to take the medication as prescribed. Even more distressing, was the anguish I experienced when I no longer needed the medication. This is a very precarious avenue for many addicts. Things happen in everyday life that may result in the need for medication. You may have a tooth pulled, or fall down and hurt your back, and the next thing you know, you are addicted to your medication, it is gone, and you can’t avoid the temptation of just one more. Do Not Do It!
Protect Yourself
If you are sober and in recovery, and a doctor prescribes pain medication for you, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself.
Be honest tell someone (your sponsor, a friend, anybody). Keeping a secret will backfire on you.
Talk to someone; tell them about your feelings regarding the medication. People in general want to help, especially people in recovery, or people who have experienced the same problems you are having in your life.
Take your sponsor or other reliable friend to the doctor with you.
Tell the doctor you prefer not to take narcotics. There are many dependable narcotic-free medications available today.
If You Absolutely Must Take Narcotics
Have a trusted friend hold the medication for you. This will reduce the temptation to take more medicine than prescribed.
Talk about your feelings with other recovering addicts. Practically all addicts have had to struggle through similar situations. Ask them how they were able to survive without relapsing, and if they did relapse, ask them if it was worth it.
There is a great deal of danger in keeping these feelings to yourself. Do not keep your mouth shut. It is much better to talk about the struggles you are facing with medication, than it is to relapse.
Always Talk About Your Fears!
Fear has power over you until you tell someone. Secrets will keep you sick (an AA cliché) but it is so true. Some cliché’s became clichés because they are true. Take the power out of your fear, talk to someone, preferably someone who has been through the same or similar situation you are facing. Ask for suggestions, and follow them. The only stupid question is the one that hasn’t been asked. Think about it, would you rather suffer through the fear of relapse, the fear of making mistakes and relapse, or take the power away from the fear, put it out in the open and destroy it with knowledge. When you know what to do about it, then it is not scary anymore. Relapse is scary, as it should be, it is dangerous, everyone does not make it back, so prevent relapse at all costs, don’t be embarrassed, don’t worry alone, because after you relapse it’s too late. They’ll all be saying, I wish she would have talked to me.
