As a child, my blond, blue eyed boy was happy, gregarious and the light of our seemingly perfect families lives. He grew up in a loving family with an involved Stay At Home Mom, an attentive Father who worked hard to provide a nice life, in a town with nice neighborhoods, good schools and a younger sister who adored him. Now, at at age 21 he is an IV drug user addicted to the powerful painkiller Oxycontin and in his second treatment center in a year. His addiction and actions the past few years has torn our family apart. His … Continue reading →

Not all overdoses of prescription drugs are recreational; some are quite intentional. Here’s the story of my son’s suicide. Julian was 20 when he died. He’d battled depression since the onset of puberty. He’d been in and out of treatment several times. He was on various prescribed anti-depressants at any given time. As a young man, ashamed about his condition, he fought the idea of having to be medicated, even though – when he complied with his doctor’s instructions, and took his meds regularly (i.e., every day at the prescribed dosage without combining with alcohol) – his symptoms abated, and … Continue reading →

It is so heartbreaking when these kids think accessible drugs cannot hurt like the illegal ones do. I am “lucky” in that my kids got to see first hand what prescription drugs can do to someone, as my husband’s mom has to be monitored daily with her drugs. Her doctor keeps prescribing pain killers, depression meds etc. We finally got the drug store to call us whenever she gets a new prescription. She does not intentionally get addicted but we find that with older people they take what their doctor says as gospel. If he prescribes it, she takes it. … Continue reading →

I had a back injury that led to removal of 2 discs and fusion. Before my surgery I was given a prescription of Oxy with a warning very addictive. Funny he still gave it and many more to me. Couple years ago new injury that caused complications with the old. More powerful scripts given. My pain management doctor became my drug dealer and thought she had my best interest at heart. Ha!!! Almost died from an overdose where they didn’t think I was going to make it-called family. Yes I think the doctor’s are pyrahhia’s!  Nanci Miller nancimiller86@yahoo.com