[Garfunkal]

[?]Hi peoples.Trying to find info on long term effects of pethedine, morphine, type drugs, I have a member of my family who has a bad history of drug dependancy, prescription addiction. The person is 55 years of age and has a nice file in every hospital, doctors surgery and medical centre from Newcastle NSW, down the coast to Sydney and onto the riverina. It will not be hard to prove in court that this person is an addict. At the beginning of this year 2006, this person was literally kicked out of hospital because of this addiction. Any information that may help me would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for your time xx

[mpvt]

Morphine itself is actually quite safe on the liver,kidney's ect.Were you have problems with long term heavy use is in the mental aspect.Can you get this person on a methadone program as it sounds like there isn't much else that can be done.....Dave

[paulandjadine]

Hi, I've just seen your quote on drugs.com regarding a family member with recreational/prescription drug dependancy. I'm in what seems an identical situation to you with a family member who is about the same age! If you need support or just a chat with someone else in the same shoes just ask.

[ashhhh999]

If your family member is trying to quit opioids, I would suggest that they find a doctor that is a licensed addiction specialist who can perscribe suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone). Naloxone is just in it to stop people from injecting. Suboxone really helps, it is an opioid itself, but it is long acting and it will stop the cravings and the withdrawals. It costs more than methadone, but there are less restrictions on it so after a month or two they will give you a months supply. If suboxone treatment is too expensive then they should try to get into a methadone treatment center.

[ShannoMSC]

Hi Garfunkel

The more this person 'doctor shops' the harder they will find getting perscribed the drugs is going to be for them. Also, a bit of extra info that may or may not help, the other day i was speaking to my chemist, basically just filling him in on my history so he didnt wonder why every month i was filling a script for Endone, 3x60mg morphine packs and 50 valium, and i mentioned to him how, even though i have 5 joints undergoing fusion, it was really hard to get my rheumo to perscrib me with Endone - he told me that there is a major heroin shortage in NSW and QLD at the moment and all the dealers are trying to get there hands on Endone to make heroin - I think specialists get audited about how many and why and they just dont want to perscribe it to save themselves headaches from the governement.

Maybe you could goto you local chemists and fill them in so they will know not to fill this persons script if they get one? or an intervention?