Effective Drug Rehabilitation

by scomedy

Question by Keeping The Faith: I have a friend,5-6months pregnant, taking strong narcotic pain medication.She feels it’s safe,how can I help?
I’m familiar with the signs of addiction and she has them all, including denial. She went through 33 Lortab 10′s in less than 5 days, and this is just what she has let me know about. By her report her doctor said she could take the Lortabs and Narco’s and they wouldn’t pass through the placenta! That she just needs to stop two weeks before her C-section is scheduled. Even pointing out the obviousness’s of why it would behoove her to stop 1. so her and baby don’t test positive and 2. so baby’s not in detox. Had zero effect. She may have legitimate pain.

So did I after getting pregnant 6 months after I broke my back.. and then carrying my son the full term, restricted to bed due to back nerve and disc damage..And..I was never offered a pain med. by a doctor once. But I know Doctors cam be real different too!

She gets little prescriptions that say ‘as needed’ in case CPS, who are in her life due to other issues regarding her abusive-divorce-in-progress-husband.(not babes Daddy)

But, if the baby comes early, at her current progression, She(baby) will be born an addict and go through a painful detox.

So, would giving her information regarding the damage she is doing right now to the infant, whatever that is? She admits today it takes more to help with her ‘pain’, I gently reminded her as I’m a prescription addict in recovery, how addictive they are, and maybe she should get help. If she absolutely must take them to greater and greater levels the fetus is biologically better off if she got on a Methadone Maintenance program until it is born….

I am going to have to walk away from this soon, with prayer and love, and give her to God. I do not feel I am reaching her and probably just pushing her away. But I just wanted to hear if anyone else has any helpful, and not ugly (please) possible solutions?

Best answer:

Answer by ☠Mandi Due 4.11.2010!☠
Wow that’s a bit excessive. I was given a prescription of 15 Lortab 5 mg at 20 weeks. I am now 28 weeks and still have 3 left. I really do take them as needed. My doctor told me that occasional use of a narcotic pain killer during pregnancy is fine, as long as it’s not overused, or used for an extended length of time.

I will however say though, that I HATE pain pills, and try not to take them whenever I can avoid it. I lost my friend to an oxycontin addiction. (She’s not dead, but she’s no longer the friend I knew and loved. the drug stole her), so I do know how you feel. She too became addicted while she was pregnant. Convincing herself that it was justified because the doctor’s knew about her “pain”. I wont go into the whole 8 year drama with you, but just let me tell you, the only thing you can do, is get out now. I tried for YEARS to convince her she had a problem. I even called her doctor, and they took her off her meds for a year. In which time she would just buy them illegally. She now has found another doctor who is willing to give them to her.

How they don’t see it I will never know. Her problem is so severe, I have literally watched her fall asleep with her face in a sandwich covered in mayonnaise. I couldn’t take it anymore, and even though I loved that girl like a sister I had to get away. There’s nothing you can do hun. I know people like to think their is, but an addict is an addict is an addict…. The only person who can change them is themselves.

My friend even lied to me for a year. Typical addict. I thought she was clean, but she was hiding it. As for what she is doing to her baby. Honestly I would say report her. Maybe that will force her to clean up her act and comply with CPS. If she doesn’t, sorry to say, but that child is better off in a home with parents who don’t abuse drugs.

Good luck. This a tough situation, and I don’t envy your position.

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