Canadian and American?

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends in CIP,

I disagree heartily with this statement.

In Canada women may be more prescribed than men but NOT IN

the United States.

In fact women are undertreated not only for pain, but impending

MI's (heart attacks), and the like.

The insanity of "addiction versus tolerance" for those in true

chronic pain is taking it's toll.

An addiction is a disorder listed in DSM-IV a psychiatric diagnosis

of great validity with high relapse.

Chronic pain (now viable as a disorder with many headers) is a

physical condition, where as many opioiod medications can manage

"not cure" and allow an outcome with quality of life, decreased loss

of wage, the list goes on and on.

Feedback and discussion are warranted.

Peace,

Growing number of Canadian women vulnerable to addiction to Oxycontin http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2005/10/c2747.html TORONTO, Feb. 10 /CNW/ - OxyContin has been hailed as a godsend for sufferers of chronic pain, but as more and more Canadian women are discovering, it can also lead users into the hell of addiction. The time- release drug-nicknamed "Hillbilly heroin--is one of Canada's most frequently prescribed narcotic painkillers and is gaining a reputation as an addictive potential killer. Women are particularly at risk because: - Women are more likely to suffer from chronic pain than men; - Women are more likely to be overprescribed prescription drugs than men and are more likely to abuse prescription drugs than men; - As caregivers and partners, women bear the brunt of addiction even when they themselves aren't the addicts: when husbands or children are addicted, wives and mothers are left to pick up the pieces. The March issue of Chatelaine tells the story of one woman struggling to reclaim her life after succumbing to OxyContin's addictive powers. The drug Hudson's doctors prescribed to combat the pain of injuries she sustained in a car accident almost destroyed the mother of three's life and her family. She was lucky to have survived. Others haven't been as fortunate: According to a public health report released last month, OxyContin deaths in Toronto rose from 6 in 2001 to 27 in 2002, with the expectation that as data is processed for 2003 and 2004, that rise will continue. Similar trends are being seen across Canada and in the United States, where class action suits have been launched against the manufacturer for failing to inform doctors and patients about the drug's addictive qualities. Kim Pittaway, Editor-in-Chief, Chatelaine says "this isn't simply a street drug problem. This is a drug that doctors are prescribing to average Canadians, often without adequately assessing whether those patients are at risk for addiction. This isn't about hillbillies-it's about the woman next door, a woman who could be you or me." Pittaway is available for media interviews to discuss why Canadian woman must learn about the hazards of OxyContin and suggests that there are three things Canadian women can do to guard against possible addiction: 1. Quiz your doctor and pharmacist about the drugs you're prescribed, including the risk of addiction associated with those drugs. Recognize that pain and addiction are not mutually exclusive: you may still become addicted even if your pain is genuine. 2. In the case of narcotics or other potentially addictive drugs, request that your doctor assess your risk for dependency. Experts interviewed by Chatelaine say that doctors rarely assess a patient's risk of becoming dependent as carefully as they would the nature of the pain. 3. Seek professional help if you're worried that you or someone you love may have a drug problem.

Hallenbeck~Sikorsky~ BS,RN,UM,QCOwner-Moderator"AnGeLsInPain""OneVoiceInPain"Interqual CertifiedPublished Psychiatric ResearcherAdvocate for those in CIP, HIV, Psychologic Pain"The Lord Will NEVER push us beyond what we can endure."

[Guest guest]

((( The insanity of "addiction versus tolerance" for those in true chronic pain is taking it's toll. )))((( An addiction is a disorder listed in DSM-IV a psychiatric diagnosis of great validity with high relapse. )))well I have to say those that are suffering from chronic pain should have the meds they kneed first and if the doc is worried about addiction that should be a thing discussed with the patent that if they ever get better and come off there meds that they will have to deal with a possibility of a physical addiction not a mental addiction like a drug addict a drug addict suffers from physical as well as mental addiction and use the meds to get high studies have proven that people with chronic pain that take meds IE Opium type meds do get physical addiction but not the same cravings for the drug for they do not get high like people that use the same drug for pleasure IE me I take the equivalent to 288 mg morphine every 8 hours every one thinks I am high because of it but I do not Evan get a buzz I never have I do get pain relief that I thank God for because it would be hard to go on with ought it as for OxyContin it is a very addictive drug that is highly abused but for true suffers of chronic pain the majority of men or woman would use it to make there pain manageable now if they have to use more then prescribed they then should discussed with there doc there treatment and how to get the pain to a true manageable level not just allow the doc to say this is all you are getting if it is not doing the job yes some will abuse it but I believe that more are being accused of abusing them truly are because doctors are taught that this kills this much pain and if a patient asks for more then they are a drug seeker and should be treated as such and reported as such which for a lot of true pain suffers it is to bad because they then do to not get the true pain relief that they kneed and deserve also a lot of doctors are scared to prescribe to much Evan if a patient kneads it which together with everything else makes it hard for us as pain sufferers to be 1 believed I been told it was all in my head went through a lot of doctors before I found one that was willing to do tests and find why I was having as much pain as I was it is hard to find a good doc out there I hope you all do anyway I think I covered everything I wanted to say take care all ps for those that do not know I am in Ontario Canada Canadian and American?Dear Friends in CIP, I disagree heartily with this statement. In Canada women may be more prescribed than men but NOT IN the United States. In fact women are undertreated not only for pain, but impendingMI's (heart attacks), and the like. The insanity of "addiction versus tolerance" for those in true chronic pain is taking it's toll. An addiction is a disorder listed in DSM-IV a psychiatric diagnosisof great validity with high relapse. Chronic pain (now viable as a disorder with many headers) is a physical condition, where as many opioiod medications can manage"not cure" and allow an outcome with quality of life, decreased lossof wage, the list goes on and on. Feedback and discussion are warranted.Peace,