this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2023
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[–] popemichael@lemmy.world 36 points 1 year ago (3 children)

People who are dependent on opiates and opioids.

Some people who are in a lot of pain legitimately need the medicine in order to have a normal life. It doesn't make us high, it makes us 'normal' because we actually require the medicine to bring us to normal levels of activity.

Just because someone is physically dependent on the medicine, does not make them an addict too

Most of us would rather never take another pill in our lives if we were suddenly healed.

[–] sauerkraus@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you’re dependent on the drug that’s an addiction. You may feel that your addiction is more justified than others, and that’s ok. Humans have been using drugs for thousands of years both recreationally and medicinally.

[–] popemichael@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

That's not true. There's a difference between addiction and dependence medically.

You don't say that a person on insulin is an addict. You don't say that a person on heart medicine is an addict. We shouldn't say that a person on opiates are addicts.

Addicts take the medicine without a medical need. Dependent people need to take the medicine in order to live a normal life.

[–] OCATMBBL@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I was just commiserating with my wife about how we both exhibit a bunch of signs of ADHD but can't get medicated because doctors are highly discouraged from prescribing them, because of the misuse associated with them.

GPs won't prescribe them because of societal pressure, and yet there is also a nationwide shortage of psychiatrists.

The end result is that people who need something to get them to baseline suffer because politicians need to make a hammer-style policy for a scalpel-style problem.

[–] popemichael@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A lot of people are turning to the dark web to get just basic medicine because it's such a headache to get the medicine that they need. It's WAY cheaper too.

It's sad that people have to resort to that, but it's better than suffering.

[–] thetreesaysbark@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hmm. I'd be concerned that the lack of regulation from medicines from the dark web would cause you to take something that makes me suffer even more.

[–] popemichael@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, but it's easier and more reliable in some cases.

For example, every three months I have to go through a renewal process to get my diabetes medicine with my insurance. That's up to a week without my life saving medicine.

If I were to get it on the darknet, I'd add years to my life since I don't have to wait weeks to get the proper medicine.

[–] golamas1999@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

A similar thing with me. I am on Trazodone for sleep. If I miss one dose the next day I will have panic attacks where I’ll sit curled up in the shower and bawl my eyes out until I get another dose. I am chemically dependent on this medication. Whether the or not it even helps for insomnia anymore I don’t know.