Hi, new question

[Pleasehelpme91]

Hi again everyone. I feel like everyone who has been helping me are angels. Thank you so so so much for your advice If it were not for your help I wouldn't be getting sober. So I have decided to taper and its going well so far. I have been following a strict  taper schedual, and even though i go with W/d I am starting to feel alive and real again!

So 2 questions. I am going to tell my Wife other tonight about my problem, and that I am getting better and that I want her support. How should approach this?

2. Now that I am not high all the time I am having a tremendous amount of anxiety, I think its part of  the w/d. My main concern is that I will be arrested for doctor shopping. I didn't even no it was illegal until I was researching addiction. Am I the only person that's done this hear? Am I going to go to prison? I am so scared someone please help me. I live in Ca I have seen 3 doctors for about 25 total prescriptions over 8 months for hydrocodone and  acouple times for ocycodone. even though I Had legitimate pain its still illegal. and I know I am an addict. And i know I was wrong.I always paid cash and I never got any warnings. I am just so scared  I feel so stupid.I prayed and asked for forgiveness and I am working on getting better, what are my chances of going to prison? What are my chances of getting caught? I have never forged a prescription.

[micheleTX]

Here in Houston they are just now implementing the pharmacy system thing.  What that is from what I understand is they go by the address you use (zip code) and put it in a system so the pharmacies that you use will have that info. and can look it up-if they suspect you are dr. shopping. but so far I have not heard of anyone getting arrested for it.

Everyone I know here and i mean EVERYONE I KNOW, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, about 90 percent of the people that live in my trailer park TAKE THESE MEDS!!  It is on the news quite frequently about these pain clinics.  About a month back, they were showing the news people going in these clinics with their cameras, granted-SOME of these doctors are the fly by night, move around often ones, but most of the ones that I would go to were in office buildings with other medical facilities, nice offices, treating all kinds of other things besides pain management, they seem to be legit doctors, and they would take the time to diagnose your pain, etc...
Whereas, the fly by night ones = the office was packed with dr. shoppers, in an out in 2 minutes, they have their scripts typed out an would (sorry my D is going out on my laptop) grr...they would just hand u a script-either with a pain med, a xanax type drug, an/or somas or other muscle relaxer.  Lots of those have been shut down here.  So in Houston, it is getting really harder to shop around doctors...which is a big reason why I wanted to quit, along with the money of course, and also my boyfriends line of work-they are starting to do hair follicle tests....
so, it's a good time for alot of these drug shoppers to quit this stuff.  The last doctor we went to wanted to see Larrys MRIs first visit, and would not see anyone without an MRI.

Sorry for the book, but I am now addicted to this site....dam addictions LOL

[lovemypillhead]

i have a question just out of curiosity----

ok, dr shopping is illegal right?  

at what point does it become illegal?  at what point does one need to worry? how many dr's in what about of time causes a red flag?  im really just curious if anyone knows if there is something in stone.....

[worried878]

I laways think positively and leave the pat alone..worrying will not help ur recovery and chances are u r fine....u r done and let it go...if it comes up deal with it then but i dont feel like it will unless u seek meds again...that is just my thoughts and they may not mean a hill of beans...good luck  (:

[Kent Summers]

I went to prison for 17 months, but I was forging prescriptions, which is much worse.  And I had such a huge habit (more than 800mg of OxyContin a DAY), that the judge figured I must be dealing them.  That resulted in a stiff sentence, considering I had never had any legal troubles in my life up to that point.

I say come clean with your doctors and you will be fine.  They don't want to see you in trouble, plus it is a hassle for them.  And they would much rather hear it from you than a suspicious pharmacist.

I recently told my doctor that even though I have serious chronic pain that I can no longer take narcotics responsibly.  It was incredibly difficult, and part of me (the addict me) regrets doing it.  But I couldn't keep doing it.

As we say in NA/AA, it is the secrets that make us sick.

Kent

[enemy48]

You sound so precious.

I know the fear of a possible arrest.  It haunted me for so long, and after 11 months, still does.

I did all of the above and worse, so had real reason to fear that cops would show up at my door.

I had a scare a couple of months ago when an investigator left a message on me cell that he was investigating a case and need to speak w/me.  I didn't call him back for days because I just knew I was busted for something I did 9 months ago.  Someone here convinced me to just call him, and it turned out to be nothing!  Whew!

Here in Louisiana you can no longer doctor shop.  The new pharmacy system has been implimented and seems safer to buy off the streets than to doctor shop.  I work w/a girl that should be popped real soon.  Between her and her boyfriend, they see 6 doctors a month and get hydros like candy.  They think that by going to different pharmacies, they won't get caught, but they will now.  

Hang in there man!  You should be alright as long as you haven't been put on the pharmacy watch list.  And even if you were, you're not looking at prison time, maybe just a slap on the hand w/probation.  Cops have far worse cases to deal with.  

Best Wishes!

[lovemypillhead]

Going foward, quit dr shopping and u will be ok.  I would think if they were going to get you they would have by now....or, will the next time u get a script filled.

Hmmmm....you have to tell your wife tonight.

Well, me being a non-addict with an addict....GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!  LOLOLOL.

just kidding...well, sorta.  haha.  ok, for real...it's gonna be rough.

i can tell u this......we appreciate honesty. we really do. as much as it may hurt u to tell her...and as much as you dread it...think of her for a sec.  everyday that you were addicted to pills and not telling her....u were lying to her...in a way. think of it like that.  like the idea that  she has been with u all this time....she wasnt really with "you".  she was with a liar you. she has a right to be married to an addict or not be.  please please please do not take this wrong...im just trying to tell u how she is going to feel after this is all said and done......she will have all this **** going thru her mind.....so i think if u have the ability to put yourself entirely in her shoes....it will be easier.  all u can do is be honest with her....explain to her why u did what you did. explain to her your course of action to get better...

but listen......when your in wd......the worst thing u can do is be mean to her...........for real.  be as nice as u can.  i know wd are horrible and u dont feel like ur self, etc...but, being mean to her or treating her poorly will just irritate her and make her resent you for your addiction.