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Avatar universal

writing scripts

I'd like to do update on a previous thread from a lady that wrote a few years ago that she stole and forged not just one, but 6 or so illegal scripts for Oxy or Percocets, I can't remember, but at the time, was not caught. Many people posted the thread is old, and needs to be updated, in part b/c of changing laws.Most states now have electronic databases which all class 2,3,4,&5 narcotics are tracked. I'm not sure about this, but have read that doctors have to now send records about each controlled substance they write,and for whom. Pharmacies will call & verify these scripts as well, but I don.t know if it's every one of these, or only ones that are suspect. If the doctors can't find a record of you as their patient,then they'll probably report you to authorities, or the Pharmacy may also due this. But others who posted are write, you probably won't know if you are out of the woods legally speaking, b/c all the above mentioned databases have to compare notes, and it may not be found for some time, so for people who think they can get away with this should be scared, b/c now this is more tightly controlled & regulated than ever before in history.
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Avatar universal
Wow, thats some story, but@ least you finally got some help. You story sounds so familiar-Legit pain issues that an MD keeps throwing scripts at, which leads eventually to an increasing tolerance, then finally out-of-control addiction. This has happened in so many cases, and  yes, bad/weak backs can run in families, it has in my own, which is why I've learned from the mistakes of others in my family, patients that come in & threaten the pharmacist for opiates,etc,and no matter how much pain I'm in, stick to Motrin, but then again, I've never suffered from intractable pain the way some people here have, which led to their problems in the first place-it must be hell, that's what gives me compassion for those who suffer.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm in recovery because I came to the "fork in the road": My opiate script had long since stopped working to my satisfaction and I needed more to achieve the buzz I craved. My bad back had become my dope funding source.  Sure, I also found other street sources among friends and family, but they were not really reliable or to my satisfaction either.

Here in MI it's electronic controlled substance monitoring to the max. My other option was going to one of the pain clinics, you know, the ones with the huge sign PAIN CLINIC in big bold type on the store front. Not only do they offer legal opiates, but here in MI you can get a marijuana card. But being an addict, I know eventually I'll still want more. More is my key addiction. Doesn't matter what the substance, or how much I use, it's my reaction to it.

Getting clean and staying in the atmosphere of recovery, as if my life depends on it, has honestly become the easier softer way, at least for this old hippy.      
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
COMMUNITY LEADER
You have provided good info on how the system is working so thank you.  Hopefully people will see this and realize how serious forging scripts and doctor shopping is.
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Avatar universal
Again, just to clarify, I never  stated I thought this ever was as simple as 'just stopping' b/c of monitoring programs,I know I don't have to tell most people here how difficult that can be, and yes, absolutely, a large portion of addicts really do have to hit rock-bottom before they finally get help, as was in my brothers case with his marijuana/crack addiction for 15+ yrs. I totally agree that this may have unintended consequences - those that can't get these drugs legally, will just get them illegally , which is already happening( what about 'street' Oxy, Percs,etc) or worse, they'll simply turn to Heroin,etc. I once worked at a nursing home where we had a 78 yr old man who met a 40 something addict on-line, who turned him on to heroin and crack, to 'help' him over his lonliness after his wife's death.so if it could happen to someone who had never used drugs in their life, at that age, it literally could happen to anyone. My purpose here was to inform only, and if you read again the start of my thread, it was only that  originally, I stumbled upon an old thread from 3+yrs ago, about people admitting to writing scripts & getting away with it, but were terrified of getting caught. You can only imagine the mental torment this woman & others who posted similiar tales were going through, yet strangely, I didn't see any warnings from other health professionals who knew about these programs actually warning people about them. And since there are different levels of addiction, that knowledge just may have made the difference for someone who was on the fence about Rehab, but needed knowledge about this to scare them into finally getting help.Who knows? Not everyone has the attitude-" I don't care, I'm gonna keep doing it no matter what", yes,that is the attitude many take that are deep into their addiction, and many will get caught, hit their rock bottom. But it is like almost treating people with addictions like schoolchildren, suspending them when they are bad.But what about the fact that 12 step programs have said for many years-that YOU have to be ready to get clean, have to want it primarily for you,that YOU have to want it bad enough not simply to get clean to satisfy some drug court or even their spouse, they have to want it badly for themselves, to get strong mentally and physically again. Otherwise they're doomed to the 'revolving door' Rehabs, whetre they go several times a year, and even the staff know they're not really serious about staying clean, they're jusy doig it to avoid jail, and satisfy some court system. I believe knowledge is power, and I'm simply trying to inform those who don't know, or catch up others who are woefully behind on their knowlege about this. This is my job, so I have updated info.Thanks for listening.
Helpful - 0
4149717 tn?1389503561
This is definitely a bottom for some of us. I can attest that when someone is deep in their addictions, they will do whatever, however they need to not get "sick" . I think most of us know when we are doing something that is illegal, (like falsifying scripts or Dr. shopping) that we could get caught but its never going to hit home until we actually do! Do I think getting help before someone ends up ruining everythiing in their lives is the best way, Absolutely! But its just not that easy most times.

Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
Sadly, sometimes those unfortunate (legal) consequences are when a person finally hits their bottom.  I agree people would be better served getting help, but the truth of the matter, these things are a crime.

I would recommend stop & get help before some of these consequences catch up to you. .

I agree, but if it were only that easy.  These people would have never guessed they would do the things they do in order to obtain meds.  That's all part if the addiction process.  Some will cross more lines than others.

There's no easy answer I'm afraid.  
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Avatar universal
No, but I am a pharmacy tech and have seen the system change, at least in NY,and now that I remarried and working in  NJ, have seen the changes here as well,and how the system works. I saw firsthand, for example, a grandmother, with a horrible opiate addiction, who stole a script from her MD's office, and was 'doctor-shopping' as well, get arrested at a supermarket pharmacy when the Pharmacist on duty suspected her, knew her from the past, etc. How sad for her, she had legitamite pain issues, and was hysterical when the cops showed up, kept saying she only did it b/c she couldn't get her former amt. of opiates. This might have been b/c the doctors are being monitored as well, and are cutting down or tapering many of their patients off schedueled drugs, so they will not be perceived as being 'one of those doctors', b/c that has serious ramifications for them as well.I wanted to inform others about the realities of this new system, and if you have successfully done this sort of thing before & gotten away with it, the jig is up, at least in  a majority of states now. Some are tighter than others. others may think they got away with it, only to be found out, months later sometimes, that they didn't, when a cop shows up at their door, after the database checks with the doctor, and they're found out. Addiction is tough enough without having to deal with life-changing legal issues as well(loss of job, a record that haunts you so now you can't get another job,etc) I would recommend stop & get help before some of these consequences catch up to you.
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
COMMUNITY LEADER
Did this happen to you?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Kentucky is cracking down as well. My father, legitimate pain and takes meds as prescribed has to now go into his prescribing doc every month for every refill. He has to give blood and sign papers. Seems a bit much for a legitimate sufferer but I guess it's all the bad ones that ruin it for the good and to keep the bad from getting worse. I can't imagine what this is doing to doc offices and trying to schedule regular or sick patients or how insurance companies are going to deal with this. They will have a field day! What do you do??
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The one thing that can never be, or HARDER, to control is for those with chronic pain. I have Kidney Stones. I may have to get an X-Ray or CT every now and then, plus a **** test, but what’s that for my pills? I can shop at the quick clinics once a month on a revolving basis because of it. I say I'm having a KStone, Pee out some blood, and Boom, pills for me!

I do see them getting a little more skeptical but I can still do it, that's at the same time I get Tramadol and Vics from my normal PC and Urologist. I really did fall victim to the system but then my street smart, criminal, addict mind kicked in and found a way to feed my habit for close to 2 years this way... I did take a few breaks but almost constant.

It’s a huge problem and I should never be allowed to do it. I hope they get a clue about people like me soon cause it’s laughable, to be honest, how easy it is for me. But the difference is I really do have KStones, more than 1.75 a month.

I quit 4 days ago btw, just adding that in so you don't think I’m mocking everyone. I had enough of my sneaky, conniving, swindler ways. Plus I was ruining my life. See my personal thread if you care. Anyway, good topic, thanks for bringing it back to the surface.
Helpful - 0
4204073 tn?1361831476
LOL!   Going to THAT place was always an exciting day back then.   Pretty sad really.   Heck, I looked forward to the 'procedures' for the good stuff they gave you to knock you out.  

You better believe they rake in the money!   They create the trap, then when you get caught in it, they toss you out with your addiction and re set the trap with their little white pills of salvation.   I wish I had never set foot in that place.  
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Avatar universal
I agree with you-it's got to be more than 3%. Just from people I knew in my old NY neighborhood alone, from hearing them talk about where they would get their meds from, bragging about their all too lenient docs who would hand out the drugs to just about anyone, for anything they wanted. Hopefully, those days will be bygone if these monitoring systems are going to work in all 50 states, eventually.
Helpful - 0
2120911 tn?1350922661
3 %  ? .....hard to beleive,,,

I agree a very fine line,,,,sadly crossing that line can.... and has meant life and death for some....

The place I went was a little suspect ....looking back,,,,,you could not jsut pick up your refill. You had to be seen each time. .....folks with no insurance would pay the 80 buck visit fee,,,,,always jammed packed office,,,,,,hmmmm

I think its big business...the people who profit ..profit big and have good attorneys to protect their interests,,,,

ok let me stop,,,no one held me down and shoved a vic down my throat....hell  was happy to go to the doctors,,,,


good thread,,,rarely talked about,,,,,
Helpful - 0
4204073 tn?1361831476
I think they need to crack down on these 'pain management' centers and Dr's.  Having experienced going to one of these, they are way too liberal in handing out the pills.  Plus they have their own in house pharmacies.  

I was reading online earlier that only 3% of patients that go to these actually get 'addicted' in the sense of abusing their meds with drug seeking behavior.  I don't know, it seems to me that statements like that are what is creating a society of drug dependent patients.   I know being dependent is another thing, but the article did state that long term opiate pain management needs to be re-evaluated regularly because the tolerance builds up.   This to me is the beginning of addiction.   Seems like such a  fine line between addiction and dependency.  

Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538
Cheeky!  Good point!  I never thought of that consequence!  That's the unfortunate truth about addiction...where there's a will, there's a way.  

It's definitely a good thing, no doubt.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Exactly. I heard Texas & Florida are vigilant,so is Maryland. New Jersey just started theirs last year, New York , once very lenient, is now strict with their monitoring. I heard that even though Pennsylvania instituted a monitoring system, they've had problems with it, and stuff is slipping through the cracks in the system, sadly. Obviously, the system is only going to be as good as those who monitor it, or whats the point of it to begin with?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
This change is having 2 effects on users. They are either going to rehab. because of the shortage of Prescription drugs, or they are going to Heroin. We discussed this in the last few meetings. I have a nephew in Florida who was taking 40+ Hydro's or whatever per day from 3+ different Doctors. Now the gravy train has ended for him, forced to rehab. due to lack of supply. This will be increasing as the Database gets more centralized. Cannot Doctor shop....difficult now to find a Vacancy in Detox Clinic. Then some folks will be forced to the dreaded Heroin or Meth. This is the trend, I am happy to be getting out of the scene!!
Helpful - 0
3122379 tn?1342379185
When the government started putting this in place, I think it was what helped save my life.  I was one of those people traveling to Florida getting scripts every other month or so.  Those days are over.  I was pissed when it first all started to go down.  But now I see it as a event that changed my life for the better.  
Helpful - 0
480448 tn?1426948538

and it may not be found for some time, so for people who think they can get away with this should be scared, b/c now this is more tightly controlled & regulated than ever before in history.


I agree with that, to an extent.

The database is only active in certain states, it isn't fully implemented nationwide.  Plus, sadly, no matter how severe the punishment is, it isn't always a deterrant, as people will still take risks.  I think a nationwide database is a great idea.
Helpful - 0
2120911 tn?1350922661
Thanks Janey,,,I know in Ohio they check,,,,especially Urgentcare,,,,

I went to urgentcare  for my lower back a while ago and the Dr. woman  asked  "hmmm whats going to make this all better?"   i said huh?  she said what happened to the 90 Vics you were prescribed last week?

I said B^&tch i wanted an assessment or  cortisone maybe ,,,you're the Doctor,,,,

she gave me a lecture on drugs,,,i was floored,,,,

but if it helps folks reach their bottowm quicker than i'm for it...
Helpful - 0
4204073 tn?1361831476
Yep.  Until they started keeping electronic patient records that any hospital or facility in that health group could access, that's how people Dr shopped and pharmacy hopped for scrips.   I can't even imagine attempting in today's modern electronic age to try something like that!  
Helpful - 0
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