What responsibility does society have to addicts? A friend of mine who was an addict has recently passed and I feel guilty

[Shaktishaki]

A young woman I know who was known for being an prescription pain killer addict has passed away. The circumstances are still being looked in to by the police as it looks suspicious.

But I feel guilty. I knew her well. I knew she was was an addict. There are horrible rumours circulating and im devastated that her life ended this way.

She was clearly unwell. These drugs she started were prescribed to her by her GP at the beginning. We take tablets offered by our GP thinking everything is going to be ok then all of a sudden your an addict.

Who’s fault is that?

I spoke to her many a times in passing and I knew she was on something and hurried up and left. I feel horrible that I didn’t understand bad her life had got. She’s left behind children.

Who is responsible for this?

Sorry to hear of your friends passing, pain killer addiction seems to be under reported until a ‘celebrity’ talks about it.

Did the gp keep prescribing or was she buying them illegally, it's a horrible situation but why do you feel the need to appropriate blame?

@TitianaTitsling

Did the gp keep prescribing or was she buying them illegally, it's a horrible situation but why do you feel the need to appropriate blame?

She had a health issue which she was prescribed them for a long time, then GP stopped she she obviously got them from else where.

But my grand mother 88 had just been given 100 tablets of codine for her wrist. I was gobsmacked when I seen it. They are highly addictive and not supposed to be taken for more than three consecutive days.

I feel guilt because she was ill. And we obviously all turned our back on her and didn’t try to help

@FAQs

Sorry to hear of your friends passing, pain killer addiction seems to be under reported until a ‘celebrity’ talks about it.

I’ve been looking in to it and it’s massive. So many service vets are hooked because of war accidents. After every war there is a huge spike.

Then they go on to heroin when they can’t get prescribed opiates

@TitianaTitsling you asked why OP needs to appropriate blame. It does look like something went horribly wrong with the prescriptions issued by the GP. Is this young woman just to be allowed to die and her children left motherless so that a Dr can be allowed to make mistakes? However it came about a young person has died and children have lost their mother.

On the other hand I do think that the drugs situation in this country is a total disaster and something radical has to change

I'm sorry to hear about your friend OP. I've got a friend in a similar situation, her gp just keeps handing them out like smarties.

The problem is partly that drs cannot know who will become an addict, and partly because we demand not to be in pain. There's no doubt that prescribing can go wrong but what do people suggest, refusing pain killers to those in chronic pain? It's a very complex situation and not a case if who is right and wrong. Prescription guidance has been tightened in recent years but that causes people to get their fix elsewhere. If they don't seek addiction help from their gp how will they know.

As I say very complex and terrible tragedies occur but effective pain relief allows people to get back their lives too

Well it’s tragic but why are we looking to blame the gp here? Op says she got them elsewhere we have limited knowledge though

Maybe the go had been helping wean her off?

My mum was an addict. So many people knew. Family. Friends. I remember having to negotiate as a child with a cab driver after she’d been sick in the car that one of her friends had just put her in to send her home to us without any thought for how two children would put her to bed when she was passed out.

I don’t know what to say OP. I’m just very sad for her kids and I hope they have grandparents who will look after them.

Why does someone have to be responsible for this?

@minnieok

The problem is partly that drs cannot know who will become an addict, and partly because we demand not to be in pain. There's no doubt that prescribing can go wrong but what do people suggest, refusing pain killers to those in chronic pain? It's a very complex situation and not a case if who is right and wrong. Prescription guidance has been tightened in recent years but that causes people to get their fix elsewhere. If they don't seek addiction help from their gp how will they know.

As I say very complex and terrible tragedies occur but effective pain relief allows people to get back their lives too

@thebouquets Minnie says it much more succinctly than I could here.

GPs are in really difficult positions here. As @minnieok says people, nowadays, are not stoic and expect something to cure their pain, often unrealistically. Some become habituated and some of those are very resistant to weaning off them, often getting them from other sources rather than face their addiction.
As for who is responsible, ultimately we are all responsible for ourselves and our choices in life although some face more challenges than others