T he Long Journey Out of Opioid Dependency
“I was in so much pain that, some days, when I came home from work, I would sit on my couch, not move until the next morning, without eating…”
Jean-Marie, a fifty-year-old glazier, remembers vividly the agony that consumed him after being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease.
In 2012, a scan revealed a spinal birth defect that led to the degeneration of his vertebral discs. His doctors first prescribed painkillers and muscle relaxants, but the relief was short-lived. Subsequently, they turned to a powerful painkiller – sustained-release morphine, in a brand called Skenan.
No doctor warned him of the risk of dependency associated with high doses. Jean-Marie admits he didn’t read the instructions. For a week, the pain subsided. When it inevitably returned, his emergency fix provided temporary relief.
“I was in the moon,” he confided to his doctor, hoping for a solution. The doctor, seeming unfazed, suggested yet another form of morphine – Actiskenan, a faster-acting morphine. He took six tablets a day. “I took it to be able to work: you are in pain, you take one and you can leave,” he shared with a sigh.
Jean-Marie was taking around ten pills a day. He became dependent.
A Spiral of Dependency
Every three months, his prescription was renewed. No physical examinations, no probing questions.
Then, in 2017, the inevitable happened. Vomiting, sweating, diarrhea. He found himself in the emergency room, consumed by the agony of withdrawal.
“They gave me my dose, and I felt better,” he recalls.
The emergency doctor pointed him toward addressing his addiction. Referral in hand, Jean-Marie found himself at the university addiction service in Lyon, under the care
of Dr. Benjamin Rolland, who had recently founded the Lyon Resource Center for Addiction in May 2023. Slowly, month by month, Jean-Marie began to wean himself off the drugs that had come to both soothe and enslave him.
One question haunts him: why wasn’t he warned? “Why was I allowed to gorge myself on medications from 2012 to 2017? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”. The emotional wound of neglect persists.
An Ongoing Challenge
For many, opioids provide relief from agonizing pain. But they also hold a dangerous potency. Opioids encompass both natural substances like morphine, codeine, and synthetic ones like fentanyl or tramadol. Due to their effectiveness in combatting moderate to severe pain, often stemming from conditions like cancer, post-surgical recovery, or chronic pain
These drugs target opioid receptors within the brain, playing a key role in regulating pain perception. They also significantly elevate feelings of pleasure, reward, and well-being.
Walking the tightrope between pain relief and addiction is a complex and delicate process.
This is a story of navigating those complexities.
It’s an ongoing battle.
What role does open communication between doctors and patients play in preventing opioid dependency and ensuring responsible pain management?
## Breaking Free: A Conversation about Opioid Dependency
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re going to discuss a critical issue affecting countless individuals and families: opioid dependency. Jean-Marie, thank you for sharing your powerful story. Your journey is a stark reminder of how easily this issue can develop.
**Jean-Marie:** Thank you for having me. I hope that by sharing my experience, I can help raise awareness and perhaps even prevent others from falling into the same trap.
**Host:** Your story highlights a tragedy all too common. You were prescribed opioids for legitimate pain, but the treatment itself became the problem. Can you tell us more about that experience?
**Jean-Marie:** Absolutely. When the pain from my degenerative disc disease became unbearable, the relief from morphine was incredible. At first, it was a lifeline. But the relief was temporary, and soon, I needed more and more just to function. I was trapped in a cycle of increasing dosage and painful withdrawal, all while trying to hold down a job. No doctor ever truly warned me about the risks of addiction.
**Host:** Your story emphasizes the crucial need for education and open communication between doctors and patients.
According to the CDC, opioid addiction **”is a medical condition, not a moral failing”** [[1](https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/treatment/opioid-addiction.html)]. How did you ultimately break free from this dependency?
**Jean-Marie:** It was a long and difficult road with a lot of support. I entered a specialized addiction programme at the university in Lyon. Their expertise and guidance, coupled with the support of my family, were crucial. It wasn’t easy. There were relapses and setbacks. But I persevered, convinced there was a life beyond addiction.
**Host:** Jean-Marie’s story is powerful, reminding us that opioid addiction can affect anyone.
**[speaker fades slightly for whale music]**
It’s important to remember there is help available and recovery is possible. If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, please reach out to a healthcare professional or addiction specialist.
**[whale music fades out]**
Resources like those provided by the CDC are vital in understanding and addressing this national health crisis. We need to continue these conversations, break down stigma, and offer support to those seeking help. Thank you, Jean-Marie, for sharing your story and shining a light on this critical issue.
