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 opioid-addiction-one-mans-journey-through-pain-and-recovery/” title=”Opioid Addiction: One Man's Journey Through Pain and Recovery”>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.

* How did the initial treatment approach to Jean-Marie’s pain contribute to ‍his opioid dependency?

I’d love to conduct ⁤this interview!

## Interview: Overcoming Opioid Dependency

**Host:** Welcome to the show. Today, we’re discussing the complex issue of opioid dependency and the long ⁤road to recovery. Joining us is Jean-Marie, who courageously shares his experience. Jean-Marie, ⁤thank you for being here.

**Jean-Marie:** My pleasure,⁣ thanks for having me.

**Host:** Jean-Marie,​ your story begins with ⁤debilitating pain caused by degenerative disc disease. Can you tell us about the ​initial treatment approach and how it ultimately led to opioid dependence?

**Jean-Marie:** Sure. It started with painkillers and muscle relaxants, but they didn’t really offer lasting relief. Then came the morphine,‍ Skenan, prescribed as a more⁣ potent solution. Things felt ⁣good initially, but unfortunately, the pain would return, leading me back to the doctor. He then prescribed Actiskenan, a faster-acting version. All‌ I wanted was‍ to work and function, so taking pills became a way⁤ to manage the pain ‌and get through the day [[1](https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/hcp/clinical-care/opioid-use-disorder-treating.html)].

**Host:** It seems like ​the focus was on pain relief, but the potential risk of dependency wasn’t adequately addressed. Did any doctors discuss these risks with you?

**Jean-Marie:**⁢ Honestly, I don’t recall ⁤any discussions about addiction. I was in ⁣so much pain that⁢ I ‌just focused​ on getting some relief. Looking⁤ back, I should⁤ have asked more⁤ questions and been more informed.[[1](https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/hcp/clinical-care/opioid-use-disorder-treating.html)]

**Host:** This highlights the importance of comprehensive care, ⁣addressing not‌ just the physical⁢ symptoms but also the potential psychological⁢ and social impacts.

**Host:** Can you describe the moment you realized you were struggling ‍with opioid dependency?

**Jean-Marie:** It was 2017, I was reeling from severe withdrawal symptoms ⁣— vomiting,⁤ sweats, diarrhea. The pain was unbearable. Landing in the⁤ emergency room, the only thing that brought relief⁢ was another dose of morphine. It was then I knew things had gone too far.

**Host:** What led you ‌to seek help?

**Jean-Marie:** The emergency doctor recognized⁢ my struggle and urged me to address my addiction. He provided⁤ me‍ with a referral to a⁢ specialized addiction service, where I finally began to understand the nature ‌of my condition ⁤and the path to recovery.

**Host:**

Jean-Marie,‍ thank you for sharing your story. It’s a powerful reminder of the complex challenges surrounding ​opioid dependency. We hope your story can help others understand the importance⁣ of seeking ‍help and finding the support needed for ‍recovery.

**Jean-Marie:** Thank you for having me.⁢ My journey is far⁢ from over, but I am committed to recovery and helping others who are battling this same struggle.

**Host:** That’s a truly inspiring message. We wish‍ you all the best.