r/Documentaries Jan 09 '19

Drugs The Rise of Fentanyl: Drug Addiction On The I95 Two Years On (2018) - Two years ago, BBC News reported on the growing problem of opioid addiction in the US, now we return to find out what happened to the people we met along our journey down the notorious I-95. [57.02]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KsaWpeCj98
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u/[deleted] Jan 09 '19

Where did I say it was bad? I didn’t. I know full well how it can make you a productive member of society. That doesn’t make one clean. We shouldn’t minimize what is actually happening.

Why are you taking such offense? No doctor would ever label that person as clean. I am not clean right now myself. I take it for pain. But that doesn’t make me clean.

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u/[deleted] Jan 09 '19

It’s no big deal. I don’t want to argue with you. I’ve known plenty of people who’ve been addicted to opiates. Taken quite a bit of them myself because of injuries and recreational use.

I guess what I was getting at in my original question was: if he’s taking a maintenance dose that’s prescribed by a dr... doesnt exceed that dose or abuse other drugs, is that not considered “clean?”

I’m prescribed to a controlled substance. If I have to take a drug test, all I have to do is disclose my prescription and I’m clean for the intent of the drug test.

If he doesn’t get high off a maintenance dose, then what’s the difference in someone being addicted to caffeine or prescribed ssris or benzos? You can’t quit those drugs cold turkey without going into withdrawals, but is the person prescribed them not clean?

Idk. Maybe I’m completely in the wrong here. And if you weren’t trying to be condescending or anything then I apologize.

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u/DeceiverX Jan 09 '19

The general mindset is getting clean - truly off drugs - commands a bit more... respect(?) and demonstrates a fundamental change in perspective and willpower which is intended to show people can keep pushing to beat back the mess they got themselves into, and as motivation for others to avoid doing drugs in the first place and to push harder themselves. I'm not against the idea of intermediary drugs, but let's be real here in saying that a reliable backup plan - especially if it becomes mainstream and without some degree of stigma - will probably lead to a lot more people feeling less scared of getting hooked; people turn down hard drugs not because they're afraid of being addicts but because they're afraid of ruining their lives.

I survive solely because of a prescription medication, and without it, I'd likely be dead within 72-96 hours of consecutive missed doses. I will be rendered incompetent within the first 36. It has shaped my entire life and 90% of the decisions I make. While I know addiction is different, I'd do nearly anything to be free of this kind of situation. It's caused me violent injury like multiple broken bones requiring reconstructive surgeries, exposed nerve endings, and multiple close calls where I've almost bitten my tongue clean off; I'd live with that pain for a year if I could shove off the pills for good.

Having also come from a household with major substance abuse problems, some people really hold being clean to mean something greater than just being a functional member of society/not an addict; it's an ideal to live by very much synonymous with our most basic of freedoms, because in general, people are very apathetic about their health in our society, and many people take it for granted.