Erikaross said:
"It is additionally significant that Dr Phil has done several shows on the abuse aspect of opioid pain medications, but has yet to do a show on how wonderful these drugs are for legitimate pain patients who take them as prescribed by a knowledgeable health care provider."

That is what I have been posting several times about in this thread.
There are an enormous ammount of us that lives pretty normal lives thanks to opiod and other painkillers.
But there has not been one single show, to my knowledge, that shows how life saving these medications can be.

It isn't that we who use these medications don't understand that there is an epidemic going on and that teens and people of all ages are dying.
I would like to see a good show and study of all really knowledgeable and responsible doctors and all of us who DON'T abuse these medications.

Btw, the makers of OxyContin (Perdue Pharma) are working and will soon be out with a version of the medication so that even if it is timereleased, it will be extremly hard to get the entire dose just by chewing it etc.
OxyCodon is not timereleased. It is for breakthrough pain.

I really would recommend two fantastic books, by father and son, about addiction of methamphetamin.
Read the fathers book first. It is called Beautiful boy and is written by David Sheff
The son's book is called Tweak: growing up on methamphetamines. Written by Nic Sheff (Nicholas)

David's book has a LOT of research in it and they still deal with Nic's addiction. It gives a really good view of parents agony and what can help and how at least meth works and ruin the brain of an addict.

Reading Tweak, you get a first hand look into a users mind and thinking. Sure, some issues are about meth alone, but with some imagination, it isn't hard to do the leap for other drugs.

Malin

I hope that the Family on tonights show stay strong and do not give in.  I think the father will be strong but, the mother I am concerned about...  I feel bad as a parent of a teenager to constanely question my son but, I rather him open up to me and be honest then getting that phone call every parent dreads.  Tough Love hurts but hopefully in the long run your child will thank you.  Good Luck.

It was a very brave and difficult desision to send your son away-  I'm at that crossroad now. 
when do you know its time and where to go so he can get the help he needs along with a proper education?  Please help!

When I was 18 I had these same addiction problems, I only wonder why I didn't recieve the help I needed from my parents.  I am 39 years old and have  been abusing drugs, alcohol, etc... for a long time.  After watching this I broke down and realized the root of my problem.  I also realized it was time to do something about it.  Although I did not receive the help this young man received I could help myself.

I am so sorry that you lost your son.  My son was found dead of drug overdose Aug 9, 2003, age 27.  I was these parents.  I fell for his two personalities, tried to love him off drugs.  He died anyway.  These parent need to get their head out of the sand today.

You parents need to get your head out of the sand NOW.  I had your son, did all the same things you did, he was robbing us blind, dening his habit, stealing drugs from everyone, stealing jewelry, money, stereos, anything that would get him household drugs, like oxycodone.  He was found dead of an overdose on August 9, 2003.  HE DID NOT GET BETTER, HE DIED.

Get him help now!! 

My story is very similar to yours.  I am interested to know what supplements your son is taking.  I am having the same scenario with insurance expenses, and would much rather give supplements instead of antidepressant drugs.  I can ask my pharmacist if they would be beneficial to my son.

by the way, I asked my son if there was anything else I could have done to prevent his drug use, he said, and I believe him, that he would have taken them no matter what.  I sometimes marvel that this child was born to a mom and dad who are and have always been anti-druggies.  God has a sense of humor, and I look  for the blessing to come out of this.  I always go back to a parent session that was offered at the first attempt at rehab.  They showed a film where a mom said you have to be willing to let go so your child can hit the bottom, even if it means he could die.  I couldn't believe she said that, but after 3 decades with this child, I believe that is the case.  I no way do I wish my son dead, but you cannot force your will on another person.  Eventually, it will affect your health.  You cannot do the suffering for your son.  It is futile and cruel, everything in a mother's nature fights for her children. Unfortunately, the addict in the child knows how to use this instinct against the parent and to his advantage. 

Take him to Narcotics Anonymous. Try different groups until he finds one he feels comfortable with.  He must get a sponsor.  Believe me, my nephew was on the brink of death and even on the liver transplant list, and now he is a devout proponent and speaker for N A.  We were able to send our son to drug rehab, more than once.  The pricey Florida drug rehab did not fix him.  The only way for him to be rehabilitated is if he has a genuine desire to quit and follows the steps NA offers.  Yes, rehab can facilitate this, but eventually he will be out in the drinking, using world again with everything available if he chooses to use.  But you can get sober without the pricey treatment if you commit to NA.  It saved my nephew's life, and if anyone can do it, he can.  Your son may have to detox first, and if this is the case, the teaching hospital in a large city  can offer this and maybe some follow up treatment as well.  You can't always "white nuckle" through this.  Good luck and don't give up. You only have one life as does your son.  Getting treatment together and getting sober together is possible!!! Be the strong one and do this for yourself and your son.

When my doctor prescribed Adderall to me for ADD, he told me he took it himself when preparing for hard exams in med school.  He said you have to be able to control when to use it and not to abuse it.  As a teacher, I have yet to meet a teenager with the ability to do this or "drink  responsibly."  My son in college says these ADD meds are everywhere and students can make a profit by acquiring these meds online and then selling individual pills to their friends.  I learned years after the fact that another of my children was doing this with his meds when in high school.
By the way, this doctor is the same one who misdiagnosed my thyroid cancer as an enlarged carotid artery.
My advice to parents with children taking ADD meds is to dole the meds out daily and watch him or her take it.  Keep the meds secured just like you would a gun.  Never allow your children to carry a bottle of these pills to school.  If the dosage has to be taken during the school day, take them to the school office personally so they can be dispensed as prescribed.  "But I trust my child!!!" you are thinking.  So did I.

The show hit every nerve, every feeling, that I have been going through with my 23 year old son.  He is now out of the house and I am in alnon. The guilt that a parent lives with, the shame and guilt that the addict lives with, the affect that it has on the family as a whole.  It is sometimes overwhelming to say the least.  And then on the other side,  treatment, or lack thereof, just compunds the frustration of not just myself, but that of my son, who has tried on many occassions to get treatment but because we do not have the $$$,, we are SOL.

I pray that this young man counts his blessings and makes the most of what Dr Phil & his staff have offered, and I feel deeply for the parents