Confession of an Internet Pharmacy Customer
Prescription drug addiction is one of the fastest growing medical problems in the United States. Part of the reason for this sudden growth is increased access to the drugs via online pharmacies that are operating beyond, or in the gray areas of the law. Often with little more than a valid credit card number, individuals can obtain an unlimited amount of these highly addictive opiate-based drugs.
The following is an interview with “Mark”, a 35-year-old landscaper from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His story of addiction and the Internet is not uncommon in 2009, but his insights into the problem are powerful nonetheless.
How did you start using Vicodin?
I was injured on the job, and the doctor prescribed Vicodin to help ease the pain. I went down to the pharmacy and picked up my Hydrocodone – which of course is the generic version of the drug. I was a little hesitant to take them at first, but I was in a significant amount of pain, so I figured I better do what the doctor advised.
How did you respond to the medication?
Well, it didn’t help cure my back problem, but it really relieved the pain. I found that I could go back to work, pick up my kids and do just about anything I used to do before I injured myself. I felt like a million bucks, all things considered/
And were there any other reactions to the Vicodin?
Oh, yes. Almost from the first time I took the drug, I got a nice little buzz off of it. Nothing too radical mind you, but after taking the Vicodin I was always in a good mood, cheerful and feeling like I could take on the world, you know?
And then what happened?
I ran out of the drug after about two weeks and noticed that my back had cleared up considerably. I was moving around just fine without the Vicodin. Problem was, I felt like I was really missing the effects of the drug on my mood. It wasn’t like any strong withdrawal symptoms or anything, but there was some kind of “hole” in my life without it.
What did you do to fill that hole?
Embarrassed as I am to admit it now, I called up my doctor and told her that my back was still hurting. I basically lied to her – this person who had been our trusted family physician for years – in order to get her to refill my Vicodin prescription. She trusted me of course, and for the next few months I had all the Vicodin I needed.
Did she stop giving you prescriptions eventually?
After about four months, I called her to get my usual refill request refilled. I could tell that something was different in her tone of voice. She told me she would need me to come down for an evaluation before she would give me any more Vicodin. I freaked out. I was so ashamed about what I had done that I scheduled the appointment and then never showed up. To this day I haven’t been in to see her or even spoken with her.
When did the Internet become a part of the situation?
I was running low on my Vicodin, so I got a new doctor to supply me, but like before, I was starting to get the feeling like she was going to cut me off. So I was browsing around the web one night and I decided to Google “buy Vicodin online.” Lo and behold, about 30 sites came up that offered me a chance to provide a credit card and a get the drugs sent to me right through the mail. Needless to say, I started calling these outfits right away.
Did you need to provide any medical history?
Oh yes, they wanted to see something that proved I had a back problem, so I just took some copies of my medical file from a few years earlier – I think I had the copies made because of an insurance claim – and faxed them in. Then they did a quick phone interview with a “medical assistant” and the next thing I knew, DHL was knocking on my door with a package full of pills.
Have there been any problems along the way?
Yeah, it’s not a fun process. These pharmacies are always going in and out of business, or changing their phone numbers to avoid, what I would imagine are the police. Once, one company just split town with my credit card number and made a bunch of purchases with it. I wanted to call the company and complain, but I wasn’t exactly in a position to do that if you know what I mean.
How did this additional access to Vicodin impact your life?
The more Vicodin I had access to, the more I took. I started to develop a tolerance to the drug which meant I needed more of it to get high. So I had to spend more money and lie to my wife about more credit card bills. Eventually it just spilled over and she found out everything. I’m in treatment now, but there’s been a violation of trust between the two of us that I don’t know if we’ll ever get back.
If you had it all to do over again, what would you do differently?
Believe me, I have thought about that many times. Many times. I probably would have had the strength to not take the drugs in the first place. Maybe just tried to stick to Advil or something instead. And when the withdrawal symptoms got too rough, I would have sought out professional help, or asked somebody or just rode them out. Anything but do what I did which was fall deeper into the cycle.
If you or someone you love is struggling with Vicodin Addiction, contact Michael’s House today. Michael’s House is a residential treatment facility located in Palm Springs, California and is staffed by outstanding professional who understand the special needs of those with an opiate addiction.
