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.
How did Jean-Marie’s experience highlight the need for better communication between doctors and patients regarding the risks of opioid dependency?
## Interview: Breaking Free from Opioid Dependency
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re discussing the complex issue of opioid dependency, a growing concern affecting millions worldwide. Joining us is Jean-Marie, who bravely shares his personal journey of overcoming a long and harrowing battle with opioid addiction. Welcome, Jean-Marie.
**Jean-Marie:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Jean-Marie, your story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Can you tell us what led you down this path?
**Jean-Marie:** It started innocently enough. I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, a debilitating condition. The pain was constant, crippling. My doctors prescribed painkillers, which initially provided some relief. But the relief was short-lived.
**Host:** And what happened next?
**Jean- Marie:** They switched me to a stronger painkiller—morphine. At first, it seemed like a miracle. The pain subsided, and I could function again. But I became dependent on it, needing increasingly larger doses to feel the same effect. It became a vicious cycle.
**Host:** You mentioned a lack of awareness regarding the dependency risk. Did any doctors discuss this with you?
**Jean-Marie:** No, no one really did. I didn’t read the instructions either, I just wanted the pain to stop. But looking back, it was a crucial oversight.
**Host:** The article mentions that you experienced severe withdrawal symptoms. Can you elaborate on that?
**Jean-Marie:** It was absolute agony. Vomiting, sweats, diarrhea… it felt like my body was betraying me. I ended up in the emergency room, where they simply gave me more morphine to alleviate the withdrawal.
**Host:** It sounds like a very difficult path. What ultimately led you to seek help for your addiction?
**Jean-Marie:** The emergency doctor saw through my situation and referred me to a specialized addiction service.
**Host:** And how has your journey been since then?
**Jean-Marie:** It hasn’t been easy. Breaking free from opioid dependency is a long and arduous process. But with support and determination, I’m slowly reclaiming my life.
**Host:** Your story is a powerful reminder of the dangers of opioid dependency and the need for greater awareness and understanding. Thank you for sharing your experience with us, Jean-Marie.
**Jean-Marie:** Thank you for giving me a platform to speak out. My hope is that my story can help others struggling with similar challenges.
**(Source: [[1](https://www.psychiatry.org/Patients-Families/Opioid-Use-Disorder)) **
