Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 This is an old blurb from a defunct website, but very good on describing the difference between addiction and dependence. Jerry/NC ****************************************************************************** * " National Institute on Drug Abuse, " NIDA on* * " **Addiction vs. Dependence** " * *There's a 0.03% chance you'll become addicted on narcotic medicine **if you're a pain patient. That's 3 hundredth's of 1 percent.* " This is what distinguishes the pain patient *who is tolerant to and physically dependent on morphine*, from the addict who is also tolerant to and physically dependent on heroin. Both are self-administering an addictive drug several times a day. But while the addict takes his drug to get high, " mellow out, " *and largely avoid life*, *the pain patient takes his drug to get on with life*. This apparently subtle distinction between the contingencies surrounding drug use lead to a remarkably different outcome for these two different kinds of users. Heroin addicts are lost to themselves, to their families, and to society. Not only can't they work, but they are almost certainly engaged in criminal activity, and they are at high risk of a variety of infectious diseases, including hepatitis and AIDS. Indeed, intravenous drug users have become the major vector for the spread of AIDS into the heterosexual community in this country. Current estimates are that more than 55% of addicts in New York City are HIV positive. (16) " " *Pain patients, by contrast, couldn't be more different*. Being *on an opioid allows them to interact with their families, to get out of hospitals, and to go back to work*. Indeed, their efforts to maintain their health are in marked contradiction to the utter disregard addicts show for their health. If we wish to equate addicts with pain patients, *the more appropriate comparison is with the under treated pain patient*. " " He is in the hospital or inactive at home, he is a major drain on his family's emotional and financial resources, and he does not contribute productively to society. " " Another difference between addicts and pain patients comes when it is time to get off the drug on which they are physically dependent. For addicts, this is a major hurdle.* For the pain patient, it is typically an uncomplicated process*. ... *Drugs have a completely different meaning to pain patients*, however.... " " Because of the meaning of drugs in an addict's life, drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing condition. Because of the very different meaning of drugs in a pain patient's life, drug addiction rarely, if ever, occurs after opioid use has stopped. (10-12) This is a crucial point. The data most often cited to link addiction to medically administered opioids were derived from studies with addicts. (17-18) In the first place, this group is highly unrepresentative of the general population. In the second, it is made up of highly unreliable people. Self-reporting about drug use by addicts is not the method of choice in studying drug use. (9) The more appropriate data to address this issue have been derived from retrospective reviews of large numbers of patients who received opioids to determine how many became addicts.ost important among these are the legal barriers we have erected to limit the use of opioids a *Of 24,000 patients studied, only 7 could be identified who got into trouble with drugs as a result of medical administration*. " *** " The conclusions of this discussion are clear: (a) dependence and addiction are not equivalent to each other; ( *patients who become dependent on opioids during the course of medical therapy rarely become addicted to those drugs*; and © *in managing pain with opioids, there is little need to fear addiction*. *Tolerance to opioids is rarely a problem because it is possible to continuously increase the dose*. Dependence is only a concern when prescribing drugs with antagonist properties and in managing withdrawal. " " If addiction is not a reason to avoid using opioids, *many of the other reasons that have led to widespread under prescribing can be addressed more directly*. Mnd the lack of knowledge among health care professionals about the proper use of these agents. " End. ________ 7 out of 24,000 would be: 7 into 24,000 = *0.0002916*. In percentage that would read: *0.03%* or *3 hundredth's of 1 percent!* " There is better than a " 99.9% chance that you will *NOT* become addicted if your doctor gives you *adequate and ongoing opioid medication* for your suffering, if you are a valid pain patient! ------------------------------ Risk of Addiction Small say Experts: http://www.docguide.com/dg.nsf/DGNews/0EBCE61FF58E3C148525688C005E4A89?OpenDocum\ ent&f=y " *You will not make any patient an addict if you give them drugs to treat their pain*, " says *Henry Farkas, MD, MPH*, Medical Director of the Northern Chesapeake Hospice and a staff physician at Union Hospital, in Elkton, MD. He pointed to the results of a very large study done in the 1980s, which found that only four patients became addicted out of 12,000 treated with opiates for pain. " It's just not a problem for more than 99 percent of people, " he said. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 Very good info,Jerry.Thanks for posting it. Pete > >Reply-To: pancreatitis >To: pancreatitis >Subject: Addiction vs. Dependence >Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 16:24:37 -0400 > >This is an old blurb from a defunct website, but very good on describing >the >difference between addiction and dependence. > >Jerry/NC >****************************************************************************** > > > >* " National Institute on Drug Abuse, " NIDA on* > >* " **Addiction vs. Dependence** " * > >*There's a 0.03% chance you'll become addicted on narcotic medicine **if >you're a pain patient. That's 3 hundredth's of 1 percent.* > > " This is what distinguishes the pain patient *who is tolerant to and >physically dependent on morphine*, from the addict who is also tolerant to >and physically dependent on heroin. Both are self-administering an >addictive >drug several times a day. But while the addict takes his drug to get high, > " mellow out, " *and largely avoid life*, *the pain patient takes his drug to >get on with life*. This apparently subtle distinction between the >contingencies surrounding drug use lead to a remarkably different outcome >for these two different kinds of users. Heroin addicts are lost to >themselves, to their families, and to society. Not only can't they work, >but >they are almost certainly engaged in criminal activity, and they are at >high >risk of a variety of infectious diseases, including hepatitis and AIDS. >Indeed, intravenous drug users have become the major vector for the spread >of AIDS into the heterosexual community in this country. Current estimates >are that more than 55% of addicts in New York City are HIV positive. (16) " > > " *Pain patients, by contrast, couldn't be more different*. Being *on an >opioid allows them to interact with their families, to get out of >hospitals, >and to go back to work*. Indeed, their efforts to maintain their health are >in marked contradiction to the utter disregard addicts show for their >health. If we wish to equate addicts with pain patients, *the more >appropriate comparison is with the under treated pain patient*. " > > " He is in the hospital or inactive at home, he is a major drain on his >family's emotional and financial resources, and he does not contribute >productively to society. " > > " Another difference between addicts and pain patients comes when it is time >to get off the drug on which they are physically dependent. For addicts, >this is a major hurdle.* For the pain patient, it is typically an >uncomplicated process*. ... *Drugs have a completely different meaning to >pain patients*, however.... " > > " Because of the meaning of drugs in an addict's life, drug addiction is a >chronic, relapsing condition. Because of the very different meaning of >drugs >in a pain patient's life, drug addiction rarely, if ever, occurs after >opioid use has stopped. (10-12) This is a crucial point. The data most >often >cited to link addiction to medically administered opioids were derived from >studies with addicts. (17-18) In the first place, this group is highly >unrepresentative of the general population. In the second, it is made up of >highly unreliable people. Self-reporting about drug use by addicts is not >the method of choice in studying drug use. (9) The more appropriate data to >address this issue have been derived from retrospective reviews of large >numbers of patients who received opioids to determine how many became >addicts.ost important among these are the legal barriers we have erected to >limit the use of opioids a *Of 24,000 patients studied, only 7 could be >identified who got into trouble with drugs as a result of medical >administration*. " *** > > " The conclusions of this discussion are clear: (a) dependence and addiction >are not equivalent to each other; ( *patients who become dependent on >opioids during the course of medical therapy rarely become addicted to >those >drugs*; and © *in managing pain with opioids, there is little need to >fear >addiction*. *Tolerance to opioids is rarely a problem because it is >possible >to continuously increase the dose*. Dependence is only a concern when >prescribing drugs with antagonist properties and in managing withdrawal. " > > " If addiction is not a reason to avoid using opioids, *many of the other >reasons that have led to widespread under prescribing can be addressed more >directly*. Mnd the lack of knowledge among health care professionals about >the proper use of these agents. " End. > >________ > >7 out of 24,000 would be: 7 into 24,000 = *0.0002916*. In percentage that >would read: *0.03%* or *3 hundredth's of 1 percent!* > > " There is better than a " 99.9% chance that you will *NOT* become addicted >if >your doctor gives you *adequate and ongoing opioid medication* for your >suffering, if you are a valid pain patient! > ------------------------------ > >Risk of Addiction Small say Experts: >http://www.docguide.com/dg.nsf/DGNews/0EBCE61FF58E3C148525688C005E4A89?OpenDocu\ ment&f=y > > " *You will not make any patient an addict if you give them drugs to treat >their pain*, " says *Henry Farkas, MD, MPH*, Medical Director of the >Northern >Chesapeake Hospice and a staff physician at Union Hospital, in Elkton, MD. >He pointed to the results of a very large study done in the 1980s, which >found that only four patients became addicted out of 12,000 treated with >opiates for pain. " It's just not a problem for more than 99 percent of >people, " he said. " > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 You are welcome, Pete! Jerry/NC ************************************** > > > Very good info,Jerry.Thanks for posting it. > Pete > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 Hi Jerry, Thanks for that article. I forwarded it on to a friend of mine who has trouble understanding the difference.I told him the difference in my words but he said an addict by any other name is still an addict. He is a recovered alcoholic/addict. thanx again...Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 Jimmy, People who have had substance abuse problems are difficult to convince. He needs to see the world his way so that he can deal with his problem. That's OK. Glad I could help. Jerry/NC ********************************************* > > Hi Jerry, Thanks for that article. I forwarded it on to a friend of > mine who has trouble understanding the difference.I told him the > difference in my words but he said an addict by any other name is > still an addict. He is a recovered alcoholic/addict. thanx again...Jim > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 Dude.....that is a great article...I think you should post it to the top5 board also..hope you are well Bro....Mark Addiction vs. Dependence > This is an old blurb from a defunct website, but very good on describing > the > difference between addiction and dependence. > > Jerry/NC > ****************************************************************************** > > > > * " National Institute on Drug Abuse, " NIDA on* > > * " **Addiction vs. Dependence** " * > > *There's a 0.03% chance you'll become addicted on narcotic medicine **if > you're a pain patient. That's 3 hundredth's of 1 percent.* > > " This is what distinguishes the pain patient *who is tolerant to and > physically dependent on morphine*, from the addict who is also tolerant to > and physically dependent on heroin. Both are self-administering an > addictive > drug several times a day. But while the addict takes his drug to get high, > " mellow out, " *and largely avoid life*, *the pain patient takes his drug > to > get on with life*. This apparently subtle distinction between the > contingencies surrounding drug use lead to a remarkably different outcome > for these two different kinds of users. Heroin addicts are lost to > themselves, to their families, and to society. Not only can't they work, > but > they are almost certainly engaged in criminal activity, and they are at > high > risk of a variety of infectious diseases, including hepatitis and AIDS. > Indeed, intravenous drug users have become the major vector for the spread > of AIDS into the heterosexual community in this country. Current estimates > are that more than 55% of addicts in New York City are HIV positive. (16) " > > " *Pain patients, by contrast, couldn't be more different*. Being *on an > opioid allows them to interact with their families, to get out of > hospitals, > and to go back to work*. Indeed, their efforts to maintain their health > are > in marked contradiction to the utter disregard addicts show for their > health. If we wish to equate addicts with pain patients, *the more > appropriate comparison is with the under treated pain patient*. " > > " He is in the hospital or inactive at home, he is a major drain on his > family's emotional and financial resources, and he does not contribute > productively to society. " > > " Another difference between addicts and pain patients comes when it is > time > to get off the drug on which they are physically dependent. For addicts, > this is a major hurdle.* For the pain patient, it is typically an > uncomplicated process*. ... *Drugs have a completely different meaning to > pain patients*, however.... " > > " Because of the meaning of drugs in an addict's life, drug addiction is a > chronic, relapsing condition. Because of the very different meaning of > drugs > in a pain patient's life, drug addiction rarely, if ever, occurs after > opioid use has stopped. (10-12) This is a crucial point. The data most > often > cited to link addiction to medically administered opioids were derived > from > studies with addicts. (17-18) In the first place, this group is highly > unrepresentative of the general population. In the second, it is made up > of > highly unreliable people. Self-reporting about drug use by addicts is not > the method of choice in studying drug use. (9) The more appropriate data > to > address this issue have been derived from retrospective reviews of large > numbers of patients who received opioids to determine how many became > addicts.ost important among these are the legal barriers we have erected > to > limit the use of opioids a *Of 24,000 patients studied, only 7 could be > identified who got into trouble with drugs as a result of medical > administration*. " *** > > " The conclusions of this discussion are clear: (a) dependence and > addiction > are not equivalent to each other; ( *patients who become dependent on > opioids during the course of medical therapy rarely become addicted to > those > drugs*; and © *in managing pain with opioids, there is little need to > fear > addiction*. *Tolerance to opioids is rarely a problem because it is > possible > to continuously increase the dose*. Dependence is only a concern when > prescribing drugs with antagonist properties and in managing withdrawal. " > > " If addiction is not a reason to avoid using opioids, *many of the other > reasons that have led to widespread under prescribing can be addressed > more > directly*. Mnd the lack of knowledge among health care professionals about > the proper use of these agents. " End. > > ________ > > 7 out of 24,000 would be: 7 into 24,000 = *0.0002916*. In percentage that > would read: *0.03%* or *3 hundredth's of 1 percent!* > > " There is better than a " 99.9% chance that you will *NOT* become addicted > if > your doctor gives you *adequate and ongoing opioid medication* for your > suffering, if you are a valid pain patient! > ------------------------------ > > Risk of Addiction Small say Experts: > http://www.docguide.com/dg.nsf/DGNews/0EBCE61FF58E3C148525688C005E4A89?OpenDocum\ ent&f=y > > " *You will not make any patient an addict if you give them drugs to treat > their pain*, " says *Henry Farkas, MD, MPH*, Medical Director of the > Northern > Chesapeake Hospice and a staff physician at Union Hospital, in Elkton, MD. > He pointed to the results of a very large study done in the 1980s, which > found that only four patients became addicted out of 12,000 treated with > opiates for pain. " It's just not a problem for more than 99 percent of > people, " he said. " > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 Hi Jerry, Wow, that's exactly right, I never thought of it that way. With me, giving up alcohol was easy, it was drink or live. thanx again, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2005 Report Share Posted October 21, 2005 Hey Jerry...I posted that article at the top5plus5 board.....you can find it at this page http://www.eboards4all.com/539945/messages/388.html Thanks again for posting it.....I hope this finds you and yours well....Mark BTW....you will have to sign up for the forum to view the article I have placed there, if you haven't already done so.....it helps keep the spam down.....Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2005 Report Share Posted October 22, 2005 What an awesome description!!!! Also I will point out that although you may suffer withdrawal when you get off the meds, weaning slowing helps a lot, once you are off - there is no craving to get more. When the pain is gone, it's gone and so is the need for the meds. I've seen this with Chris. It definitely didn't make him an addict and he needed massive doses of narcotics to control his pain. Thanks for posting this Jerry. LInda > > This is an old blurb from a defunct website, but very good on describing the > difference between addiction and dependence. > > Jerry/NC > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2005 Report Share Posted October 22, 2005 Dear Jerry: Could you clarify the last sentence, please? I've copied this for my files and corrected a couple of typos but can't figure this one out. What is the word " Mnd " ? Thanks, in Hawaii > " If addiction is not a reason to avoid using opioids, many of the other reasons that have led to widespread under prescribing can be addressed more directly*. Mnd the lack of knowledge among health care professionals about the proper use of these agents. " End. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 22, 2005 Report Share Posted October 22, 2005 I believe the word should be " m-i-n-d " . (Such as a shortened form of " Keep in mind " .) Yeah, there were lots of typos in that thing. Some people just don't care. It's hard for me to understand since it's so easy to use a spellcheck program. All the Best, Jerry ************************************** > > Dear Jerry: > > Could you clarify the last sentence, please? I've copied this for my > files and corrected a couple of typos but can't figure this one out. > What is the word " Mnd " ? > > Thanks, > in Hawaii > > > > " If addiction is not a reason to avoid using opioids, many of the > other reasons that have led to widespread under prescribing can be > addressed more directly*. Mnd the lack of knowledge among health care > professionals about the proper use of these agents. " End. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.