DETERMINED To DO THE RIGHT THING

Suboxone works by tying up the opiate receptors in the body with little if any of the euphoria associated with narcotics. If you take a narcotic like OxyContin while you are also taking Suboxone you will not experience the typical “high”. In order to experience the euphoria you would have to stop taking Suboxone first in order to free up the narcotic receptors.

University of Pennsylvania Program participants have to submit to weekly blood and urine analysis in order to ensure that they are taking the Suboxone and not taking any narcotic analgesics. Evidently, there is a high noncompliance rate.

 Andrew was in this program for 3 years and never had an incidence of noncompliance and eventually was able to give up the Suboxone. Dr. W, the head of the program, saw Andrew for weekly psychotherapy talk sessions Dr. W said Andrew was remarkable for his determination to do the right thing and to get better.

SUBOXONE con't

Suboxone is a narcotic medication indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence, available only by prescription. It must be taken while under a doctor's care. Suboxone contains buprenorphine, an opioid medication. 

Buprenorphine is similar to other opioids such as morphine, codeine, and heroin however, it produces little or no euphoric ("high") effects and therefore may be easier to stop taking. It also contains Naloxone, which blocks the effects of opioids such as morphine, codeine, and heroin. 

When Suboxone is injected, naloxone will block the effects of buprenorphine and lead to withdrawal symptoms in a person with an opioid addiction. When administered under the tongue as directed, naloxone will not affect the actions of buprenorphine. 

SUBOXONE

John and I went with him to the first meeting at Penn several days later. Initially, Andrew spoke privately with the head of the program, a very kind and patient psychiatrist. Then the four of us met together. 

Dr. W explained the program to us thoroughly. Andrew would immediately have baseline blood work done. Then he would begin taking a drug called Suboxone.

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

     When Andrew arrived home a few minutes later, John and I told him what we had found in the bank records. It was probably me doing most of the talking—it usually was. 
    Andrew said immediately—no beating around the bush, “It was me”. Fear, anxiety and anger crazed me. I demanded to know, “What the hell was going on?” 

     Andrew was very chagrinned but also very honest. He told us that he was sorry, but that he had to get the drug. We asked what drug and he told us about the OxyContin. He said it had made him feel so much better. 
     
     We asked him if he knew the dangers of addiction and he said, “Yes”. We told him that this was out of our control but that if he wanted to stay living with us he would have to figure this out immediately. 

     The amazing thing is that he did. Within 24 hours he had found, applied for and been accepted in the drug treatment program at University of Pennsylvania. 

THINGS ARE OUT OF CONTROL

     All of my children have always had access to my ATM card that I kept in my purse. They also knew my pin number. I would give them the card to run errands for me or to use it to get cash for me or for them. 

     John and I were down at his office computer that is set up in the basement. Andrew was not home. The girls were not living at home then. I believe this was spring of 2006.  I called Andrew and got him on his cell phone.. I told him we needed to talk to him immediately and he said he would come right home.

     I believe he knew why we wanted to talk to him. I thought he was sending us a red flag that said, “Help, things are out of control”.

We found out about Andrew self medicating with OxyContin when John noticed that I was making daily $500 withdrawals using my ATM card. He asked me about it and I told him that I had not made the withdrawals.

We called the bank to report it and were told that the only way those withdrawals could be made were with my ATM using my pin number. As I was talking on the phone with the bank, it occurred to me that it might be Andrew.

      I said as much to John. He said that the thought had also occurred to him.
 I was frightened and upset that it might be Andrew.

OXYCODONE

OxyContin (oxycodone) is a narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine. OxyContin helps to treat moderate to severe chronic pain, that is, pain expected to last for an extended period. 

OxyContin is for around-the-clock treatment of pain. It is highly addictive and abrupt discontinuation after a period of use can cause strong withdrawal symptoms.

 I do not know when Andrew started taking this drug.