A Bioethicist's Personal Struggle with Opioids

I am a bioethicist. I study the ethical issues that arise in medicine and healthcare. I have written extensively about the opioid crisis, and I have argued that we need to do more to help people who are addicted to opioids.

In Pain: A Bioethicist's Personal Struggle with Opioids

by Travis Rieder

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1167 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	289 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

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But I never thought that I would become one of those people.

It all started with a back injury. I was in a lot of pain, and my doctor prescribed opioids to help me manage it. At first, the opioids worked well. They relieved my pain and allowed me to function normally.

But over time, I started to need more and more opioids to get the same effect. And I started to experience side effects, such as constipation, nausea, and drowsiness.

I knew that I was addicted to opioids, but I was afraid to admit it. I was ashamed of my addiction, and I didn't want anyone to know about it.

So I kept taking opioids, even though I knew they were harming me. I lost my job, my marriage, and my home. I ended up living on the streets, begging for money to buy drugs.

One day, I was arrested for possession of opioids. I was facing jail time, and I knew that I had hit rock bottom.

In jail, I finally got the help I needed. I went through detox and rehab, and I started to rebuild my life.

It's been a long and difficult journey, but I am now in recovery. I am grateful for the second chance that I have been given, and I am determined to help others who are struggling with opioid addiction.

I am sharing my story because I want to break the stigma associated with opioid addiction. I want people to know that addiction is a disease, and that it can happen to anyone.

I also want to raise awareness of the opioid crisis. This is a serious problem that is affecting millions of Americans. We need to do more to help people who are addicted to opioids, and we need to prevent this crisis from getting worse.

If you or someone you know is struggling with opioid addiction, please know that there is help available. There are many resources available to help people get into treatment and recovery.

Don't give up on yourself. Recovery is possible.

Resources for Opioid Addiction

• National Institute on Drug Abuse: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/prescription-opioids
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence: https://www.ncadd.org/about-addiction/drugs/prescription-drugs
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

In Pain: A Bioethicist's Personal Struggle with Opioids

by Travis Rieder

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1167 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	289 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE