Don’t Label Me as an Addict
“I want you to understand, I am not an addict,” Rebecca (not her real name), a 32-year-old social worker calling from Philadelphia, spoke emphatically into the phone. “The pain I have is 100% legitimate and I work with a pain management specialist who is well...
What Is Lean? 5 Things to Know About “Purple Drank”
An opioid-based drink called “lean” has skyrocketed in popularity among teens and young adults in recent years, with one study suggesting that nearly seven percent of college-aged students have tried the concoction. Also known as “purple...
How Long Do Opioids Stay In Your System?
Opioids encompass a wide range of substances, including powerful prescription medications like fentanyl, oxycodone and hydrocodone, as well as illicit drugs such as heroin or street fentanyl. Each opioid has unique characteristics, including varying half-lives and...
When Pain Medication Becomes a Dependency
Eve, age 46, is a long-time nurse. When she was younger and working in the hospital, she was helping an obese patient from bed to their wheelchair. The patient became unsteady, and when Eve reached to steady the patient, the patient fell, pulling and twisting Eve’s...
