Is Your Boss's Mom a Heroin Addict?

She could be. Sam's was.

Every day, the web of opioid/heroin addiction continues to infiltrate its deadly tendrils into every population of our society. People you never expect would have an issue are becoming heroin addicts. Most don’t talk. That is why some of us are starting to.

Sam was shocked to see, (from a prison TV monitor), a restaurant manager he worked for several years ago on the television series Intervention. The manager’s mom was a heroin addict. Sam had no idea at the time.

The mom had been an involved and loving parent who was prescribed pain meds to cope with a previous injury. When her Rx ran out, she began to use heroin. Such a sad and tragic repeat of so many other stories. Suddenly, so many things about that job began to make sense.

Sam’s Dad and I could never understand why this manager was so patient with Sam, especially because he was working in a fast-food establishment well known for its Christian values. On his first day of work, Sam had to be reminded not to cuss in the kitchen. Shortly after that, he relapsed and occasionally began to call in sick. When he WAS at work, he was often either high or dope-sick.

For some reason, however, Sam was given chance after chance. Now perhaps we understand why. Was his manager trying to help him in a way he couldn’t help his own mom? After all, I don’t carry Narcan to use on my own son anymore, I carry it to use on someone else’s. Maybe those of us who love heroin addicts subconsciously believe that if we can help another addict, good karma might come to our own as well?

When he finally did get fired, Sam was even told he would be welcome to return if he cleaned up his act. Seems as if he couldn’t burn that bridge with kerosene and a torch!

It is truly frightening to think of this pendulum we all ride. There are people dying in droves of opioid/heroin overdose and others in chronic pain unable to get the relief they need.

The line is extremely fine. The suicide rate for extreme/chronic pain patients is rising. This is why the FDA, on 4/9/2019, issued an announcement regarding the importance of careful taper and personalized pain relief plans.

The very next day, the CDC issued an echoing statement. They note that there is not an actual call for mandated tapering and discontinuation. Rather, each case has to to be evaluated on its own merits.

Unfortunately, these changes have come too late for many. I wonder if addicts who started out with pain-pills can pinpoint the time it became an addiction?

If we truly want to make a dent in this epidemic without destroying the lives of those who depend on pain medication for simple day to day life and function, we have to see each opioid and heroin addict, as well as each pain-management patient, as an individual and begin to treat them that way.

Where there is Life, there is Hope. In Gratitude Always. #Nomoreshame