My car accident two years ago not only left me with a broken hip and mangled wrist, but also an almost unlimited supply of Percocet from my doctor\’s prescription. I have read that it was possible that the morphine I received in the hospital may have whetted my appetite for the painkillers, but during my months of recovery time with very little to do, I found myself reaching for the prescription bottle to ease my pain and to relieve my boredom. While the pain was intense in the beginning, it gradually became more tolerable with each passing day. But, I have to admit I never once seriously thought I better start cutting back on these painkillers, and I definitely never thought of completely stopping my prescription pain pills.

The problem went from bad to worse when I started drinking pretty heavily on top of the Percocet. By the time I came to Behavioral Health’s Pain Medication Addiction Program, the lingering pain of my injuries from my car accident were the least of my problems. I was like one of those zombies you see on that TV show, The Walking Dead! I was severely addicted to Percs and alcohol, and it wasn\’t until after I successfully completed my detoxification that it hit me how bad I had gotten. After my detox was over, I began to have my first semi-clear thoughts since I first started using. At this time I also started to question the real extent of the pain I had felt previously. I asked myself if maybe I was only physically addicted to the high these opiates gave me and not the medical relief they provided.

I was very appreciative of my therapist and case manager. With their attention to my injuries and my opiate abuse, they crafted me an individualized painkiller recovery blueprint to follow. It was great knowing they took the time and consideration to take everything into account, because, in that weakened state, the last thing I wanted was to go through an impersonal, uniform treatment program or to figure things out for myself. It reminded me of having my own personal trainer at a gym. My treatment team mapped out the best strategy for me to continue to live a clean and sober life after I left the sanctity of their facility.

If anyone else is having similar fears, I can assure you it’s just a matter of taking that first step. I\’ve learned that the path to recovery is either filled with stumbling blocks or stepping-stones. Like pretty much everything else in life … it’s entirely up to you.

Gina A.
Philadelphia, PA