Gabapentin Abuse?

[drusso]

New on the streets: Drug for nerve pain boosts high for opioid abusers

"Linda Holley, a clinical supervisor at an Athens outpatient program run by the Health Recovery Services, said she suspects at least half of her clients on Suboxone treatment abuse gabapentin. But the center can’t afford to regularly test every participant."

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[clubdeac]

This is being talked about over on the sermo forums as well.... hmmm I thought it was relatively benign. I have been suspicious of guys abusing Lyrica though. Got one guy up to 600mg/day and he was still demanding more!

 

[lobelsteve]

Hmm. Ever hear the phrase, It's the person, not tbe drug.

Take it all away and huffing diesel, whippits, glue, heroin, etc will get more use.

 

[drusso]

Hmm. Ever hear the phrase, It's the person, not the drug.

Take it all away and huffing diesel, whippits, glue, heroin, etc will get more use.

That is the exact opposite of the argument PROP and the CDC are making. It **IS** the drug--the exposure to the drug specifically--that is the problem. Risk stratifying, REMS, etc is just Kabuki. Want to **FIX** the opioid epidemic? Take away the drug...It is not politically correct to talk about addiction as a person-problem or a character problem.

 

[oreosandsake]

first time i had heard about it was when PCP contacted me about a 50+ y/o law school student, who presented with classic story of lumbar radic. PMH did include polysubstance abuse but he was not interested in "anything stronger" said gabapentin really worked for him.

on eval was interested in injections, MRI. etc i wrote for gabapentin, 600mg TID and then he never followed up. i got refill requests after 4 months not seeing him and said, no he needs to come in. before he came in the PCP messaged me and said "BTW he has history of using more than prescribed. i've talked to him about it. be careful"

I had to call him in, then ask him about it, then call his pharmacy to make sure he wasn't getting more prescribed at least by that ONE pharmacy. he never really wanted MRI, or injections etc. i have no idea how to monitor his gabapentin use since i cannot call every pharmacy to check on him...

i dont drug screen him but i prob will next visit.

 

[Ducttape]

That is the exact opposite of the argument PROP and the CDC are making. It **IS** the drug--the exposure to the drug specifically--that is the problem. Risk stratifying, REMS, etc is just Kabuki. Want to **FIX** the opioid epidemic? Take away the drug...It is not politically correct to talk about addiction as a person-problem or a character problem.

I see this differently

it may be the person, but the access is what we can have a positive influence on. eliminate access, and while that individual will have latent underlying tendencies towards addiction, he will not get exposure and become addicted or OD. is there any treatment that truly prevents addiction from occurring other than non-exposure? in addition, substance abuse treatment is not being paid for adequately.

you cant shoot up dope if there is no dope to shoot up.
and frankly, the other stuff (ie nonopioids) to shoot up may not be half as dangerous...

 

[drusso]

I see this differently

it may be the person, but the access is what we can have a positive influence on. eliminate access, and while that individual will have latent underlying tendencies towards addiction, he will not get exposure and become addicted or OD. is there any treatment that truly prevents addiction from occurring other than non-exposure? in addition, substance abuse treatment is not being paid for adequately.

you cant shoot up dope if there is no dope to shoot up.
and frankly, the other stuff (ie nonopioids) to shoot up may not be half as dangerous...

New data reveals Oregon's opioid epidemic still dire in rural counties

 

[lobelsteve]

That is the exact opposite of the argument PROP and the CDC are making. It **IS** the drug--the exposure to the drug specifically--that is the problem. Risk stratifying, REMS, etc is just Kabuki. Want to **FIX** the opioid epidemic? Take away the drug...It is not politically correct to talk about addiction as a person-problem or a character problem.

I take the same stance against diabetics. Ban Coca cola, burn the cane fields, jail the sugarjunkies. Costs to healthcare for dm related illness is huge. And yes, some of those folks are totally dependent, IDDM.

 

[Ducttape]

we would be better off as a society if we did get rid of high fructose corn syrup...

 

[geauxg8rs]

we would be better off as a society if we did get rid of high fructose corn syrup...

and gluten. we need to ban gluten

 

[bedrock]

we would be better off as a society if we did get rid of high fructose corn syrup...

Should be banned like they did with trans fats.

 

[bedrock]

and gluten. we need to ban gluten

I ❤️ gluten

 

[bronchospasm]

Golden words that my attending once told me
" People will eat dog **** if it gives them a high".

Gaba is no different.