‘I Was Taking, All Of A Sudden, 40 Vicodin A Day’
A woman who became addicted to Vicodin shares her story as part of a KPCC series on dealing with pain and how to manage it.
KPCC:
A Cautionary Tale: Former Addict Developed 'Gigantic Addiction' To Vicodin
"Mary" knew opioid painkillers were highly addictive and, as a former heroin addict, she knew she was at an elevated risk for a relapse. So even though she had been sober for decades, she pushed back when her doctor prescribed Vicodin for an injured rotator cuff and a couple of cracked ribs. ... Mary's doctor said the drugs were necessary; the broken ribs were making it hard for her to breathe and he said she risked developing a collapsed lung. ... "What really shocked me was how quickly it escalated into a gigantic addiction," she says. (Plevin, 7/20)