Expert: Caroline West - 12/28/2008

Question
I am a 15 year old female who has made a few mistakes. While being in an abusive relationship, I began to crush up Oxycontin pills and take them. I got the pills from one of my close friends who claims that they would help me sleep better and feel better, without being too noticably high. He was right for the most part, my breathing slowed down a lot and I didn't feel nervous around my boyfriend anymore, I was able to sleep better and I craved cigarettes less as well. Two months later, which is now, I cannot stop taking them. I have gone up to 3 days without taking them, which makes me very sick. I have symptoms such as migraines, vomiting and very bad dizziness. I know that I should stop, but I am afraid. I'm afraid my parents would find out, I would be dead *not literally by the way*. But in severe trouble. I want this to end, but I'm not sure how. Then again, if I like how it makes me feel, should I want to stop at all?

Please and thank you,

Kristine

Answer
Hi Kristine,well done with taking the first step by telling someone about your problem and I will do my best to offer some help.

I don't know if you have much knowledge about what Oxycontin is but I will still explain it. It comes from a group of medicines called Narcotics which are Opiate based and hun its the same stuff that Heroin is made of. It is no wonder you are having trouble coming off them because your addicted and your body is going into withdrawals which explains the horrible symptoms you are experiencing.You need to be eased off it gradually.

I understand that you like the way it makes you feel but it causes a lot more trouble in the long run and your body is going to get used to it and your tolerance will increase and you will need more and more of the drug than you did in the beginning to get the same effect. The danger is that you will come across other drugs and try them and find them equally as nice as Oxycontin. But its not just about getting a drug thats nice and thats it:there is the whole drug world that goes hand in hand with it and I can tell you its not a nice place to be in.

I want to ask you a few questions about your Mum & Dad and I want you to think about the answers. How close are you with them? Can you go to them when you have a problem? Do they listen if you want to have a chat? Are they there for you? In your question you said that you would be dead if they found out,would they be angry first and then calm down later? Only you know these answers and thinking about them will better equip you for telling them. I would want you to go and tell your parents. When I told my parents I was on Heroin I,like you,thought they were going to kill me but to my surprise they were extremely supportive so maybe your parents might surprise you too if you choose to tell them.Its hard for me because I don't know your family but my guess is that they will help you. Its my guess that they have their suspicions coz truthfully,our parents aren't as stupid as we think they are!

Another thing-get out of that abusive relationship straight away. You are having to take this drug partly to not feel so scared around your boyfriend because of how he treats you,hun,he is not worth it.He really isn't.

One thing I want you to do is to find out if there is a youth service in your area or neighboring area as it will really help you to talk to a trained counselor not only to help get you off this drug but to help raise your self-esteem.Even a school counselor,anyone who you can confide in and I'm not talking about your mates. Address these issues now Kristine so you don't take them into adulthood where it is even harder to sort them out. It only gets worse.

So-you know what the drug is now and why you are having trouble coming off them. You really do need to tell your Mum & Dad or speak to a counselor or nurse at school or your Doctor or your local Youth Team.Either way you will need medical help to gradually ease you off the Oxycontin. Get rid of that boyfriend ASAP-if he cared about you he wouldn't abuse you. Get this sorted now so you won't take it into adulthood where it will only get worse and you need a counselor now for however long to raise up your self esteem.

Please take all this seriously-I know you might not as I was a teenager once too! but please listen to what I've said. Have a good think and remember that there are lots of people out there that can help and you made the first step by writing in so follow up all what I've talked about and I wish you all the best and more, and if there is anything else further you want to ask me then write again,I'm always here.

Caroline