Expert: Crystal - 8/14/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I'm sure you've heard this story a million times.  My boyfriend is addicted to Roxy's.  He told me they tore up his life a few years ago.  He has a 5 year old daughter.  I moved in with him a few months ago after working on our amazing long distance relationship for over a half a year.  It was the greatest relationship ever suprisingly.  He swore to me he would never take another blue.  Unfortunately, his friends never stopped.  He has relapsed twice.  This time he was on them for about 3 weeks before I found out.  I thought he seemed messed up the last few days and finally he admitted it was due to withdrawl symptoms.  I threatened to check him into rehabilitation, not a threat but I cannot be here to watch him destroy his life.  Anyway, he has all the symptoms, including lack of social interest, anxiety, trouble sleeping, difficulty urinating, and lack of sex drive.  I'm worried about him.  He is on his way to a doctor who prescribes suboxone.  To me it seems like just another pill.  He says that his outpatient detox will work.  I doubt it.  I want to be here for him but only if he can effectively get functioning again without the roxys.  Any advice?  Will he ever go back to normal or always suffer cravings and withdrawls?  I just can't understand these Opiates.

ANSWER: Allison,

When an individual comes off of narcotics (opiates) it takes quite some time for the symptoms to go subside and the system to go back to normal and you need to understand that sometimes the body and brain cannot fully recover due to the chemistry changes that take place in the brain. How long has he been detoxing? How was the doctors appt.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well, he went to a place that prescribed him suboxones yesterday.  What is your honest opinion on them?  I think it's just a crutch and a way to transfer your addiction to another pill, but who am I to truly know.  He left work after going back after his appointment and slept the rest of the day and pretty much all through the night except for me waking him up once.  I'm afraid that he will end up selling the suboxones though because he knows tons of "friends" who want their fix if they can't get the roxy's.  He says he won't though.  What do you think is the best option for detoxing and treatment?  Also, the only time I can tell he's been on them is when he's withdrawling when he's off them...any other signs?:(

Answer
You can tell that someone is detoxing by a number of things. They feel like they are coming out of their own skin and they feel hot and cold at the same time, they sweat alot, crave sweets,etc. You can tell they are on them because their body temperature drops, their eyes are pinned, they seem overly talkative or not at all, they have gummy mouth too.
Hope this helps.