Expert: Jacqui - 11/17/2009

Question
Hi there, I have been helping my flatmate/good friend get well from a recent opiate addiction in New Zealand. She has been doing well, although she recently commented on injecting prescription drugs instead so I got a bit worried. As bad as it is, I had a little look in her room and unfortunatly came across Tegretol, Amitriptyline, Tramedo, Diclofenac and Codiene. I am pretty sure she dosnt even know if they are safe to use that way so if you could reply as soon as possible it would be much appreciated. Thanks, Chels

Answer
Hey Chelsey,

Firsty, yep that is bad.  I wouldn't look in someone's room, especially about something like that because you will now have lost her trust, and she is probably going to be furious.  So my first advice is don't look in her room and don't tell you that you have.

Really, drug issues are rarely contained by well meaing friends, and the most I would suggest you do is offer your support, rather than trying to get her to do something she might not want to do.  You might want to check in and say "when you spoke about injecting prescription drugs the other day I was worried that there might be some risks associated with that - do you know if you can do it in a way that is safer?"  If she says no, you then you have to accept that.  If she says she is I am happy to provide some feedback.  From your message only codiene and trammal are opiates (actually trammal is a bit different, but that is moot really),the others are for different reasons.

If you want safer using info about the medications as well as some risks about what is possible if they are injected please don't hesitate to let me know.  Also, please don't take this message the wrong way - I think it is great you are supporting your friend.  But I do get lots of messages from people who just want to change other people (while continuing to smoke and drink to their hearts content), so I am always careful about this topic.  By just being her friend, and being non-judgemental, will count for lots!

Take care and stay safe (and get back to me if you want more info!)

Jacqui