"Accidental" drug overdose

[happygirl]

I guess you're probably all right. I am feeling a bit testy today. It just makes me angry that people still, in this day and age when folks KNOW the dangers still decide to take that first needle to the arm. I really DON'T get it.

It all comes back to people never think it will happen to them.

 

[mjkacmom]

I guess you're probably all right. I am feeling a bit testy today. It just makes me angry that people still, in this day and age when folks KNOW the dangers still decide to take that first needle to the arm. I really DON'T get it.

I think most drug addicts start when they are young, and their brain has yet to develop it's full risk assessment. I think if addicts were offered a "magic pill," and the addiction would be gone, the majority would take it. Unfortunately, there is no "magic pill," and overcoming addiction is a long and painful road. Addicts have my sympathy.

 

[OK!]

Of course it doesn't bother me. There's a big difference between taking something with the express intent of killing yourself and just taking something, whether it's an illegal substance or otherwise.

 

[Mermaid02]

How do you suppose they decide if intent was there or not?

 

[happygirl]

I Addicts have my sympathy.

Mine to. It a long road ahead of them I'm lucky no one I know has been a drug addict but I can only image how hard it must be, not only for them but there families.

 

[happygirl]

How do you suppose they decide if intent was there or not?

They talk to families memeber to see if the person was depressed, There might been a good bye note.

 

[joviroxx]

I have seen and known too many addicts to think that any of them chose to be addicts. Sure, they made a stupid decision to start taking drugs but had no idea what was to come. I was at a wake a few weeks ago for a 44 year old man. A beautiful, sweet, kind and loving man who was an addict. Believe me, he did not want to die.

Ive known my share as well and I agree, they dont choose to be addicts BUT they do chose not to try and fight it. Is it a losing battle because the addiction is stonger? No, its just a harder one. And that goes with everything, weight, drugs, smoking, alcohol, etc...

If they didnt have a choice, there would be no hope for addicts. They have to choose to either fight the fight of their lives or resign to the addiction.

 

[Mermaid02]

They talk to families memeber to see if the person was depressed, There might been a good bye note.

Interesting, but I think addicts tend to have emotional problems anyway.

 

[happygirl]

Interesting, but I think addicts tend to have emotional problems anyway.

Some do, Some don't. I'm bet there are people you know that are addicts that you would never guess.

 

[Mermaid02]

Some do, Some don't. I'm bet there are people you know that are addicts that you would never guess.

True- because they hide it- just like they hide their depression etc. I think many folks who start taking drugs (or drinking) and then develop an addiction are self medicating.

 

[MerMom60_94]

True- because they hide it- just like they hide their depression etc. I think many folks who start taking drugs (or drinking) and then develop an addiction are self medicating.

On this we agree.

 

[OK!]

How do you suppose they decide if intent was there or not?

I don't know how they decide it, but I'm not going to make it my place to determine that because someone made a poor choice (no matter how many times that choice may have been made), he wanted to die.

 

[luvmy3]

True- because they hide it- just like they hide their depression etc. I think many folks who start taking drugs (or drinking) and then develop an addiction are self medicating.

Maybe, but that doesn't mean that their intent was to end their life.

 

[happygirl]

Sad thing is I think Lindsey Lohan needs some help or she will be the next one that has passed away.

 

[Kathi OD]

Loreli, you have to remember a lot of people make these poor choices (drugs, cigarettes, whatever ) when they are young and feel invincible. They then become addicted and have trouble shaking it off. I have a family member who was a heroin addict when she was my DDs age. She was going through some problems at home (i.e. her parents divorce) and made some really bad choices during that time. Now she is working toward cleaning up her act but has at least once, that I know of, slipped backward and had to go back into rehab. My heart goes out to her because she is a good person and I see her trying but she really, really struggles with this sometimes. I hear where you are coming from but I agree with the others that some of us make bad choices and sometimes those choices can lead to serious consequences including death.

This post could describe my best friend's daughter (only she was dealing with a feeling of abandonment...she was adopted by my friend and couldn't get past the fact that her birth parents abandoned her, even though she was so wanted and loved by her adopted family). Sadly, about a year ago, she needed to have some surgery and the pain meds led her back down that road to addiction. She left behind a beautiful little boy that my friend and her DH are now raising. Definitely accidental.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I don't think anyone chooses to get addicted.

I think you should volunter half way house. I think it might open your eyes to drug addictions and what really goes on.

I agree with this...but I get how others can be so harsh about it...

Both of my parents are major addicts...my father is a functioning prescription addict and my mother is a not-so functioning meth addict(no...she is not allowed to be around my kids...my father is with supervision, cause you would never know there was anything wrong with him...but we live in another state so the contact is minimal).

It is REALLY hard when you're dealing with someone like my father, who is the NICEST guy in the world, to be like... "Oh well, you chose this life, so...."

It IS true though and every counseler I have ever been to has said the same thing...but it's really difficult to be so harsh. Not so with my mother...but that's a WHOLE different topic...

So do I feel like it is accidental if they overdose?

Yes...I think anytime something happens that you don't know is coming...like an overdose...is an accidental death...meaning it wasn't planned.

 

[OK!]

Sadly, the episode of Frasier that's on Lifetime this morning has Brittany Murphy in it (minor, non-speaking role, as least from what I've seen so far). As far as I know, her death was ruled an accidental OD, wasn't it?

 

[Heidict]

I have seen and known too many addicts to think that any of them chose to be addicts. Sure, they made a stupid decision to start taking drugs but had no idea what was to come. I was at a wake a few weeks ago for a 44 year old man. A beautiful, sweet, kind and loving man who was an addict. Believe me, he did not want to die.

I agree with you. The reasons why someone gets involved in drugs are so varied it would be impossible to list them. I'm not going to stand here and judge them on it, but I'm pretty sure none of them wanted or expected to become addicted.

The fight and battle to get off of drugs is a difficult and often lifetime fight. I know a couple that have managed to clean themselves up and have kept themselves clean for many years, but it is still a struggle for them at times. Getting yourself clean and staying that way is a lot easier said then done and not being an addict myself, I can't imagine it.

 

[tinkntraining]

Sadly, the episode of Frasier that's on Lifetime this morning has Brittany Murphy in it (minor, non-speaking role, as least from what I've seen so far). As far as I know, her death was ruled an accidental OD, wasn't it?

IIRC, the official coroner's report said pneumonia was the COD, with prescription drugs playing a role.

 

[OK!]

IIRC, the official coroner's report said pneumonia was the COD, with prescription drugs playing a role.

Gotcha. Thanks for the info!