Narcotic Abuse Awareness

I have never personally studied drugs or drug addiction. A few months ago our youth pastor had a guest speaker come talk to our youth group regarding the dangers of prescription narcotics.  Several weeks later I had to have knee surgery. Before I went back to the OR, the anesthesiologist came to talk to me and explained the medications he would be giving me to go to sleep and then the medications I would be sent home with for pain. I remembered the information that I was given at church and it enabled me to question my doctor about what pain medication I would be given post surgery. I was wary of the types of medicine due to the warnings that I was given specifically about opioids.

I was going to be prescribed Hydrocodone (this drug was mentioned during the lesson). He did explain to me that narcotics do have their place and safety in short-term use for extreme pain. I still felt I wanted to be very cautious and so I decided to take one dosage of the medicine the next morning. From then on I only used over the counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, Aleve, and Tylenol. I was blessed that I was able to manage my pain enough with those that I was dancing on my leg the next day.

I have seen first hand the dangers of drug addiction in friends. I am grateful to have been educated on ways I can protect myself from falling into a trap of potential addiction.

Thank you for your ministry to our community, making all of us more aware of how to care for family members and ourselves.