51/50

Sometime ago I spoke of a loved one who was being victimized by his own rage. Unfortunately, there is more to this story now. Previously, I had spoken of the frustration in not being able to help. Even more, I had related the hurt you feel watching that loved one sinking deeper and deeper in a hole that only gets deeper itself. Today, that same person is in the hospital awaiting a psychiatric evaluation. a 51/50 is how they phrased--"a threat to himself." And reason? Alcohol, Depression, and a little something the pharmacy calls Tramadol. For those of you unfamiliar with this drug, Tramadol comes in pill form and to say the least, is more addictive than Heroin. If I remember correctly, the nurse said that Methamphetamene is the only known drug posing a greater health risk and overall life-threatening to the user. When combing the two ingredients, Tramadol and alcohol, severe depression is the end result. What's worse though, is how quickly users can become addicted. If people are willing to trade 8 minutes of their life for a quick nicotine fix, can you fathom what they would do to pop a Tramadol pill? A pill that is by far, a hundred times worse than a cigarette? This pill, as tiny as it may be, can kill you just by withdrawl symptoms alone. It has been documented that a new technique has been used to try and rehabilitate abusers. Doctors render the patient unconscious and administer medication to help balance the horrors felt and experienced from 'a come down.' Now please, ask yourself why this drug is prescribed. Why are pharmacies so eager and so quick to hand this drug to outstretched hands? If a nurse, not a doctor, but a nurse, is aware of the dangers this drug possesses, is it because of gross negligence that doctors prescribe it? Doctor's prescribing Tramadol should at least advise their patient that the pill they are swallowing is going to eventually lead them to a 51/50.
It's only fair though, that part of the responsibility also fall upon the person stuffing the pills down their throat. As hard as it may be to realize that with each swallow they are only hurting themself, total awareness and the ability to differentiate between what is life-threatening and what not, is not completely blurred out by the physical enjoyment felt from taking Tramadol. Ultimately, the decision is theirs to make. You can tell a person an infinite amount of times to please stop, but in the end they are the one who will make the decision, not you. So how do you overcome this? How do you prevent someone who is slowly but surely killing themself by taking a drug that is readily and legally available? Therein lies my sad and increasingly frustrating situation. There's more to this unpleasant story, but please, pray there is a happy ending to it all. God be with you and my brother.