Did doctors enable my opiate addiction?

I was having my daily dose of twitter before and came across a retweeted article from 'the guardian' about a man from the United States who is taking the doctor, hospital or whatever it was to court, on the basis that he was aware he had an 'addictive personality' and that the doctor got him hooked on opiate based painkillers.

As a man who has been through the same issue, I wish to give an opposing side to the argument.

First of all, if this lawsuit is successful it could have a detrimental effect on effective pain management.

As highly addictive as it is, and as much as it practically ruined me, it is without doubt the most effective way to treat moderate to severe pain. In fact, nothing else comes close. What we don't want to see as a result of this lawsuit, is medical professionals living in fear of their career in the rare case someone gets hooked.

Secondly, and again this is my opinion. As an addict, who follows the 12 step program, I believe that the only person who is qualified to give me the diagnosis of 'addict' is myself. If I went to see my doctor with a broken leg, and he refused to give me pain relief because I was an addict I would be extremely angry and upset, and obviously in a lot of pain.

I have a prolapsed disc. I was in a lot of pain and went to see my doctor. He prescribed me opiate based tablets and they eased my pain, however I enjoyed the effects and they helped ease cocaine comedown. When the monthly prescription ran out, I went back, and told the doctor my pain was still really bad even though with the help of the tablets it had become manageable. Pain threshold is unique to the individial. One persons maximum level of pain can be another persons moderate. The doctor kept giving me stronger, and stronger and stronger pain killers, until my next possible prescription would have been liquid morphine.  The doctor simply trusted me that I couldnt manage the pain that I was in.

I accept full responsibility that the seeking of drugs made me a convincing liar, and extremely manipulative. I do not, even slightly blame my doctor for the trust he put into me.

In fact, my doctor was to become very helpful when I admitted to him that my use of opiates was out of control. He gave me a reduction plan to assist withdrawal, and a mark was made on my medical file to say that I was a potential seeker.

Now when I see my doctor, if there is a potential need to prescribe medication, we chat about it. We talk about if there is a necessity for it, and if anything could be done as an alternative to the medication, then we explore different avenues first before narcotics.

However, if I ever go to the hospital in excruciating pain, then they better hook me up to that morphine drip. And once I am free of pain, the responsibility of saying 'no doctor, I no longer need it' is all mine.

Thomas.