i am 30 years old with a 5 year old son i have been addicted to drugs and alcohol since i was 18 maybe even younger i have tried to get help but without money and insurance you pretty much dont need help right? wrong i want the best for my son and myself i have finally amitted in the last couple of years that i have a problem and i have found no hope i need to get a grip before my son is able to understand how screwed up his mother really is and all im doing is going in circles everyday i think of using and some days i do please if you have any input or direction i would love to hear it i feel im at the end and all i want is a beginging. signed feeling helpless.

Artificial disc replacement and lumbar spinal fusion are two surgical options for many patients with unremitting low back pain that has not improved with non-surgical treatments. WBR LeoP

i am so addicted to eating chalk

hey our mom has had an addiction to drugs all kinds and her drug addiction got all of us into a foster home 8 years ago now i live in missouri with my own family and my brothers live in california one with our dad the other with gma and our sister my huband and i are adopting so she has lost all of her children and act like she dont even care she had quit for about 2 years when we got home from foster care and now we know she is useing again but she swears she isnt we have found some stuff before but she had said it wasnt hers so what should we do to try to help her and to help her confess to her addiction

Painpill junky or take an amputation. I had a series of surgeries on my left ankle and they had put me on percocet in Florida, then I had a triple arthodesis resulting in 80 percent function, but I'm a pain pill junky. I tried quitting pills and I couldn't walk it was so bad. I'm considering an amputation. Should I? The addiction is wrecking my marriage every time I try to stop.

Laurent

i am in recovery and fighting the urge everyday to stay clean. my boyfriend is in recovery also . that's where we met. he has 18 months clean.I am struggling with his anger and his quick temper to every little think in life not one day gos by that he is not yelling.He tells me i can move out all the time if i dont like it.I just want him to not be so angery all time.I know a part of recovery is changing old habits. But he still acts out in ways that i dont know how to help or deal anymore with it. me and my 2 kids live with him and i work for him so i feel like i have no choices. I am tired of hearing i am sorry and scared of the future. Wil it get better? he is trying and says he is sorry. I feel like drinking so bad.It has been a real struggle for me latley to stay clean.I love my kids and want them to be happy. they hear him yelling and are really upset that i don't do any thing about it i am dependent on him for a place to live money and i feel so hopeless any advice.

I watched today's program (10/25) on addiction to prescription pain meds with tears in my eyes. My son-in-law died due to complications related to overdosing on Vicodin, or more precisely, the high content of Tylenol contained therein. Until I became aware of his addiction and did some research I had no idea that it is chemically related to Heroin. I would like to see this fact brought out on future shows so people can realize what it is that they're actually dealing with.
Our daughter is still finding "stashes" that he had secreted away, eighteen months after his death. He was a shining star, a business owner, a dad...There's not a moment that goes by that our hearts don't ache for him and the promises he held.

My aunt is addicted to pain killers. She already got a divorce and her ex-husband has a restraining order on her. It's tearing our whole family apart...and she's in complete denial. ' I don't have a problem' is all she ever says.

I am so mad I missed the show. I forgot to check the descriptions on my afternoon shows and was busy and didn't get the TV away. I wonder if I'll have to wait until after the season is over for reruns? I checked other channels to see if it reruns during the week and I couldn't find anything.

Anyway, the reason I am sorry I missed it is because I'm a 33 year old mom addicted to painkillers. It had been going on for 4 years, started because of a back injury. Started out only using just as prescribed, but loved the feeling as euphoria right away. Slowly I started using more and more. I can't believe the way it grabs ahold of you before you can even see it. Your tolerance to it goes up and up, so your dosage goes up and up. I knew better-liver disease runs in my family. And it's funny, for various reasons, I've been prescribed many addictive type medications like anti-anxiety, Amphetemines, muscle relaxers, other painkillers. I hate alcohol and hate the feeling of being drunk. The only street drugs I've taken is like marajuana, but that was back in high school, I never saw the big deal of it, I just did it because everyone else was. And it was only a handful of times. I've never taken anything like coke or meth, heck I don't even know the difference between crack and crank! ((nerd!)) But I just have this attraction to Hydrocodone. I knew I was getting in bad health. I got an ulcer and was throwing up blood at times, my hair was falling out in clumps, my respritory conditions were bad, I had constant tightness of the chest and had trouble breathing. Besides the side effects of gaining weight-I had gained about 40 lbs. It always made me sweat and that's nasty! Sometimes I'd even pray to God that I'd wake up in the morning. I bought from alot of places online and had to hide the credit card bills from dh. I have 2 children, 5 and 8. I'd go through w/d alot because I'd use up my pills too soon and would be too "sick" to do anything with my kids. I felt horrible. Toward the end, I was taking about 30 pills a day. I got sick of it. I was feeling just as crappy on them as I was off. I finally confessed it all to my dh who was so understanding. I cried and cried. That was 10/9. I stayed clean for 9 days, he was out of town, the cravings were so bad I called my doctor about a "migraine" and got a new script called in. I also had 2 refills this week that could be filled. It was too tempting. So when dh got back in town, I confessed and asked him to help me. Take the bottle I just ordered and I'll work out a taper program and he will dispense them as needed. For the time I was clean, in a way it feels good-I finally felt like I had my life ahead of me to do whatever I wanted. I felt no boundaries. I was pretty proud of myself. After the initial w/d, I felt great the first week, then the second week, I started to feel ill again and craving bad. I'm not proud I relapsed, and it's scary to think how good I felt again once I took that pill after not taking any for many days. I don't even get high from them anymore, I haven't in years. Yet, except we as addicts continue to take them and take them. What was hard during that time without them, was not quite knowing what to do with myself. Since I'm a stay at home mom and I'd love to sit here all day, eat pills like candy and sit on the internet. It's like a bad best friend that isn't good for you. Without them, I go through depression even worse than I have in normal everyday life, I have no interest in my hobbies, I don't even like to do my internet stuff. I don't have the energy to clean-nor is it any fun anyway! Like most "mom addicts", you probably would not know it. We're upper-middle class, I've got 2 well-adjusted, sweet children. The only change is I've got totally lazy on them. I used to keep a really tidy home and be very organized. Now, I've got a mess of a house and papers stacked and stacked. If the pills happen to work, I find they work best if I'm sitting instead of walking around, so I just sit and gain weight. When I first started them, besides the high and the euphoria I'd get, I had so much energy. I felt GOOD. Regardless of all this, I still have back pain, so I don't know how I'm going to manage it after my pain pills are done. I can't take Ibuprofen since I have an ulcer and that's the only thing that really works well for me.

If you just take pills recreationally, or aren't far into addiction, please stop. I curse the day I ever started those pills. They also tend to give me manic-like symptoms. Sometimes I won't go to bed all night, try to go for a second night of no bed, and just have a few hours of sleep for about a week. Then, it all catches up and I sleep so deeply and so long it's scary. Everything is in excess. Shopping, eating, whatever. The mood swings are crazy, too.

I'm sorry this is so long, I just wanted to tell my story and if I can prevent anyone from not getting as far as I did, I'll be happy.

I guess I'll be checking for reruns, unless anyone knows if they show reruns on another channel? Like Tyra has her talk show every day at Noon on CWTV. But I know they replay a variety of her shows all week on Bravo. I'm assuming that since his show is so new, it probably won't have reruns for a while.

If you made it this far-thanks for listening.

I want to know how to address an addict and how to determine if one is an addict or one who is undermedicated ? I also wanted your view on some of the dr that are into pain management are they sometimes to blame because they want a quick buck and they prey on ones weakness and dont really want to find a true medical reason for true pain either mental or otherwise. these drs are very hard to find but when they are found they are overloaded with people in all types of pain and there is not enough hours in the day to see all of the people I have been pain mangement since 1996 and it seems to me that if one sees this type of dr than one cant be an addict I would like someome to explore this subjuct . because once one has a repor with a dr like this perscription are always at ones reach and if one says "my pain level is higher this month" then ones pain meds are increased.how does one determine undermedicated vs overmedicated with rebound pain vs emotional pain this is a topic that I would love to see you take on not a lot of people understand that emotional pain can lead into physal pain or if you take too much you have the rebound pain in which one assumes more meds are required but the truth is you need less I really need to know how to address this because a family member is stuck in this term oil with a special needs toddler.

Well I know how it is to live in a world of addiction as i watch these women explain there addiction to pain pills that is how mine started 10 years ago but when I coudln't get anymore painpills i turned to street drugs such as herion. I lost my daughter the children services and was areested and had to spend 3 years in a state prison. I have been of everything for 4 years now and my life is great i got my daughter back and i am married to a minister with a baby boy. When I started with pain pills i thought it was ok the doctor gave them to me but my addiction became so bad i coul;dn't get the pain pills anymore so I started street drugs. My message is that you can stop if you really want to and i pray for all bound women everywhere

I am a 59 yo man that has been disabled by a traffic accident. I have spent the last 11 years with a Dr. That does believe that there is a balance between pain and medication. I now take hydromorphone and two anti-depressive meds to help control. There is no way for me to get back the life I had the moement before a drunk driver hit me. You (DR. K) need to wear a wedge between l5-s1 for a month and find out how to manage your life without meds.

Regards

Gene
Texas

I am currently addicted to pain pills as well. I have been addicted for 6 years. I take approx. 240-270 a month. It is such a hard thing to deal with. And noone who knows me would ever believe this about me. I have 3 beautiful children and I work full time. I function just like a normal person. But I have to plan ahead for my days. Like how many pills I will need to take me into my next day. I don't take vacations for this reason. These ladies have been offered an opprtunity of a lifetime. Because most of us donn't have enough money or insurance to get help. I hope that they take advantage of this.

My brother is addicted to pain Killers -He is miserable because of his home situation. It has been several years now and I would like to be there for him and would like to help- I will do anything for him
Lisa

hi dr.keith i am 28 years old and a mother of two boys 7 and 8.i have been maried for 9 long years and have over come a lot in my life.my dad passed in 2000 and i have struggled with depretion and feeling alone for as long as i can remeber.in 2000 after my dads passing i found myself turning to drugs to forget the pain i was feeling i would pop twenty to twenty five pills a day and i cant do this any more i am so tired of being tired and my kids are my life and i feel they can have better.i i also have a twin who was useing meth and more and pround to say she has 13months clean and i cant get it why.i have been in the na meetings and all that but i cant seem to say by to my drugs and i want the help and my twin is my only suport my mom is a heavy drinker and i feel so alone can you please help me to help myself thanks.

Hello, I saw ur show on wednsday about the lady being addicted to shoplifting. Well thats really not the case in my Family. I have an older brother that is heavely addicted to bstreet drugs, this addiction is tearing our family apart. He doesnt want to do anything besides the drugs.WE as a family dont know what to do anymore. He doesn't want help he just sits in his room and does drugs. This is very hurting to out family and we need help. If anyone can help it would be great. Thanks.

I SAW THE SHOW "SECRET ADDICTIONS" THIS IS MY LIFE. I HAVE HAD AND STILL DO HAVE AN ADDICTION TO PAIN PILLS. I AM NOW 51 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I WAS 23YEARS OLD. IT IS A TERRIBLE LIFE AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE GUEST FO4R THEIR COURAGE.I WAS IN THERAPY FOR 5 YEARS AND I AM STILL WHERE I WAS. I NOW HAVE MEDICAL PROBLEMS AS A RESULT OF THE MEDCITIONS.YOU THINK IT IS BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE THAT DO STREET DRUGS.LET ME TELL ANYONE THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN STREET DRUGS THEY ALL DO THE SAME THING. MESS UP YOUR LIFE. I HAVE 3 GROWN CHILDREN AND THEY "ALL" HAVE ADDICTIONS 2 OF THEM TO STREET DRUGS. MY DAUGHTER IS DIEING AND I CAN'T HELP HER. SHE IS VERY MAD AT ME AND SHE WANTS TO DIE. MY YOUNGEST SON IS ALSO ADDICITED TO STREET DRUGS THEY CAN'T GET A JOB AND THEY ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE.

I was at this taping an felt
very sad for all of the guest,but Dr.Ablow is a wiz
of finding out the problem
within a few seconds I was so impressed with his skills
and promoted him ever since
this taping.Audience members
Carl,Sarah,Dallas and Carlos

I was so glad to see EQ exposed for the addiction it is, though it is a topic that certainly deserves more than the 15 minutes this show was able to give it. This game and others like it destroy relationships, marriages, families, and lives. I've been in a tumultuous relationship with an addict for 5 years. I am still with him because I believe that the man I fell in love with is still in there, underneath the illness. I hope to see him through this so he can someday be the husband and father to our children that I've always known he is capable of being.

alex is a brave woman and she is not alone. i would like to see more on this addiction, i have it as well as many people i know. i am actually in therapy myself to stop this horrible addiction and i wish more people would realize it is just as big a problem as someone with gambling, food, or alchol addictions.

Well you are doing a show on addictions that I am currently watching, This guy says he is addicted to Everquest. Well I use to play Everquest and it is very addicting, he is speaking of every execuse that I have heard a lot, most people with a gaming addiction like this, either are married to another gamer or they aren't happy with the person they are with. That is there interest in life and its really hard to get someone like this back into reality, I myself play World of Warcraft now and have since release of Nov 2004. There is over 6 million accounts WorldWide. If you want to do a show on gaming addiction I think it would be a good show, unfortunately not everyone like me watches TV =) But you see it all the time reading game forums people leaving and getting on with what is called RL , real life. There is a whole new terminology for these people and myself that people in the real world wouldnt begin to understand. Some don't want to do anything in life other than work play Mmorpg's and sleep. thats it. I myself prolly play 80-100 hours a week. I know I am addicted I wish i could get out of this state of mind, but i think it would have to be a process. And a process in which it would take exercises getting up out of the chair and doing small things to get you more motivated than surrounded in this world of mmo's that is my two cents. and I dont mind if you share my story with reference to any show you do. It is a huge problem but its way bigger than you think it is.

Again Blizzard entertainment has 6 million active accounts in World of Warcraft World wide. Everquest is a old game going on 9 years now. Great game and is in the thousands somewhere. not sure if they are still up to 1 million.

I also have a comment on the Don guy thats Addicted to Everquest.. I have played Everquest for 6 years Me and my Fiance play together.. We have had lots of arguments. But honestly we have strenghten our relationship because of this game.. Theres alot of people on Everquest that Play hard core like Don does. But Don has a problem his WIFE shouldnt have to schedule time to be with her HUSBAND

Hello,
I have been an online gamer for 11 years now and currently play World of Warcraft. I started MMORPGs when I was 15. I started because I was not popular and longed to have friends. As I was shy, this was the perfect solution. While it did help me become more outgoing, and help me put words where I did not have words before, it also may have steered me away from being who I could have been. I really see both sides of this situation. I know there is a point when gaming becomes unhealthy. I also believe that gaming is an excellent replacement for non-interactive television. Gaming is like any other addiction. It depends on the person, can you handle it, or can you not? Recently one of my guildmates quit World of Warcraft due to its impact on his studies and social life. Thankfully, he was wise enough to know when to say stop.
I am one of the minority of women who got their boyfriend’s hooked on MMORPGs. I do notice that things like cleaning and time with me (out of game, we game together) have suffered due to the game. I don’t take it as hard as others might because I have been there before and know it will fade. Of course I’d like to get out more with him, but that will come in time.
I am very interested in this topic as it has effected my life so greatly and would love to talk to others who’s lives it’s changed as well.

I just watched Alex explain her addiction to shoplifting. As I was watching, I felt like that could have been me on that show. Every word she said, every trigger, every painful moment, I felt it as I watched. I know exactly how she feels. Her story is my story. I have been in jail multiple times and nothing seems to be able to get through to me to make me stop. It is a horrible addiction/obsession. I am currently in counseling to try to make some sense of this. I am thoroughly impressed with Alex for having the courage to go on tv with her story. It certainly isn't something I could ever do.

I'm sure the portion with the Everquest player will hit home with a lot of players, one could probably do an entire episode on it. With MMO's in particular, you begin spending more and more time playing due to the demands of the game. You end up in competition with all other players, and there is a correlation between time played and success. I myself have been stuck in that viscious circle in MMO's, until I finally grew tired of the "Corporate ladder" that the games become. Note, however, that my needing to quit College for a while after playing 40+ hours a week did not cause me to stop gaming.

I too saw the wednesday show and my husband is an EQ addict as well. Yes, I think it is an addiction. He comes home and straight to the computer until sometimes early in the morning not to mention weekends and holidays. The only way I can get his attention is by picking a fight. I hate that because it is ruining our otherwise loving and amazing relationship.

I just wanted to comment on today's show. The guy w/the addiction to everquest. This is a very disturbing and common addiction. Online gaming can be very self distructing. My husband plays an online PS2 game called SOCOM. It has been the core for many an argument in this relationship. It has gotten better, but it is a very frustrating situation. I really feel for that man's family. I do believe that people use these cyber world things to escape thier issues which is okay for a recreation a hobby but when it takes over your life you need help.