Rehab for legal drugs

Hi @wondermore, I'm so sorry to read about your partner's experience. I fear that the situation may not be that uncommon. I've certainly had clients who have needed significant support in reducing prescribed medication. Given that others are in this situation, I'm wondering if the usual rehab options (for people trying to reduce their use of drugs and alcohol) may also be equipped to help your partner?

I've not come across programs specifically for prescription medication withdrawal but perhaps members on here will have. Have you talked to the Queensland drug and alcohol helpline?

Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS) – Phone 1800 177 833

I would imagine that for you both it's a very important distinction between becoming dependent on a prescription medication and an illegal drug. But in reality the programs and support services for the latter may be able to assist.

I think it's worth calling ADIS to see what's on offer.

Can I ask what advice you received from the hospital? I would have hoped that they suggested ongoing support and treatment options.

BTW I also moved your discussion so that it would be more visible 🙂

Thanks so much for your reply Suz,

I will talk to the ADIS. To be honest I am not sure if we have talked to them yet. When everything went crazy there were a lot of tearful phone calls at all hours to various different services. My partner (I'll just call him N) is seeing a specialist doctor at "Biala", a sevice which specialises in drug and alcohol issues. He is brilliant and very caring, but at the most N would see him for an hour a fortnight. At the moment his appointments have been every 8 weeks. Of course I am very grateful to have access to this doctor, but to successfully reduce his medication I think N needs much more intensive care. He also has access to a psychologist, but again it is only monthly/2 monthly. Last time the psychologist double booked him and N had to go home again. An honest mistake, but for someone with anxiety, it was devastating. N did have a caseworker at the community mental health centre (he liased with the other practitioners N was seeing). However, N received a letter from the caseworker saying he had been discharged. I had very little time for this caseworker. He seemed to have no grasp of the situation, and no willingness to do so. He had fixed ideas about N and no capacity to listen. N would have no issues being in a program with people struggling with illegal drugs and alcohol, but as far as I know any residential programs for this are not available to him. However, I will look into this further. There is a rapid detox program available to us at the hospital, but for this particular drug I do not believe it is appropriate. If it was just a short amount of pain during the period coming off the drug we would consider it, but apparently the after-effects continue for a long time. Thanks for caring 🙂

Hi @wondermore

I'm sorry to read about the terrible experience you had with the case worker. It's unfortunate there are people like that in our industry. Any chance of getting a different case worker?

Let us know how you go with ADIS. I hope it goes well

Nik