Absolutely spot on and agree with that.

I’ve been an analytical chemist/validation officer in pharmaceutical companies since 2001 and I don’t take medicines unless necessary as I know how messed up they are. Side effects etc. I also understand how these Cxxts work. Very sly.

In the states, someone here already mentioned that it’s super easy to get opiate pills in pain centres. It’s easy money. 100’s get hooked on pain relief like Oxy each day. There are quite a few UFC fighters and other athletes that have got hooked and gone down to pain relief pills after surgeries.

With the broken leg analogy, yes they’ll give you morphine for a day but they don’t send you with just Panadol; they give out Tramadol (opiate) for the pain (unless you refuse it). I have found they dish out Tramadol for anything pain related. They always gave me Tramadol for my back or neck when I ruptured 4 discs, broken hand, broken tib and fib. I refused it and they gave me Paracodol (500mg Paracetamol and 8mg Codiene). I also got given 60 mg Codienes which are super strong. And I also know for a fact that a company here in NZ is making Ketamine and OxyContin for NZ patients. I know because I worked on the process validation for them so although it’s hard for the patient to get them from the doctor, they are here and more are coming and will be available.

What worries me though is although NZ doctors don’t dish out strong pain relief at the drop of a hat, they do dish out other drugs at alarming quantities. Zopiclone (highly addictive sleeping drug) was given to my wife to help us in the plane to the UK back in December . They gave us 20 which is ridiculous, and they gave me a months worth of 25mg Quetiapine no problem.

I’ve had an interesting journey being in contact with a lot of alcoholics and addicts. Hearing people’s stories during my time in rehab for alcohol and in the AA rooms (now an active member of AA and best thing I ever did. Should’ve done it years ago), about taking handfuls of pills (benzos, opiates mainly) and chasing it with a beer before work and then operating shipping container cranes or being an arborist has been an eye opener and tragic. Another killer is people taking Paracodol to get the opiated fix and the ODing on the Paracetamol. The problem is real in NZ more than I realised.

People living in cars because they spend their money on drugs or alcohol, people living in the streets because of their addictions. It’s really tragic.

It’s a shame that there isn’t better government funded detox for people that genuinely want change. I have a friend who is looking after a girl who can’t get into Pitman House until the 22 Feb and he is moderating her drinking to 1 standard an hour. I don’t think she’ll make it until then. She can’t walk or talk and her body is shutting down. Lost all motor functions completely. When he’s taken her to hospital, they just hit her up with 10 mg Diazepam and send her on her way.

There’s definitely pros to a free health system but also cons. The UK health system is free but it’s crap and only getting worse. But at least they have emergency detox beds. Doctors and Nurses have had a 1% pay rise since 2008. That’s messed up and they’re shutting hospitals down (or sections).

In my hometown, they’re going to shut the maternity wing which means mums will have to travel to Exeter which is an hours drive away.

Crazy.

Jesus RD what’s going on, again I agree completely.

I too am glad if I need an ambulance and care if needed.

Talking to some old timers in the rooms, they have some horrific stories of the funny farms here in NZ back in the day.

They used to give electro shock therapy here for alcoholism and addiction. And not too long ago either which is a scary thought.

I’m in recovery myself and I don’t know why I became alcoholic.

I was never abused mentally, physically or emotionally. Alcoholism or addiction never ran in my family and I never wanted for anything.

In the treatment centre I asked the councillor why then did I turn out this way and he said “sometimes you just win the lottery.”

I drank because I liked getting smashed.

At the beginning it was fun, then fun with problems until it became just problems.

Weird thing about it is that it progresses so fast at the end.

Bottom line is though, no one will succeed in recovery unless they want change and embrace the work that’s needed. If I didn’t have my 12 step progrM I’d be typing this with a drink in my hand now at 9am. And this program gives me a daily reprieve to not pick up a drink just for today.

You’re right though it is a choice. Although no one chooses to be an addict/alcoholic, they do choose to pick up.

I choose to not pick up a drink just for today and do it all again tomorrow.

Edit: I’m also one of the “lucky” ones where I hadn’t lost everything....... Yet.

And that’s the big word here. Yet. Because it was on a fast track to losing everything and becoming one of the homeless that this thread is about

What about the killing of animals? What’s that about?