Peter S: Problems with multiple medicines (II) – Addiction
Listen to patients and health professionals speak about their experience with taking multiple medicines.
Peter S
Male
Age at interview: 60
Number of medicines: 18
Cultural background: Anglo-Australian
Peter S noticed he had a growing dependence on morphine. He now insists he does not receive morphine in hospital unless the circumstances are exceptional.
Yeah, actually there's one lot of medications I do have problems with and that's the opiates. At one stage I was on home morphine … at one stage I was on sub cut [‘subcutaneously’—under the skin], the other time I was on liquid morphine and both times it got to the stage where I wasn't sure whether I was taking the medication for chest pain or because I needed another fix. It became very scary. In fact, now when I go up the hospital with chest pain, unless it's exceptional I don't get morphine up the road [at the hospital]. Obviously if I went in with half a leg dangling off they'd probably give me a bit of morphine, but for chest pain I don't get morphine any more unless it's exceptional …
I told my two daughters, they're fully aware of my addiction for the state of [use of] a better word … well it is an addiction. I started to enjoy taking it so it's no different to an alcoholic who enjoys having a drink. If you can't get the good stuff you drink metho, you know? So I was addicted to morphine. I still am addicted to morphine … once addicted, always addicted.
The Living with multiple medicines project was developed in collaboration with Healthtalk Australia.