They Boy Who Cried Opiate Abuse

While I may not agree with a patient's choice to abuse drugs, I respect that it is their choice to make.  Like any decision, however, it should be made with full knowledge of the consequences.

For one of my patients last night, this meant that there was very little we could do to control his pain.  After a long history of heroin addiction and buying oxy off the street, his body had developed an impressive tolerance to narcotics.  When it finally came time to reduce a very painful-looking dislocation, even 100 of propofol (now forever known as the Michael Jackson drug) couldn't put him out.

It was sad to watch that after years of chasing highs, when this guy needed the drugs the most, they couldn't help.