We been dancin' with
Mr. Brownstone
He's been knockin'
He won't' leave me alone
No, no, no
He won't leave me alone
Mr. Brownstone
He's been knockin'
He won't' leave me alone
No, no, no
He won't leave me alone
Spoiler alert: Mr. Brownstone isn't a grumpy next door neighbor. Back in 1987, Guns-n-Roses released the song on their album Appetite for Destruction. The song was written about their heroin addiction.
Back in the 80's, we knew about heroin. We knew how destructive it was. We knew the terrible addictions and withdrawals it caused. In 1995, we watched Leonardo Di Caprio depict what a withdrawal looks and feels like in The Basketball Diaries.
Heroin kind of went away for a while.
Then certain governing bodies decided that "pain" was a vital sign. Everyone had to rate their pain, 0-10. Next came patient satisfaction scores and asking patients if their pain was assessed and treated. Next came big pharma, pushing these medications... these drugs... without any care or forethought on how/if/when they could/would cause addiction. Some many pills prescribed... so many pain receptors fried. Some patients were cut off completely from drugs they were legally prescribed; drugs that caused deep, deep addictions; drugs that were needed to keep the nasty withdrawals at bay.
I used to do a little but a little wouldn't do
So the little got more and more
I just keep tryin' ta get a little better
Said a little better than before
I used ta do a little but a little wouldn't do
So the little got more and more
I just keep tryin' ta get a little better
Said a little better than before
Pain. Charlie horses all over your body. Pain in your bones. Itching as if 1,000 fire ants were crawling all over you. Vomiting uncontrollably. Your heart racing so fast that it feels like it is going to beat right out of your chest. Sweating as if you were just submerged in water, pulled out gasping.
Wouldn't you want to make it stop? Could you go through it? All you need are the pills. But your can't get them. You don't have enough money. You'll do anything to climb out of this physical, torturous hell making you violentally ill.
It's cheap. It's quick. It's easily available.
With the "opioid crisis" we find ourselves in, we have found a resurgence of heroin.
Mr. Brownstone.
He keeps knocking.
Here's the thing about heroin. One time. ONETIME is all it takes to have the worst withdrawal you can ever imagine. So bad, that for a few more dollar.... you do it again. Each time. EACH and EVERY time, you risk overdosing. Putting yourself into respiratory arrest. EACH and EVERY time, you risk stopping your own breathing. EACH and EVERY time. If you stop breathing and no one is around to notice or help, soon after your heart will stop and you will be dead. This is a real possibility EACH and EVERY time.
Oh yeah, and heroin does not discriminate. I have seen more heroin overdoses than I can count or remember. In one shift, I saw three. I've seen different races, different genders, different ages. I've seen rich folks, poor folks and middle of the road folks. I've seen panhandlers and wealthy businessmen. I've seen couples at the same time. I've seen grandparents.
I've seen some make it with the quick administration of a reversal agent (narcan).
I've seen many not walk out and instead get zipped up in a cold, white, plastic bag with a tag on their toe.
I've seen the families. I've seen the exhaustion on their faces. The anger. The love. The excruciating sadness and helplessness as they watch this happen for the first time, the hundredth time, and sometimes the last time. It never gets easier to be a part of or to watch.
We been dancin' with
Mr. Brownstone
He's been knockin'
He won't' leave me alone
No, no, no
He won't leave me alone
Mr. Brownstone
He's been knockin'
He won't' leave me alone
No, no, no
He won't leave me alone
Today, an aquaintance from back home was buried because of heroin. He was college educated. He had a job. He had friends and family that cared, that loved him, that tried to step in. He had been to rehab many times and had as many relapses. Today, there are many broken hearts and crying eyes wondering what could have been done differently. Today, a 32 year old with a promising future was buried.
Many people want to point fingers of blame. Whose fault is it? Drug dealers? Physicians? Providers? The Emergency Department? Big Pharma? The governing bodies who care so much about rating pain? The hospital systems? The healthcare systems? Rehabilitation centers? Families? Friends?
It's time to stop trying to accuse people of being at fault. It's time to stop trying to place blame. Too many people are dying. Too many people have died. Too many families are being crushed. Too many friends are losing their buddies.
It's time to just fix it.
Say good-bye to Mr. Brownstone.
*This one was for my buddy who had to say good-bye to his buddy today. RIP.
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