Stigma......Discrimination

[mac15]

Hi Guys,

Firstly let me appologise for not been on here but my lifes being goin great since the last time i visited you all whilst in Hospital with the blood clot,my health is great and been doing the right things,i now havnt used for nearly a year.

I write for some help and understanding.I was due to start a job this morning all be it with not great money but it would give me a few extra pounds,something we could all do with now!!! I was due to get picked up at 9.15am so i went to go to the chemist to get my Methadone and the guy was already there at 9am, i went in to the chemist,had my Methadone and get the rest of the week home with me.

I then went to go into his car and here comes the Question "What you in the chemist at 9am for,you on meth or something",without hesitation i said "No",why i said that is due to the stigma that is attached with Methadone and the old "Always a junkie" attitude!!

He then asked to see my medication which was in a bag with other odds and ends...by this time im starting to panic,a hundred thoughts racing through my brain,"What do i say","Do i tell him im on a script but havnt used in a while",ever more getting more nervous and anxious,more scenes going through my head.

His next words where "Listen pal your not what im looking for",i felt the anger inside me but also relief,i have never been placed in that position of having to explain my medication,i then said "No Bother" and walkes away with my eyes filling up  and ashamed,my head telling me all sorts of negative shit about myself,if i hadnt done this or that,i'll never get a job,38 years old and what do i have?

I write this with tears running down my face,are people always going to think in a judgemental way about Methadone treatment,my heads talking shit to me again..."Go cold Turkey","Rehab","Go and use,whats the point?"

Has anyone else been through such an experience,i would take  great comfort from the fact that someone out there knows what im talking about,will society's attitude ever changed,will people ever stop looking down on people like me when i come out of my strategically placed "Consultation Tardus" in the corner of the Chemist.I would love to here anyones points or opinions on this,its not right!!! but what can i do

Take Care guys and thanks for still being here when the shit hits the fan.

Stevie

[bp]

Stevie

Firstly let me say how pleased I am that your life has been going well, and how angry I am at the way you've been treated; ignorance and stigma sadly still very much colour people's attitudes to drug users. You are always going to come across these people Stevie and it's this chap's loss that he didn't give you a chance to prove yourself; this is not your fault. To be treated like this must have really knocked your confidence but try not to let it get you down too much. I did many years volunteering before I got a job but it was worth it, any chance you could do a spot of volunteering? It really does help build up your self confidence and it also passes the time, which has to be a good thing.

All the Best

Beryl

[linda]

Hey! be loud and proud if they made ciggys and alcohol illigal tomorrow there would be a lot less people  being judemental . You doing really great I would be proud of you if you were my son . A MUM

[maggiem]

I will repeat last comment, be proud!!
I have posted a lot over the last few years about my daughters progress, from deep despair to where she is now. Proud that she has managed to be clean since Dec 09, proud to have found someone who loves her for who she is not was, proud to have moved into a lovely flat with him and make it their home.  But she went for an interview and someone must have made the connections and her self confidence was shattered by comments made.  Luckily she is demonstrating her many skills working for a friend who can see her for what she is and not for what she was. Goodness knows she is fully aware of her past.  Yes there is a lot of stigma out there but hold tight and be proud of who you are and what you want to be.
Again, a Mum x

[wastedyouth]

From the little that i have read about you you sound like a very likable, very intelligant, and just because one ignorant idiot person decided to walk away from you that day has no reflection on you, for all you know he could have had an other addict working for him and maybe he stole from him and he just felt like he just couldn't take the chance on you, but what he proberly didn't realise he was doing was tarring us all with the same brush, and we maybe do the same things but when we are clean we descover that we are very different people.  I hope you can detox useself in time for this new job that you have lined up in August, it will be hard but if you want it(i know easier said than done)dig in and go for it, i wish you all the luck in the world, you sound like u deserve a break.  I believe recovering addicts should stick together but from previous experience that can sometimes be hard but if you find the right one it can work if you are both striving for that same thing! Iv'e rabbled i know sorry take care!

[mac15]

Thanks for your kind words and thoughts,i have decided it will be nigh impossibe to come down from 100ml to nothing between now and the Job in August,ive to go and see a guy about a job tomorrow but if he asks me to start on Monday,i dont know what to say as i have the Docs for my script and a cant really say ive got the Doctopr on my first day,if i get the job can i??

The only benefit is i get my Meth home with me so there would be no problem trying to get to the Legal Drug Dealer in time!!!

Anyone any ideas on what to say if he asks me to start on Monday??? Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Take Care  Stevie x

[Fluoro]

Stevie,

If you don't mind me asking, how much meth are you on?.. I only ask this because if your dose is near to or under the 30ml mark, you could consider swapping over to subutext which may not have the same amount of stigma attached to it that methadone has.

However, on the other hand if you are happy on methadone and it is keeping you stable, then why should you change your meds to suit other people?

I don't know what part of the country you are from but, could you not consider using a pharmacy in your local  supermarket, as they tend to have extended opening hours. For example, I go to the pharmacy at my local ASDA supermarket, and am able to pick up anytime between 8am-9pm. This would then give you enough time to pick up either before or after work..

[Jules]

Hi Steve
Firstly, I'm so pleased that you've come to your own conclusions regarding the other job and not doing a rapid reduction.  With the other job, I'd be inclined to pre-empt the question by telling him that you'd be available to start work on Tuesday as you have a prior appointment/commitment.  Hopefully, he won't press you but if he does, tell him you have to go to the dentist or something.  Most prospective employers don't expect people to start straight away in my experience.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Best wishes
Jules