Wake-up call
Dear Frankie,
If anyone told me I would be a patient in a drug treatment program, I would have laughed in their muzzle.
I am an upstanding member of my community who never took an aspirin until I had major dental surgery a couple of months ago. When the vet discharged me, she gave me a bottle of pain pills to use when needed.
Unfortunately, I experienced some complications post-op, so I thought I needed to take the medication to get me through a couple of rough weeks. However, twelve hours after I took the last pill, I began to pant, shiver, and itch, followed by nausea, body aches, and intense stomach pains. When my mom took me to the vet, she immediately recognized I was suffering from drug withdrawal and admitted me to a detox clinic.
I hope you will share my story with your readers to warn them about how easy it is to become addicted to drugs and what happens to you when the drugs are gone. My mom and I are still shocked about how our lives have been turned upside down from one innocent mistake.
Anonymous (I’m too ashamed and embarrassed to give my real name.)
Dear A,
Thank you for writing in and asking that I make my readers aware of the dangers of misusing pain medication. I will publish your letter in my next column.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone, including upstanding canines, make mistakes. Thankfully, you didn’t OD.
On the bright side, look how you are putting your time at the clinic to good use by sharing your experience so that others can avoid the same mistake.
Best, Frankie
© 2023 Geneva Woodruff
Comments and letters can be sent to Frankie at dearfrankiecolumn@gmail.com. The Fairhaven Neighborhood News publishes the Dear Frankie column. To receive a free online subscription, readers can email neighbnews@comcast.net, request their name be added to the email list or visit www.neighbnews.com to read the paper online or to download the latest issue.
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