If you are on any opiates, when you get your prescription you will also get a piece of paper with it for tax purposes or whatever that has the same info as on your prescription bottle. Keep that paper in your wallet or purse, so that if a policeman stops you for any reason, and checks your eyes, and sees that you are on some opiate, that you will not be charged with using an illegal substance or illegal narcotic. Some can be charged with DUI depending on how crazy their driving is, but if you tell them to call your doc to verify you have been on it for a long time and that your system normalizes in regards to alertness after a while, you could probably be saved from that charge too.
It's a good thought, Sheila. However, not to be picky, but can we quote an authoritative reference for this? I've met some pretty hard-nosed policemen over the years, and I really don't know if there's a general rule on things like this.
Regards, Red
Hi Red;
This wasn't written anywhere, so I don't have a source to quote. This was advice from the policeman I met in a personal experience I had a few years ago when I was pulled over, and the policeman checked my eyes which seemed a bit dilated. He asked if I used drugs. I said "just one, a prescription", as I pulled out my 7 day pill planner that had all my natural supplements and my 1 prescription. He said, "Just FYI, I believe you, and I want to warn you not to keep your "controlled substances" (opiates) in a pill planner like this, because that's how addicts carry them. Also, put your prescription slip in your purse at all times so you can prove a Dr. prescribed it and we can call your Dr. for verification." So he was nice to let me go with a warning. If a nasty attitude cop wanted to, I could have been taken in for posession of narcotics and DUI of narcotics.
Best wishes, Sheila
Good context for the discussion, Sheila -- and additional information that patients can use, I think. Anyone who is using a prescription opiate should carry their prescription and their doctor's office number with them at all times. Likewise, of course, if you sit down behind the wheel of a car and feel "dopey" or that your reaction time has been slowed by medications, then please consider calling a cab instead. It's both safer for others, and less likely to cause you problems due to avoidable errors in your own driving.
Regards and Best,
Red
Yes, good advice for all opiate users, especially new ones. I’ve been on this pain med for 15 years so I never feel dopey. I rarely even sleep. I was pulled over for a headlight that was burned out and I didn’t know it. But once they pull you over they often do sobriety tests as well.
One slightly off-topic note, Sheila.
I spent an hour this afternoon editing my web page on free and low cost medical resources on the Net. I've inserted a few of your links into the existing lists where they seem to naturally fit. I also set up the longer descriptive entries at the bottom of your posting on this subject, as a block of resources in a separate section of the page. I credited you as "Sheila", and provided a link to your profile page here on living with TN. Such attribution could push a little traffic to the site, by people who recognize that face pain is their primary medical complaint. However, if you'd rather that I referenced only the top level of the site and not your profile, let me know and I'll change the credit.
FYI, in the first 26 days after publication of my resources page, I got 316 hits on it, even before the search engines found it. A friend sent out links to several professional colleagues who work in disability counseling in one US State, and that seems to have been enough to get the ball rolling. Thus your thoughtful posted materials here at livingwithtn.org will be seen by a wider audience who needs the help you've offered.
Thanks again for your caring.
Go in Peace and Power
Red
Red and Sheila,
Regarding driving while taking one's prescription opiates, I would like to thank you for addressing and elaborating on this.
I have a close friend who was driving home from work one evening and pulled over. She may have been swerving. This is my feeling. I was not there. However, yes, she was charged with a DUI. One would not think that you would be driving home from work, after having taken you "prescription medication" and get arrested, but it does happen.
I am learning that caffeine and a heavy dose of caution are the order for me before driving, while my body is adjusting to my new medication regimen. The safety of oneself and others is of utmost importance.
Thank you for weighing in on this very important subject!
Stef
Hi Red,
Thanks for adding my sources to your page, however if you link back to my profile here, people can't see it unless they register for an account first. That's great if the person reading your site DOES have facial pain, but might be frustrating for the majority who don't, and don't wish to join LWTN. Congrats on the amount of traffic on your site. What would you think of just making a link to this site with a short explanation that it is for people with face pain, or even that this is one of your favorite support sites because of your own personal experiences? I am not sure that there is much interesting on my profile page. If others DO want to find out more about me, there's more information at my number of blogs. Perhaps you could list the URL of my blog in connection with my name. http://bluebirdyliving.blogspot.com . Of course you are a better expert of what to do, these are just a few suggestions, because I haven't seen any connection to facial pain on your webpage, so it would not even reach that audience. I have no preference one way or the other, just thinking of your readers and what would be most convenient/helpful for them. Thanks again for sharing the info.
Sheila
Sheila,
No worries. I'll reference your blog and livingwithtn.org. I just wanted to express appreciation for your research and credit it to you by name if possible...
Regards, Red
You can use my last name as well. I'm a published author hundreds of times over so its not like my name is secret. My last name is Wall.
Thanks for letting me be part of your webpage.
Sheila
Richard A. "Red" Lawhern said:
Sheila,
No worries. I'll reference your blog and livingwithtn.org. I just wanted to express appreciation for your research and credit it to you by name if possible...
Regards, Red
Done, Ms Wall... In what sense are you a "published author", if I may?
I've written a good bit on my personal website and on other sites, not all of it relating to chronic face pain. I recently self-published a coffee table book called "An American Journey" on my website. It compiles our trip logs, thoughts, and some of the 3,000 photographs I shot on a 5-week /6500 mile trailer trip through the great American west.
A few years ago, I co-edited a site with a lady named Cindy Fleishman, called "facepain.com". Our domain name got stolen out from under us when our domain fee was late by four hours. But the site would have been a bear to keep current with then-available technology, even if we'd continued. We'd compiled and categorized over 2,000 links on chronic face pain disorders and resources.
Regards, Red
There are two separate issues being discussed here...
1. Possession of a Controlled Substance.
2. Driving under the Influence of a Controlled Substance.
My experience is in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. I would like to address both of these issues from a legal standpoint.
1. Possession of a Controlled Substance is a charge that is made only when someone is found being in possession of an Illegal Substance. That means an illegal drug or contolled prescription medications that are not prescribed to you. It does not apply to people who are in possession of prescribed medication, which is prescribed to that person. If you are carrying your pills in anything other than the original prescription bottle, you must have paperwork documentation that Sheila mentioned. When I need to leave home with my meds, I always take the original prescription containers with me. Carrying around paperwork doesn't work for me (I travel light), but if you have your meds in a plastic pill planner, it's a must.
2. Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance is not "forgiven" if you have a legal prescription. Anyone can be charge with DUI and it doesn't matter if you've been on the medication for a long time and your body has "adjusted" to it's effects. Having an original prescription bottle or documentation will not justify driving while the medication is in your system. Even if you pass a sobriety test and the law enforcement officer still feels you are impaired, you can be charged. If you voluntarily or involuntarily take a blood test and the medication is found in your system, you can be charged. If you drive while medication is in your system you are taking a chance that you can be charged with DUI. Period!
Since I have worked in both law enforcement and the court system I know the consequences of both these issues.
If I have to drive - I delay taking my medication until I have returned home.
If I need to take my medication I find someone else to drive.
Glad you know about these things Gloria. Makes me even more grateful that this policeman didn't insist on a drug test or something!
I am seriously a better driver when my pain is controlled than when it's not, but since I'm mostly bedridden now, I don't have much worry about driving anymore. Had a housekeeper running errands, she got a better job, now looking for more help and was SO frustrated today, mom and I are both too sick to drive but had to pick something up at Sears that they will only hold until today and I don't know one person. Called couriers and taxi services, all too much money. So maddening to just need something picked up and brought to us, and can't do it or get help. Oh well, such is my life.
Sheila,
I know. It is frustrating. One must be very careful. I am a better driver when my pain is controlled too, but I have had to be very careful while adjusting to the new meds.
I have to transport children on a daily basis. Their safety is my highest concern. I've cut my dosing due to drowsiness. I never want to lose my ability to drive.
I hope things improve for you soon. I'm worried about you. Please keep us posted.
With love,
Stef
I do want to say if you are carrying a controlled substance and pulled over, everything else is subjective to what the policeman believes… if he states youare impaired, for dui and prosecutorial purposes you are. Now, you can defend these charges if your doctor has seen and evaluated youatyour highest dosage and deemed you not impaired. Then it is up to a jury to determine who is more credible, the doctoror the police officer. And that comes down to whether your lawyer packed the jury full of those that do not like or at least distrust the police.