Drug Drug Druggy

I've just watched a documentary, BBC's Horizons, about drug taking. It wasn't about illegal drugs, only prescription pills or those available in supermarkets or chemists. The whole programme was quite interesting, especially when you think about how clever a game of chance medicine actually is. I think this is what fascinates Margaret Atwood about the genetic side of science; that we can be in control of us and can and over-rule nature and its intentions. The scientists play. Anyway, intelligence and science are fascinating and necessary, but then there are the side effects and the risks which act as a 'fuck you' to all the scientists, chemists and participants who perform the trials, but we still think it's worth it to try, and we still think we have a right to complain when it all goes wrong. The thing that struck me the most about the programme was the woman who was, and still is, addicted to codeine. She takes over-the-counter pills containing codeine although the pills don't need to contain it as there isn't enough to make any significant difference to the pain relief, but there is enough to become addicted to it. All I could think about was how I used to mess about with Co-Codamol and Zapain by taking the strong ones casually; not even for pain, but for that fuzzy drowsy feeling that made everything seem better. These pills contain 30mg of codeine each. It is a wonderful feeling, even though it makes my nose itch. It makes sleep so much easier and every action, even though it becomes sluggish, becomes so much more enjoyable. The woman was taking 70 pills a day, obviously not containing that much codeine, but just enough to keep her going because she had built up such a tolerance to it that she needed more and more just to feel okay. It's just scary how we play. How the drug companies play, and how easy it is to mess up. It still baffles me that people are so bothered about staying alive and 'being okay' in the first place.


Most Poignant Moment award goes to: