We don't discuss our medications with ANYONE for fear of being robbed in person or at home. I shred my pharmacy papers and take my empty bottles back to the pharmacy so they can dispose of them rather than risk someone going in our trash can!
Saw this on 20/20 or similar.

So younger adults on meds are automatically drug seekers? This is the kind of ignorant thought that leads people to suffer because they cant get the treatment they deserve. You say you see more and more younger adults picking up drugs, what does that have to do with anything. That does not mean they are drug addicts faking to get drugs, and there is no way you can know who is. Yes it is right to be concerned about your safety and being robbed, but not so much that become so paranoid that you accuse everyone around you who does not fit the profile of 'being sick,' of being a drug seeker. This whole concept is ridiculous. I dont mean to be so harsh, but calling them scum bags, when you have no idea who they are or what is wrong with them is absurd. This kind of thought makes people suffer.

I hope everyone is having a pain-free day,
Circa

You see them at the pain management doctors as well, trying to get them legally. You know the ones who walk fine, sit slouched and cross legged. Then the stride to the car. Now there are days you cannot tell I am sick, but you also here the conversation like....

Oh, I went to Dr. Smith he didn't prescribe me but 30 pills or he refused to give me a script.

The local small pharmacy around the old house was robbed at gunpoint and the owner pistol whipped for Oxy. They caught the 17 year old who did it. Now they stopped delivering which was nice.

Many years ago there was a drug called Quaalude's. They were very popular with young people because beside feeling high, they made you horny, real horny. Finally they stopped making them because the number of pharmacy thefts. I hope that doesn't happen with oxy.

Ouch

That's scary. My husband almost always picks up mine, because I could easily be hurt & have them stolen. There is no way I could chase anyone.

There is no need to name call. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If you disagree just say so, and give your point of view on the subject.

Why chase away members who have something to say? As long as they don't name call, curse, or purposely hurt anyone.

Ouch

I agree, do a degree... I take some relatively heavy narcotics, for both MS and cancer. To look at me, the average person would have no idea that there is anything wrong with me. What they don't know is that the drs have said it is now terminal. Thankfully, the pharmacy that I go do is very discreet. I did have a private conversation with the main pharmacist, to code my profile and let the techs know that I do not want my medications discussed at the counter, and they have been GREAT about this. They will say "I have reviewed your profile, do you have any questions for me or the pharmacist?" which I like that option.

I have known both ends of the spectrum also, kids (18ish) that are addicted and dr. hop and older (70's) that are addicted. Sad... and, agreeing with Ouch, people that do steal, or go about getting drugs illegaly, are scum and hopefully with get their just reward.

Sadly, it is a different society today that we live in than 20-30 years ago. Fortunately, we still have some safeguards available to us. Like in every day life, it pays to be cautious, not paranoid. And, I don't think any one is being paranoid, we each have our own levels of comfort, and what it takes for us to feel secure.

Thanks!

I read an article about how they arrested an elderly woman for selling her pills. Apparently, it has become a huge concern, because they are living off fixed incomes, and have them so readily available, that they keep some, and sell the rest.

A Dr had spoken with one of her patients who was a former addict, and he said he bought all of his pills off the elderly. Something to think about.

This sounds like a good way to start hysteria at the drug store!!! I don't notice anything or anybody different where I get my meds. I never carry anything that anybody would want. If I am going to need a dose of something when I am out, I just put the pill in my pocket and keep quiet about it. Lets not judge all young people as being drug seekers. There are alot of older adults that are really the real deal. I used to work ER at night, and you would be surprised at the number of older adults that show up with "migraines" or a bad back. If you are concerned about your safety, see if the pharmacy will deliver them to you. My mother had this done and it worked well. You can always peel the label off of your medicine bottles before putting them in the garbage.

I feel that it is unfair to give young adults the drug seeker label without knowing their condition. I live in a small town, so I guess robbery is not a big issue, but yes, there are college students who do go to the dr. in order to get narcotics. On the other hand, there are people like me who are 22 and have a hard time getting meds to relieve pain because so many people my age have been given that label. I understand your concern, and yes it is scary and hard not to judge people who seem totally pain free, but if you are like me, you try to hide it as best you can when in public. I think that any person, young and old could be a drug seeker, not just young adults.

wow, I live in a smalll town and never noticed this. My pharmacy is inside the clinic and my hubby is always with me and I never discuss my meds until I am in the car. And the windows for the pharmacist are designed for privacy, now I know why. I hope no one gets hurt or looses their meds.
Hugs
Morgaine

Well yes people rob pharmacies, people have been robbing pharmacies for YEARS. This is not some new phenomena as the news would have people think, nor is people abusing prescription meds new. I was just reading a book by William S. Burroughs, a very famous beat generation novelist and a man who struggled himself with addiction all his life. The book was written in 1956 and set in the very beginning of the decade. The main character talks about going and getting Eukodal prescribed or taking it from a pharmacy to get high and how popular Eukodal was among the addicts. Eukadol was the name for oxycodone back then! So none of this stuff is new, the media is simply stirring this up, as it moves in waves and drug use has trends and fads just like anything else and the media capitalizes on that to cause hysteria. My point is, just because the media reports on a few pharmacy robberies, that doesnt mean that there are more pharmacy robberies happening necessarily, just that they are reporting on them more because prescription drug abuse is in the spotlight. Besides that, even in places where there are more it is RIDICULOUS to start generalizing by age group about who is an evil scumbag junkie and who isnt because of it. This is really an infuriating subject to me as many of the people in this thread truly have no idea what they are talking about, people of all ages rob pharmacies from there teens all they up into there 50s and even 60s. Why can I say this with confidence? Because people who rob pharmacies are addicts, and there are addicts of all ages. You may be correct that more are young people, but that certainly does not translate backwards to all young people being pharmacy robbers.

The next thing that I think is even worse, is the fact that you people feel that when you see a young person who looks fine, or walks fine in a pain-mgmt clinic or in the pharmacy getting their prescription filled you assume they are a drug seeker. This kind of thought causes a lot of people to not receive treatment, dont you people understand that? I dont know how you can propose to know what is wrong with someone simply by looking at them. I for one look perfectly normal now (besides the fact that I frequently rub my temples or look away from light or shade my eyes) because my pain is under control, and because the cause of my pain are very severe headaches not some visible injury or disability. Now that does not mean that I am a drug-seeker does it? Or do only people in wheelchairs deserve adequate pain management, or people missing limbs, or people with a limp, or people who hunch. That whole line of thought is absolutely appalling. I for one could hardly get out of bed my pain was so severe unrelentingly for months, I did not sleep for three weeks and I was hospitalized. Then it was visible I was in pain, so I guess I wasnt a drug-seeker then.

Dont let fear rule your life, and more importantly, dont let fear make you angry at people who have done nothing.

My daughters are young and they pick up there birth control every month, one picks up there cystitis meds every month, one picks up her son's Gerd meds every month.....do you see what I am getting at, they may be there for other reasons than pain meds, there are other drugs in the pharmacy...you do need to be careful about your meds because you are responsible for yourself..I never worry about what the others get while I am there, they could even be picking up for their own family members who are to sick to go in, my daughters pick up for me all the time.

You need to remember that adults are not the only ones suffering from Chronic pain. I have been suffering from pain since my car crash when i was 17yrs old. I am not a drug seeker. I am in the same position as yourself ~ trying to get some relief from this pain.

Drug seekers come in all ages. You should not discriminate againt someone purly on their age.

For the lady who started this discussion, many people make judgements based on appearances.

I have two teenagers. One had a military cut for years and the other wears his hair long in the front where you can't see his eyes. They dress differently too. At one time, the oldest wore baggy, gangster clothes and now he dresses preppy. They youngest son wears tight clothes (that my husband and others call girly clothes).

The boys have friends over to the house. The youngest is still at home and we do birthday parties for his friends all the time. The only problems I have ever had is that some of the younger ones will start talking about another kid and I will tell them not to talk badly about others.

The kids come over in their wierd styles and colors of hair. Some have baggy clothes, some tight, some preppy. Some listen to metal, emo, rock, rap--some even listen to it all.

In a group they probably won't always be respectful or seem to be respectful because they are in their own world--they don't always notice what is going on around them. My sons will walk around with headphones on or on their cell phones. They just don't notice other people all the time.

But they are good kids and they have needed meds.

My wonderful 24 year old son and his girlfriend have moved in with us so they can help with me. She dresses like a hippie, he has tats (tatoos and a mohawk). They pick up my medicine for me most of the time as am unable to get out. So maybe the young people you are seeing are the nice, kind younsters picking it up for their parents? That's why we only use 1 pharmacy - personal and caring service.