DAD-OF-THREE Steven McGowan begged his GP for help after plunging into addiction and taking dozens of painkillers every day.
And he was given more pills.
Steven told how he became addicted to prescription opiates for almost 20 years.
The 45-year-old said a turbulent time in his life prompted him to take dozens of pills each day but when he went to his GP for help, he was prescribed more.
Steven, from Stirling, said: “I had been drinking quite heavily, and it progressed from there.
“I got dihydrocodeine from my GP as I had been taking other opiates which I bought on the streets, and I knew I needed help.
“I was prescribed more opiates for an existing opiate problem. At points I was prescribed tramadol, dihydrocodeine, co-codamol and codeine.
“I was given a lot of them, and it didn’t help at all. I ended up taking more and more.
“Any time I got them from the doctor, they never lasted. I always took too many. I would phone up the GP and say things like I’d left them on the bus, and I’d get another prescription.
“The more I got, the more I took and eventually I was back to buying them from chemists and on the streets. I’d get them from pensioners, cancer patients … anyone who wanted to make money.”
INVESTIGATION: Up to 200,000 Scots at risk of addiction to prescribed painkillers
Steven was eventually referred to Castle Craig Hospital, a specialist facility for addiction, and is in recovery after withdrawing completely from opiates.
He now works with other people who have addictions, and as a mentor.
Steven also trains people who are at risk of overdosing from heroin how to use naloxone, which can save their lives.
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