Chapter
15
Brian stayed
in the hospital for four days. He was given fluids and nutrients through IV's
and was taken off of the opium. He knew it was for the best, but he started
experiencing withdrawal effects the first day he was without opium in his
system. The withdrawal symptoms weren't bad at first, but the longer he went
without the drug in his body, the worse they became. He became nauseous and
began to vomit almost constantly. He couldn't keep food down and had to get all
of his nutrients through IV's. He also had cramps, diarrhea, anxiety, and
insomnia. He ran a high fever and began having spasms in his legs.
After four
days in the hospital, Dr. Polman discharged Brian and had him admitted into a
drug treatment center. Brian had protested at first, but Dr. Polman had
insisted he go to it.
***
Brian spent a
month in the treatment center. That period of time was complete hell for him.
The withdrawal was more horrible than anything he had ever experienced before.
And it got worse before it could get better. After a month, he was still having
the horrible symptoms, although he could tell that they were getting a little
less painful.
Even after he
was release from the center, he was forced to go to counseling sessions and get
tested every two weeks to make sure he hadn't gone back to taking the
painkillers.
Sometimes,
Brian wished he still had his bottles of opium pills, for he knew they would
help ease the horrible withdrawal symptoms he was suffering through. But he was
determined get over his addiction. He had eventually been told everything that
had happened to him in that airport, and it terrified him. He had had no idea
how close he had come to death before. Now he knew what a dangerous habit he
had formed. He was determined to break that habit.
***
