Pain Dr. Patients Fear Withdrawal
By: Charlie De Mar
Updated: January 31, 2013
One of Dr. William Hedrick's patients says she's out of medication and is worried withdrawal might kick-in.
"You're talking shakes tremors panic attacks," said Kimbra O'Brien.
O'Brien is the executive director of Caring About People says patients can go into withdrawal within a day of not taking their meds
"When the medication is not there then their brain springs up and it goes into panic mode," said O'Brien.
Yesterday four of Dr. Hedrick's offices were searched--- his lawyer released this statement.
'Despite yesterdays events, the Center for pain Management locations are fully operational under a team of physicians and are still seeing patients.'
Contrary to the statement, we spoke to a patient of Hedrick's who says when she called the Centers for Pain Relief for an appointment she was denied. When withdrawal sets-in O'Brien says people will do anything to get the drug.
"People that have addiction issues with pain medication are going to seek ways to get that medication and its going to be in ways they aren't used to," said O'Brien.
Often, people will turn to harder drugs when their prescribed drug isn't available.
"They might turn to more street drugs like heroin and might go out of their own particular values and comforts," said O'Brien.
