05/22/2026
Thanks to Patty, a resident at Philly Home at Girard, for sharing part of her story. We feel fortunate to be with you on this journey.
Patty was in her early 20s when a doctor prescribed her Oxycontin to help with the pain of fibromyalgia. She had a good job as a chemical research technician and her prescription was covered by insurance, so why not? It helped her deal with unresolved childhood trauma and took away the discomfort caused by her chronic condition. When Patty’s mother died a few years later, her physician upped her dosage.
“It’s a 12-hour medicine, but they bumped me up to three times a day,” she says. “It was a reputable doctor… They didn’t think prescription drugs were a big thing.”
Feeling unstable, she sought advice from a psychiatrist, who prescribed Xanax and antidepressants. She soon found herself unable to keep appointments or hold a job.
“I lost my home, I lost my career, I lost everything,” she says. “Most of all, I lost myself.”
Read her story:
Patty Kline used to be against the idea of “meeting people where they are.” Behavior like illicit drug use had to have consequences, she thought.
