It is now six years since former administrator Keith Burrowes kicked his addiction to painkillers; an affliction that changed his life, destroyed his family life, and damaged friendships as well as his reputation. His story is a cautionary tale for anyone considering using opioids, which are used medically to treat moderate to severe pain, but are highly addictive and commonly abused.
“Thank God I’m in a much better frame of mind, medically. Since 2017, I’ve been off addictive painkillers. I still have another surgery to undergo for the removal of a tumour,” Burrowes recently told Stabroek Weekend in an interview from Canada. “However, I don’t have to be back on the pain medication. If I were not so dedicated and committed to work and patriotic to my country, I wouldn’t have taken on all that responsibility and ended up with four back surgeries.