Prescription Drugs Are Killing More And More People.
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There Is An Epidemic Of Prescription Drugs Killing More and More People In America
The news of the untimely death of the singer, Whitney Houston, has renewed interest in the subject of prescription drugs and how they are killing people at an alarming rate. We have to address this problem. I think all doctors should be held accountable for prescribing these drugs when they know the "patient" is just doctor shopping.
The state of Florida is trying to curb this epidemic by using a data base, that would alert doctors and pharacists that perhaps a patient is "doctor shopping". If the information goes by undetected by the doctor, hopefully the pharmacist will be alerted and won't fill the prescription.
Is isn't just the doctors that are adding to this problem. It is also because there is big money to be made by sellig these pills on the street. Someone goes to a pill clinic and buys the pills, then goes out on the street and sells them. Some of these "pill mills" have been shut down, but there are still plenty of them around, the the pill dealers know where they are.
There Are More Fatalities From Prescription Drugs Than Heroin And Cocaine Combined
Over the past decade, deaths by overdose of prescription painkillers have tripled and now account for more fatalities than those by overdoses of heroin and cocaine combined. These increases have occurred despite numerous warnings and recommendations for voluntary education of providers about being more cautious about prescribing these opioid painkillers. This fact was published on November 1, 2011, on the web site of Everyday Health. This fact came as a shock to me. I knew there was a problem in the United States, but I had no idea it had escalated to this point.
I usually write on happy subjects with nice photos and videos to explain my point, but I’m not going to do that this time. There are no photos or videos to capture the heartache and sorrow caused by these drugs. It is my intention to draw attention to this problem, and just to interject some personal knowledge of the problem
I and my family have been directly impacted by this epidemic, and I’d just like voice my concern. There are few families that have not been touched in some way by the effects of these drugs. How has this happened, and what is the solution to the problem? This is a problem that crosses over all age groups. Even our older generation can easily become addicted to their use.
In some cases, young people have friends who introduce them to these pills, socially. In order to be a part of the crowd, and to be popular, they begin to pop the pills. Some are used by party goers to have a better time, they say. The pills make them happy. In other cases, it innocently starts with an injury, and a doctor prescribes a pain killer. If the patient is not very careful, they will enjoy the feeling they get when they take these pills, and even after the initial pain of the injury is gone, they want to continue to use the pills because they like the “high” they feel after they take the pills. The patient will then “doctor shop” to keep getting a prescription for these pills. According to an article in the Every Day magazine, prescription opioid sales were lowest in Illinois and the highest in the state of Florida. Florida was becoming notorious for its “pill mills” or illegitimate pain clinics that doled out prescription opioids to nearly anyone who complained of pain. There is a lot of money to be made by these clinics. These clinics supply pills to people who buy the pills, and then sell them for a handsome profit. The Florida State Legislature has passed laws to make it harder for these mills to operate, and many have been shut down, fortunately.
Doctors and Clinicians should use opioids only in carefully screened and monitored patients when non-opioid treatments have not been sufficient to treat pain. Sometimes doctors will prescribe opioids for patients who have had dental work done, when lesser addictive drugs would work just as well.
Our jails are now crowded with these prescription pill abusers. It is so sad to see all the young people serving time because of their addiction. It isn’t just the addiction; it’s what the addict does in order to support their habit. If their habit is very bad, they resort to stealing to sell or pawn goods in order to get the money necessary to support their habit. This addiction is so strong an addict will go to ANY means to get the money for their pills.
It’s a very sad addiction, too. The addict realizes they have a problem, and sometimes they enter a drug rehab facility to “get clean”. After staying for a period of time, they think they have kicked the habit, and before long, they are using again. It is pathetic. I’ve known parents who spend thousands of dollars to put their child into a rehab center, only to see them relapse later on. Even after serving a jail sentence for a year or so, they will sometimes come out and repeat the usage. It is more pathetic when you look at the average abuser. The person is usually very intelligent, and they have a lot of potential in life. Girls will sell their bodies to get money to get their pills. Boys will resort to whatever they have to do, too. These people are proficient in lying in order to beg money to get their pills. They will give a hard luck story to their friends and family about not having money to pay their rent, or whatever, so people feel sorry for them, and “loan them” money. You certainly can’t trust these addicts in your home. Even if they are family members, they will steal from you, so they can pawn or sell your belongings to get more pills. These addicts hate themselves for what they are doing, but they are helpless. The addiction is too strong for them to control. I have known of a very few of these addicts who can “kick the habit” without rehab. They just have the will power to do so. These people are far and few between, sadly.
I wish I had a solution for this growing problem. My heart goes out to those families that have been touched by addiction of any kind. Some people say to practice “tough love”, and just deny the addict from being a part of the family. Some people say to press charges when a family member steals from you, so they will face prison time. The so-called “war on drugs” has not worked. In fact, the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education” program that has been taught in our public schools has been proven a failure. It is my opinion that this problem is not going away anytime soon in our society. It probably won’t go away during my lifetime. More and more of our young people will continue to ruin their lives, waste their youth in jail or prison, or die a premature death.
I have a personal stake in this war. The future of one of my family members depends on winning this war. My heart is broken. I am a helpless bystander. My efforts for her cure for this addition have been in vain. The tears I have shed are useless. My prayers for her recovery have not yet been answered, but I have not given up hope. I will continue to do whatever I can to fight for her life. That’s why I constantly read and study about this problem. Someone out there will surely find a solution, and I want to be the first to know about it. My hope and prayer now is that it won’t be too late for the one I love.
I was fortunate that I grew up in a time where these drugs were unheard of. The worse thing we did was to sneak a cigarette, or a sip of beer.
But for the grace of God, go I.
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A Good Hub On Pain Killer Addiction
Is Anyone In Your Family A Drug Addict?
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Hi Eiddwen, I hope you won't get two comments from me. I just answered you and it disappeared! Thank you for reading this and for your vote UP. You know first hand of this problem, and you're right, it's affecting older people too. Do you have much of a drug problem in Wales? From what I can read on the subject, it seems universal now. Good to see you, and I hope you have a wonderful day!
Yes there is a great drug problem here in Wales as there is everywhere.
It is not just the harm the drugs do is it?
As you say in your article it is the things that the abusers will do in order to fund their drug habits.
A great article and you also enjoy the rest of your day Mary.
Eiddwen.
It's a sad world we live in. When I was growing up I didn't even know what prescription pills were for and thank heavens never found out. It's bad around here too among the young people in Riga and it seems they just don't care about anything or anyone.
I wondered how the problem was in Latvia. I think it is universal. I just wish we could find a solution to the problem. Thanks for reading. I alway like hearing from you!
Votes up Mary. It is very bad in West Virginia. I know you are from Florida yourself. Many people from WV, KEN, VA, OH, and the Carolinas travel to Florida to go to the pain clinics down there. The new Oxycontin is formulated so it can't be snorted or shot up. There has been high reviews and since the change, they are no longer the drug of choice. It is now Oxycodone. Either way, it has took the U.S. by storm. Drug addiction is now treated like a disease,and the results have been positive cause they now treat it as that. A few years back, a doctor was busted in Williamson, WV. She made millions writing pain meds to anyone. I forget the exact number, but in one year, she wrote over 30,000 scripts for pain meds such as Lortab and Vicodin. Once addicted, it is dangerous to quit. The affects can cause you to die. I feel for anyone going through this. Sadly, I had many friends on pills and watched their lives be destroyed. I will say this, most of them entered a Suboxone treatment center and they have turned their lives completely around. Some choose Methadone, but it is very dangerous. Mary, it is a topic that needs attention. Very well said and done my friend. I send you and Baby the best. Take care.
Hi, thelyricwriter, Thanks for reading this, and your interesting remarks. I've never heard of theSuboxone treatment center. I'll investigage that one. There was a doctor in a nearby county who was indicted and convicted for making millions prescribing these pills, and causing the death of at least three of her patients. She is now serving time for that. These pain clinics close, but othes open up in their place. I don't think we'll see a solution in my lifetime. I just beg my Grandchildren: don't ever try these pills, because they are so addictive.
Thanks for your well wishes for Baby. She is still taking Valium which I don't like to give her, but the Vet wants her quiet and still for at least 3 weeks till her back heals. Here I am preaching about the dangers of drugs, and I have to keep my dog doped up! Go figure! Hope you have a wonderful day, friend.
Actually I feel sad to hear this information. But you share the fact. As young generation the young people should aware and give attention to this. I often found that young people abusing prescription for bad purpose. When the addicted come, they will use many ways to "fly". Thanks for writing this and share with us. Rated up!
Prasetio
Thanks prasetio30 for reading this, and for sharing your concern. Thanks, too, for the Vote UP. See you again soon...
I know a couple of people who are addicted to prescription drugs, and they're both middle aged. It's really a big problem. Great info you've provided. Voted up!
Good Morning habee, thanks for reading this, and for the compliment on my writing it. I thought a long time before I bared my personal problem, but I thought it was important to tell. Too bad about those people you know who are addicted. It is just such a powderfu drug! Thanks for the vote UP.
You did the right thing that you decided to write a hub like this. This kind of articles make think people about those silent killers and some how aware them about this huge problem. I believe that stress plays an important role, most seemed are stress-related disorders such as headache and backache. Using regularly pain killers will make them addicted to it. Addiction means users have to take a larger dose to get the same level of pain relief as when they first took the drug. Hope articles like this will make some effect on those who are under the attack of those killers. Voted^ and useful.
Thanks, dinkan53 for encouraging me on writing this Hub. I wish there was a solution, but I'm afraid it's hopeless. I have to agree with you about the stress factor. If you go to a doctor and tell him you're stressed, he will probably prescibe medication. I know people who are addicted to Prozac. They say they can't function without them. You are right, it takes more and more of the drug to satisfy the user. Thanks for the vote, too. Good to see you here. Regards, Mary
Hi Mary,
You have provided an important service by publishing this hub.
Unfortunately, I think this problem will get worse as the almighty Drug companies are always coming out with new pills. They also give perks to Doctors to push their drugs.
Many years ago I was in an bad relationship and my dad had just died. I put on at lot weight. I went to my doctor. He told me I was overweight as if I didn't know. I just needed someone to talk to. No time for that, he just gave me a prescription for Valium. I never filled the prescription. When I went for a follow up appointment he asked me why I never filled the prescription. I told him I didn't need it. His reply was, "Good for you."
I got out of the bad relationship which eased much of the stress I was under and in turn I lost the weight.
Being sad after loosing someone is normal. I said to a friend once that I rather be truly sad than artificially happy.
I pray that it is not too late for your family member fighting the battle of drug addiction.
Voted up and awesome.
Take Care
Hi Sue, good to see you. I blame the doctors for over prescribing drugs to their patients. I wonder why your doctor gave you the Rx to begin with. Your statement is so wise: I'd rather be truly sad, thatn articificaly happy. I have to remember that. I try to stress to my children that it is normal to have problems and to have to deal with stress. That's life! Don't ever rely on pills. I have always dealt with stress by meditating and praying to My Friend Upstairs! He always listens. Thanks for your vote Up., and for the encouragement. Good night, Mary
I agree and many just don't even see the problem and the one's that do don't seem to care. Great hub
Thanks leann2800 for reading this. I agree with what you said about the problem. Thanks for the compliment. I'm happy to be following you!
Hi Mary. In answer to your question, i was born a Floridian but was transplanted to Georgia as a tween. I hope your daughter enjoyed Georgia Southern.
Mary. This is a brilliant hub. I am so sad this awful desease is touching you personally.
I think one of the reasons for this addiction creaping up on us is because of its legality. We think because a qualified doctor has prescribed them and they're legal, its all okay. How far from the truth that is! Just look at the celebrities.
I pray that your family member escapes these cruel bonds.
Good Morning, Lesleysherwood! Thank you for reading and for the nice compliment. You are right about the doctors who overprescribe these medications. Some is so unncessary: an aspirin might do just as well! Thanks too, for your prayer. I appreciate your kindness. I hope you have a wonderful day.
Dear Mary,
I am sorry to hear you have a loved one who is currently in the grips of addiction. As you say, it is heartbreaking to be aware of the problem and feel helpless in resolving it. And all too often, even if the addict does receive expensive rehab they relapse when coming back out.
The waste in human potential and happiness is tragic and the threat to society in the form of crimes, accidents, unintended or intended overdoses is high. In my state of Delaware it is now illegal to drive under the influence of many prescription drugs and there was a recent newspaper article which stated that at present, more car accidents are caused by prescription drug abuse than by alcohol.
I, like you, pray that your family member will be one of the ones who is able to recover from her addiction on a long term basis.
Thank you for bringing more awareness to this growing problem.
Gail
Hi HBN, so good to see you today. As a nurse, I'll sure you came into more contact with this problem than I have. It's such a strong addiction. I am constantly studying about the problem and trying to learn new treatments,etc. I have decided that the addict can only get well IF they want to, not because of treatment centers. I still have hope....Regards as always, Mary.
Oh, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!
Dear Mary,
I so agree that the key to overcoming addiction is that the addict must make a decision and commitment to stop using the drugs. I would add that they also need to renew that decision on a daily, hourly or sometimes even moment to moment basis.
Hope is realistic and beneficial and I believe that loving prayer is the most powerful healer on earth.
Hope you, too, have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Mary, This is one of the most important, relevant-to-today hubs that I have read to date! I am not exaggerating. I too have known how this problem impacts people - specifically high school students. I know of quite a few kids who have had problems with drugs and have had to enter rehab clinics, some successfully, some not. Unfortunately, prescription drugs often become part of the mix. Everyone needs to wake up to this problem -- doctors, dentists, parents and teachers. ~voted up, interesting, and useful~
Hi, ktrapp, thanks for reading, and for your comments. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I really don't see a solution to this problem. For every person who gets over the addiction, it seems another two begin. Thanks too, for the votes. Goodnight.
Addiction is difficult--no 2 ways about it. And I am sorry for your family member who is suffering from addiction. This is a painful place to be. So many people in this country suffer from some type of addiction-- But we as a society--treat the addict punitively--we heap on shame and make the addict feel about as good as dogmeat. I have worked with many addicts--and when the addict desires change, support should be given--until then--take care of yourselves--al-anon is a wonderful source--supportive--I do not know if there is a special group for those family members touched by narcotic addiction, but I would imagine that there is--
my heart and prayers go out to you and your family--
Hi Audrey, thanks for reading and the comment. Since you have worked with addicts, I'm sure you can identify. I have attended al-anon before, but I no longer go. It did help, though, because this person also drinks which I understand sort of goes hand in hand for drug addicts. Either this family member is better now, or she is getting better at lying, and is just fooling everyone. You know how good they are at lying. I do appreciate your concern and prayers. Regards, Mary
Informational hub - this subject has negatively impacted my life as well. Someday I'll be brave enough to write about how helpless the addict's loved ones/family feels too. Thanks for sharing.
Hi, cbpoet, thanks for reading my Hub on how Prescription drugs are killing our young people. I am sorry you have felt this problem in your own life. You should write about it, and share your experience with others. It would probably help you. It is a very helpless feeling for the family. I wish I could do a follow up story that all is well now, but I can't. Regards.
Such a great article and I wish I had the answers to this horrible problem. It has effected my family too in the past with one of my children. The heart break was almost too much to bear. Unfortunately tough love is what we are doing now..time is the only thing that will tell if it really works. We are a drug society and there is a pill for everything. It makes me so sad. Thank you Mary. God bless you family. I truly understand the hurt and concern.
Sunnie
Good Morning , Sunnie. Thanks for reading and for the comment on my Hub about Prescription drugs and how they are killing people. This latest (Whitney H.) is such a heartbreak. I am so sorry this subject has touched your life, too. I hope your situation has had a good outcome. Mine has not I'm afraid. My family member is now in jail. This breaks my heart, but at least I know she is safe and it just might save her life in the long run. Have a wonderful Valentine's Day.
Mary, a great article on an ever growing pandemic. It's not a strange phenomena but a sad one. While I disagree with blaming doctors due to the fact there is a time and place, or season for everything and there are doctors helping folks legitimately, and to make such a broad statement criminalizes often, innocent doctors as well as patients. It is a hard road to walk and I've walked it early on, until I had a trench and people could see my messed up hair just sticking up from it, a deep rut, and say there goes dust again and I was going or coming to or from a dealer or a bar. I crack alot of jokes about dope and gettin drunk but fact is I've been clean and sober for 2 decades and a year come March 1st, I think that's right, anyway it's been a great while. It took a war and the CIA to get many a soldier started on more kinds of pure pharmaceutical drugs they were experimenting with than most Americans will ever know. These people were not doctors, they were scientists.
In the end it comes to one thing, hitting bottom while alive, after that it's between the addict and God, as long as enablers who give money and rides anything that makes the road easy and that includes, In my opinion, rehab centers that take the pain out of coming down. I know some are so far gone that with out rehab the chance of dying is greater by sweating it out alone. It is preached far and wide that if you don't front 60,000 dollars to get your loved one free of addiction physically in a controlled environment they will die. Some truth alot of scare tactics. If you do, what will they have learned? "Hey that was easy" I can take another, no big deal, it's easy to get clean again. In short "stupid" is supposed to hurt. I paid 7,000 for 7 days in a rehab, they used different drugs to ease the pain, flu like symptoms to a level of zero and no sweating or vomiting just a walk in the park. On day 8 I was at it again, 2 months passed and I had hit bottom again with a brand new plan, 8 cases of the little ice cream cups that came with flat wooden spoons, Orange sherbert. I wrote down the names of the drugs the rehab gave me so I headed to Mexico caught a cab to a physicians office and gave him the list of 3 drugs and doses. He recognized it and asked if I was using heroin and I told him yes. He wrote the prescriptions and I took my cab to the pharmacy got them filled and sat down once home and started using these 3 drugs as I exhausted my supply of heroin. It cost me train ticket to San Diego 17 Dollars round trip, cab fare with tip $40 and the drugs under 35 dollars and it wasn't pain free but it was effective. I was ready, God was ready long before, he was waiting on me.
Nobody just gets up in the morning and says "I'm going to get clean today" and then just does it. You can't say "intervention!" and set somebody down and say we are cutting you off if you don't go to rehab and expect it to work. You can say "Get out, we will no longer feed you or house your party in this house". That won't get them clean, but it will get them started on digging the hole that leads to "bottom alive" and sometimes "bottom dead", sad fact, some have to die so that others can live. Nothing like driving a friend who over dosed to the ER and parking their car in the Emergency entrance and leaning their body on the horn button and running away into the night hoping they live. I've never done that but know people who have. Now that is a boost toward bottom, a place all drug users be it hard drugs or hard liquor have to reach before they can consider the other two alternatives, get clean or keep on going until it ends in a bad way. Blaming doctors is just sadly not an option as most would rather give you what it takes to help you fight your way out than to give you anything that they think you no longer need. From a broken back, broken neck, leg amputation and a host of other serious damage, I've never been addicted to prescription medications, simply because they produced no "high" for me, they did relieve pain and suffering and when I was healed I stopped taking them. It was the street drugs that wound my watch, no oversight, no dose control, no number of doses each month. Where a person shows up in 10 days instead of 30 time and again seeking more, revealing to the doctor who and what they are. I am pro- decriminalization and in some instances legalization and my only argument in favor is a short look back at "Prohibition of alcohol" What is taken off the table where it can be monitored and quality controlled keeping things like lithium batteries out of someones body and what ever else it is they are using in meth labs and other types of drugs the make at home now days, most of them are post my experience days unlike the stills using lead based solder on the piping of the still, poisoning and blinding people who were going to drink legal or not, it is a role model of failure banning things. If it gets to be illegal, then only the bad segment of society will have it, make it with no regard to any ones health, just their own bank account.
I voted this up as I believe it a good conversation to have as well as thinking about the options. I believe it was a few decades ago, one of the teaching channels offered up a series on "Denmark?" legalizing and distributing certain drugs to their populace that resulted in crime dropping, users of certain drugs dropping when the become like eating beans for every meal, they got tired of it and wanted off the train to no where and use dropped, taxing them raised revenue, and money was saved by prison cells becoming vacant.
I think Marijuana when I consider testing that line of thought, I'm not for it, or against it because I've no stake in it one way or another, I do recognize one fact, what we are doing isn't working toward any good, it is just Making the drug cartels of Mexico into billions of American dollars rich.
I hope I've not offended you as you have put forward a good talking point. I as well pray that however this topic effects you and or other family members, that the grace of God touches and heals the wounds.
Peace, and blessings,
50
Dear 50, thanks for reading and your comment with so much information. I congratulate you for becoming sober and clean. We have these "pill mills" where I live, and people go there and buy pills, then sell them on the streets. The Drs. will give you any amount you have the money to buy. These doctors are the ones I blame at this point. Your statement "get clean or suffer the alternative" is so true. It's the alternative that concerns me because rather than stop using, these people die. I guess the bottom line is we all have choices in life, but it still breaks my heart. Thanks so much for your comment.
I got addicted to pain killer for 3 years but was in a house fire and thats how my addiction started. I'm so shocked at how easily the USA gives out controlled medication I live in London in the UK and they are allot more strict about giving it out.I only got my prescriptions due to being in a house fire they don't normally give that type of pain killer out very easily. when I went to rehab no docotor or patient had ever heard of anyone getting addicted to pain killers I think those doctors running pill mills in Florida prescribing medication to all those drug dealers should be locked up.I was on and oxycointin and fental for two years and
methandone for a year its a horrible addiction and I'd never have come of the drugs if it hadn't been for rehab. When you become so addicted to a substance it's something you live with for the rest of your life you no your an addict and theres so much temptation every wear so even if you never go back to pain killers you may pick another addiction up so you really are going to live with it for the rest of your life.
Thanks effey for your wonderful comment on my Hub about prescription drugs killing people. Some of the doctors here in Florida have been tried and convicted of manslaughter for over prescribing these pills and causing deaths. Others are just making a lot of money and causing more and more people to die from overdoses of oxycontin mostly. I feel so sad for those people who ae addicted to any drug; it has to be a living hell. I'm so happy you have overcome your addiction. I hope and pray you stay clean. I'm wishing you the very best!
Eiddwen 6 months ago
This is a great article mary and I hope that anyone who has this 'problem'does indeed take heed.
I worled with The Yoyuth offending team for 6 years and I know quite well how 'drugs'take over a young persons life.
Then of course as you say it is not just the young,it is also older people who have been prescribed these drugs as pain killers.
This is a great article and I vote up.
Thank you for sharing and have a great day Mary.
Eiddwen.