AHS Views

Did you know that half of all Americans take at least one prescription drug? And that one in six Americans take three or more prescriptions? That seems extreme, but would explain why prescription drug abuse has become such an epidemic in the US right now.

So what happens if you take one or a couple of prescriptions on a daily basis and you accidentally take the wrong pill? Believe it or not, this is pretty common amongst us busy-bodied Americans who are usually on the go for most of our daily routines.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, since the year 2000, they’ve received over 95,000 reports of medication errors. Some of which were by medical professionals like pharmacists and the doctors who write the prescriptions, but mostly by the consumers.

With all of the different types of medications being prescribed out there, and families loading up their medicine cabinets with pill bottles, tubes of prescription creams and perhaps some liquid medications, how hard do you think it would be to accidentally take the wrong pill?

It’s very important to keep your medications in order and not to get them mixed up. The consequences could range from annoying symptoms due to taking the wrong medication, to more serious effects like allergic reactions or overdose. It’s also important to properly dispose of medications that are no longer being used. Sometimes people think it’s handy to hang onto prescriptions “just in case” they’re needed. But, what they’re really doing is opening the door to misuse by minors or self medicating, possibly with the wrong medications.

While we as a nation are dealing with the issue of prescription drug addiction, let’s keep in mind that we need to be responsible with the drugs that are medically necessary to live our lives. And, if you do know of someone who is misusing those types of drugs, get them some help. You could absolutely be saving their life!

In going through the news headlines on a daily basis, I see a lot of stories that have to do with illegal drug activity, underage drinking, mephedrone being banned in the UK, overdose deaths by Hollywood stars, etc, etc. I repeat – this is daily (sometimes hourly) news! But, I have to say that the most prevalent topic that I come across, almost on a daily basis, has to do with prescription drugs.

This is a world wide epidemic. The tragedies caused by prescription drugs are not only outweighing those of illegal drugs, but are being felt all over the globe. Why are these drugs so dangerous? There are a few of factors; first of all, they’re not hard to get. You can buy them from dealers who illegitimately acquire them from who knows where, you can buy them online, you can go to your family doctor and tell them you’re in pain or you could simply go to the family medicine cabinet and just take them.

Sometimes people start taking prescriptive pain killers because of an injury or after a surgical procedure and wind up getting hooked. Sometimes people begin taking an antidepressant which can act like a gateway, especially when started at a young age. Sometimes people just want to get a different high because alcohol isn’t quite doing it for them. There are a plethora of reasons.

The main thing that everyone should know is that the abuse of prescription drugs is not safe. In fact, it’s the second leading cause of death in the US right now. A common misconception about taking pills vs. meth, heroin or cocaine, is that they’re prescribed by doctors, so they must not be that harmful. Well folks, I hate to burst your bubble, but they’re far from being safe and certainly not ok to use recreationally.

Even if you’re not using prescription drugs for fun, it’s important to have them prescribed by a physician and take them only as directed. Do not keep any extra pills that are left over. And, don’t borrow pills from friends to self medicate. Keep in mind how Brittany Murphy died, she was self medicating for illnesses and accidentally overdosed.

I can’t stress how important it is for people to get educated on this heated topic. Prescription drug abuse is no joke. It’s taking over people’s lives and leaving families as victims of love ones leaving too soon.

Once again, Lindsay Lohan has made the news. Today, it was reported that she missed a court date by arriving ninety minutes late. Then apparently, she was seen out shopping. Does she not think that the law applies to her? Does she not think there is a problem here? It would appear the answer to both of those questions is no, she doesn’t.

Lindsay was supposed to appear in court because of a lawsuit that was filed against her 2008, by three men, for endangering their lives. She was reported to have held them hostage in her vehicle while driving drunk. She probably thought it was fun at the time, but it obviously wasn’t good times for her passengers.

Stories have been surfacing for years about Lindsay, going in an out of treatment centers, having quarrels with her father for being too loose lipped with the press, having drunk driving episodes, photos of her so drunk she can barely stand up, having prescription drug addiction problems, etc. She’s got some issues, and I don’t think anyone could argue that point. It’s also quite apparent that the steps that she’s gone through over that period of time have not helped her.

When a young person is getting in trouble with the law for alcohol and prescription drug abuse, there’s a problem that really needs to be properly addressed. She needs help. Drug and alcohol rehab help, to be exact.

I would venture to guess that she doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with her actions or behavior. One of these days, it will catch up with her though, and when it does, I hope for her sake that she decides to go to a treatment center on her own volition to conquer the addictions that she is battling. If not, she’ll wind up in prison, or worse, dead. She’s a very bright and beautiful, young star, it is my hope that she realizes this and gets the help she so desperately needs.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has decided to lift a longstanding ban which will allow commercial pilots to fly while taking antidepressants. When I read this in the news, I shuttered at the thought of being completely at the mercy of a pilot, flying me around while on drugs!

Apparently, there will be some restrictions to this new allowance for pilots. They will be allowed to fly commercially only if they suffer from mild to moderate depression and they can only be taking one of four prescription antidepressants (Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft or Lexapro). They will also have to prove that they’ve been on the antidepressant for at least one year.
Knowing what I know about these drugs, I am horrified with this decision. I do not want to be flown by a pilot under the influence! And yes, that is what they would be – under the influence. In case you aren’t aware of how these drugs can affect a person, here’s a partial list of possible side-effects:

•    Insomnia
•    Nausea
•    Weakness
•    Drowsiness
•    Anxiety
•    Nervousness
•    Shakiness
•    Dizziness
•    Vomiting
•    Vision Changes
•    Chest Pain
•    Suicidal thoughts or behavior
•    Panic Attacks
•    Hostility or aggressiveness
•    Confusion or other mental changes
•    Hallucinations
•    Overactive reflexes
•    Agitation
•    Seizures
•    Coma
•    Congestive heart failure
•    Dependency
•    Addiction

These are just a few of the possibilities. It’s important, not only for anyone who is considering taking these drugs, but to think of someone flying a plane while on these medications. The repercussions could be absolutely tragic! I actually have a strong feeling that they will be, but only time will tell now that the ban has been lifted. Hopefully the pilots that are addicted will get addiction help before tragedy strikes.

Spring is upon us. We had our first really nice weekend of the year here in Florida, and it made me start to think about the warm summer months ahead, that will be here before we know it. It has also made me think about making sure that I’m in shape and looking good for my summer wardrobe and the beach. And, I know that I’m not alone as my friends and Facebook companions have been mentioning warmer weather and wanting to look trimmer.

The next thought that comes to my mind is; how will I shed those extra pounds that I put on during the winter season and holidays? Do I go on a traditional diet and exercise regimen or go the easier route and take some diet pills to suppress my appetite?

While it may seem easier to take some pills and just eat a bite of lettuce every day, it could wind up being a real problem – and most certainly not the easy route. Much like speed and amphetamines, weight loss drugs can wreak havoc on the body. They can easily lead to health issues like:

•    Headaches
•    Dizziness
•    Irritability
•    Memory Loss
•    High blood pressure
•    Heart palpitations
•    Congestive Heart Failure
•    Cardiac Arrest
•    Menstrual Irregularities
•    Strokes
•    Tremors
•    Seizures
•    Nerve Damage
•    Insomnia
•    Nervousness
•    Addiction

Quite a list, huh? Since most people don’t intend to get sick from or hooked on any type of drug, we must be educated and know the risks involved with diet pills. Even the best intentions can lead to drug addiction which will most likely require an addiction treatment program. And, when you’re thinking of shedding a few pounds for the summer, I’m sure the last thing on your mind is what drug rehab you’re going to choose for your diet pill addiction in the fall.

The best way to get in shape is, and probably always will be, proper diet and exercise. Don’t risk health issues and the chance of becoming addicted, it’s not worth it!

The Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s office has recently stated that “prescription drug abuse has become more fatal than abuse of illegal street drugs”. The top two drugs that people overdose on in Tampa, FL are Oxycodone (which can be formulated as Percocet and OxyContin) and Methadone used to “treat” heroin addiction and for chronic pain.

What’s really interesting is that Florida was approved for a prescription drug monitoring program, or PDMP, that is supposed to help prevent people from getting multiple prescriptions filled (a.k.a. doctor shopping). But, after approval, the program wasn’t provided with any funding by legislature. Apparently, $1 million needs to be raised by Florida’s Office of Drug Control, and only $150,000 of that has managed to be gotten together.

I absolutely believe that this needs to be a very high priority for Florida. The death toll, as of now, is around 300 people per year in Hillsborough County alone. People of all walks, young, old, richer and poorer are getting their hands on prescription drugs and taking them in lethal doses.

If you or someone you know has a problem with prescription drugs, it’s imperative that you get addiction help now. You could save a life!

A woman’s life has come crashing down, thanks to drug addiction. Kristin Parker, a scrub tech in Colorado who fell prey to an addiction to painkillers (and heroin for a short time) wound up contracting Hepatitis C. But, that’s not the worst of it. She worked as a nurse for two different hospitals, where she had access to needles and prescription drugs that were administered by injection.

I don’t believe that the hospitals would have hired her if they knew that she was a drug user, but they definitely were aware that she had Hepatitis C. And, they put her into an area of the hospital where people were being operated on and given injections. Doesn’t seem very safe!

As time went on, Parker’s addiction continued, and she decided to start using syringes full of prescription painkillers and then replaced the medication with saline. Then, the same needles were used on patients at the hospital. As it turns out, she put the lives of as many as 6000 patients at risk, and gave the incurable disease to 3 dozen people.

So, just to recap: she used drugs that had to be injected, she got Hepatitis C and she gave 3 dozen people an incurable disease (maybe more). All of this because she was addicted to drugs!

Do you really think that no one knew about her problem? Did she really think she could just fly under the radar and continue this behavior? She’s only 27 years old and is now facing 30 years in prison. And there are 36 people out there dealing with a horrible disease from an unfortunate hospital stay. Absolutely heartbreaking!

I wonder how her life would have turned out if she had gotten the addiction help she needed. I have a strong feeling if she had gotten help finding a drug detox and drug rehab program that could address her addiction then all of these tragedies could have been avoided and she’d be living a normal life as well as her victims and this horrible mess wouldn’t exist.

While not everyone hits this low of a rock-bottom when they do drugs, this just goes to show that addiction is a powerful force that must be dealt with – before it’s too late.

Do you have children? If you don’t, you surely have friends or family members with kids. What do you do if you suspect that they’re using drugs? Do you let it slide and hope it’s nothing, or that it will just go away? Bad idea! There are so many kids, even young children, getting involved in drugs these days, and many families have suffered losses because they ignored warning signals of suspected drug use.
What about drug testing? Is it a bad idea? Is it an invasion of a child’s privacy? Privacy schmivacy is all I have to say! If my kids were displaying signs of drug use or abuse, I would have no problem giving them a drug test.

Out of the kids I’ve met who get tested by their parents, there are some who don’t mind and others who resent it and feel like their parents don’t trust them. In my opinion, the latter seems like they’ve probably got more to hide. And, of course they’re going to resent the fact that their parents are looking out for their best interest.

In the past, the majority of drug tests have only been able to check for illegal drugs like marijuana or cocaine. Now, there are kits available that can test for prescription drugs too, which are, unfortunately, what a lot of kids are more likely to take than street drugs.

Don’t let the warning signs of drug use by your children or those of friends and family go without addressing them. A simple home drug test now could save your child from a lifetime of drug abuse, or even worse, an early death. If you do find that your child has a drug problem, get help. Statistics have proven that the earlier a person who is abusing drugs gets the addiction help services they need, the better their chances are at fully recovering and living a drug free life.

I know it doesn’t seem like it, but a lot of people who take drugs really do want to stop. Unfortunately, withdrawal is one of the biggest reasons for fear of quitting, as it can be physically and emotionally overwhelming. An addict who has gone too long without using (between hits) has encountered some of those withdrawal sensations.

Dreading withdrawal symptoms is not the only reason people have a difficult time quitting. A person can go through the motions to get detoxed, but until they complete a successful drug rehab program that addresses the reason they started taking drugs or alcohol in the first place, the urge to continue using will remain the same.

Whatever the reasons are that drive a person to take drugs or do alcohol, for the user, the problems are very real and they want to cover them up or drown them away. And, though people make it out to be enjoyable or even glamorous in places like Hollywood, being a drug addict isn’t easy. In fact, it never leads people in a positive direction and can often result in losses of jobs, homes, families and even lives.

A drug user will start out with times when they are very high and nothing much seems to matter – basically in a dream-like state, and their troubles seem further away – but this wears off. The rest of the time, the most important thought in their mind is where to get more. Then, they’re dealing with two problems – the one that made them reach for the drugs in the first place, and the dependency or addiction that they’ve acquired.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that drug addicts and alcoholics enjoy that life. They do want to get off drugs or stop drinking alcohol. The way to successfully do this is Rehab. And, if you aren’t able to talk your friend or loved one into going to rehab, make sure to get in contact with an interventionist. This is their specialty and they’re experience lends to getting even the toughest addicts to go and get the addiction help they need.

Without going into a lot of details, the short answer is probably no, and unfortunately the line between the two is pretty grey, but there is a definitely more to it…

A drug “addiction” is generally defined as compulsive, drug-seeking behavior which is due to physical and/or mental dependency on a drug, despite knowingly causing damage to oneself and others regardless of consequence. Most people associate drug addiction with illegal drugs like cocaine, meth or heroin, but the truth is that people can easily become addicted to prescription drugs that were originally prescribed by their doctor.

An individual with a drug “dependence” may not exhibit the compulsive drug-seeking behavior and may have a more normal and collected appearance in life. This doesn’t only include drugs, but can also include the moderate-to-heavy social drinker who has three alcoholic drinks several nights per week or more. You may as well additionally include the millions of people who take prescribed drugs on a daily basis.

As I mentioned before, there is a fine line between dependency and addiction, and a person who is dependent can very easily become addicted. What happens if a drinker gets cut off at the bar? A lot of times, they become belligerent and will go to another bar or store to buy more alcohol, which would be an all too common example of compulsive drug (or alcohol) seeking. They may not even know they are an alcoholic yet but these are the first signs not to ignore.

Another factor, which most people are unaware of, is tolerance. This can absolutely play a role in dependence turning into addiction. An example of this might be someone being prescribed a narcotic painkiller after an injury or surgery. They takes it as prescribed for the recommended time period, but when the medication use stops, the user goes into withdrawals because their body became dependent on it. The next reaction, in a lot of scenarios, would be that they have to get more of the drug to not feel those withdrawal symptoms anymore. They’re basically trapped into use – which leads to addiction.

Learning disability labeled teenagers being put on amphetamines (stimulants) is another common example. These are legally prescribed drugs, by doctors and/or psychiatrists. The children can naturally develop a tolerance to these drugs and then need more, something stronger. In many cases of illegal drug use by teens, it comes on the heels of a long history of Ritalin, Prozac, etc.

So, the one thing we do know is, despite different characteristics and definitions, one does have to be drug dependent to be an addict, but the line  certainly isn’t definite when it is crossed. And, knowing how easily this can happen, it’s extremely important to pay attention. Pay attention to yourself, if you find that you need to take a prescription painkiller. Pay attention to your kids. And, if you find yourself knowing of or learning about someone with a dependence, help them get into a good detox program before it leads to addiction.