Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Prescription Drug Abuse Threatens Availability of Pain Medication

Take a look in your medicine cabinet — do you spot prescription pain medication? If so, are you contributing to the nation’s dramatic increase in irresponsible prescription drug use? According to the 2008 National Drug Control Strategies Report, 71 percent of prescription pain medication abusers obtained the drugs from family and friends. Among 12- to 13-year-olds, prescription drug abuse actually exceeds marijuana use.

Irresponsible use of prescription medications hurts more than those who misuse the drugs. It hurts the nation’s 75 million chronic pain patients who are at risk of having much-needed medicines restricted or pulled off the market. This will worsen an already difficult situation for pain patients, according to Dr. Albert Ray, chairman of The National Pain Foundation.

Prescription holders, themselves, are vulnerable to misuse, as evidenced by the recent death of actor Heath Ledger. His death was attributed to a widely held but erroneous belief that prescribed medicines are safe, even when used for unintended purposes or outside a prescription’s limits or instructions.

“Chronic pain remains under-treated in this country,” says Ray. “Every morning millions of people wake up in pain, unable to work or just live their lives. The social and economic costs for society and for people living in pain are enormous.”

But lawmakers’ commitment to helping pain sufferers is hampered by what seems to be a trade-off between allowing continued access to pain relief and public safety from drug abuse. With greater general awareness of the importance of safe and appropriate use of prescription drugs, this need not be the case.

The National Pain Foundation is ramping up efforts to raise public awareness to curtail prescription drug abuse and thus ensure the continuing availability of pain medication. The message: Prescription drug abuse is preventable. Prescription drug holders and the medical community have a responsibility to help curb irresponsible drug use. Steps consumers can take include:

— Never take a prescription pain medication unless it is prescribed to you. — Lock up prescription pain medications to keep them out of other people’s hands. — Do not share prescription pain medications with others. — Do not take higher or more frequent doses than prescribed. — Do not take pain medication with alcohol, which can cause adverse side effects. — Do not combine sedatives or anti-anxiety drugs with pain medication. This can increase toxicity. — Do not use narcotic medications as sleeping pills; this can suppress breathing during sleep.

Doctors and other members of the medical community can be especially effective in preventing prescription drug abuse. About 180 million Americans age 18 or older consult their healthcare provider at least once a year. These visits are valuable opportunities to educate patients and screen for drug and alcohol abuse.

“It’s up to each of us to make sure that irresponsible use of prescribed pain medications does not make it harder for legitimate pain patients to have access to drugs that can greatly improve their quality of life,” says Ray.
__________
source: Denver Post

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Warning over alcohol intake surge

The amount Britons drink has surged in recent decades, fuelled by plummeting prices and more women bingeing on alcohol. Awareness groups have warned for some time that consumption of alcohol is rising and that the number of booze-related deaths will continue to increase unless action is taken. Alison Rogers, chief executive of the British Liver….

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, largely affects the small children. In a global survey, it was found that the ADHD affects approximately 3 percent to 5 percent of all children. ADHD can be kept under control by proper treatment but only a few are aware that children suffering with ADHD are likely to carry the disorder….

5 Benefits of Dual Diagnosis Treatment Centers

Primarily, the goal of a dual diagnosis treatment center is to effectively treat co-existing physical or mental health conditions of an addict along with their substance abuse. By treating all conditions in continuum and integrating the treatment services, many benefits can be received in dual diagnosis treatment centers that may be limited by other providers…..

Support Groups for Families of Addicts

It can be heartbreaking for a family to see a member suffering form drug or alcohol addiction. Many cannot understand how their loved one has turned to drugs or alcohol, and often feel guilty. It can be tremendously confusing, and extremely stressful for families to watch their loves one’s life being controlled by drugs or….

Do You Drink Too Much?

Go on, have another. You’ll be hailing the cab anyway as you’re a bit over the limit now. As for tomorrow, you survived work with a hangover last Tuesday, didn’t you? Besides, it’s your boss offering the next round! Make it a pint. Oh, and mental note: don’t forget to pick up some beer tomorrow….