The media has been all over this topic since the death of Michael Jackson. There needs to be a new focus on this issue of over-prescribing prescription medication. It must be recognized as a serious and dangerous problem for our society. The abuse of prescription medication is widespread and frightening. This type of drug abuse not only affects well-known celebrities, but also the soccer mom living right next door.
Prescription drugs are crucial for the patient suffering from a terminal illness; someone dealing with severe pain sustained from an injury or a patient recovering from surgery. Unfortunately, there is a major problem of prescription drug abuse that needs our immediate attention.
We go to the Doctor with many aches and pains. We have confidence that we will be treated with respect and our problems solved. Often we expect a pill to do the trick and leave with hopes of immediate relief. The Doctor is compassionate and trusts that the symptoms presented to him/her are honest and true.
The Doctor writes a prescription for a narcotic pain reliever and the patient fills this prescription at a popular drug store. The patient leaves the drug store and drives down the block to see a Dentist. After explaining to the Dentist that he/she has been up all night with a terrible tooth- ache, the dentist takes an x-ray and determines there is in fact an infection in the tooth. After prescribing an anti-biotic and pain pill, the patient leaves with an appointment to return the following day to have the tooth extracted. The patient leaves the dental office, drives across town to a different but well-know drug store and has the prescription filled for pain, tossing the anti-biotic in the garbage on the way into the pharmacy. The patient never intends to keep the appointment the next day. He has accomplished his goal for the day.
This scenario is happening all over this country. The patient is often sincere and in obvious discomfort. The Doctor, being compassionate and professional wants to do his job and help his/her patient. The patient spends his time, day after day tricking Doctors/Dentists for legal, narcotic prescription drugs. The abuse of these drugs is becoming epidemic.
To begin with, legal pain medication is easy to obtain. After all, the patient has a written, legal prescription from the doctor. He/she walks into any pharmacy with this piece of paper and the Pharmacists fills the prescription, which is his/her profession. The cycle begins and continues.
There is a denial among professionals, the local authorities do not have the work force to investigate and the state simply ignores the data that is available to them. Who then, is accountable? What can we do as citizens to protect our children from the addicts selling these drugs in our schools? When will enough people become aware of this issue and stand up to contribute to a solution? Where will it end?
It must begin with the accountability of the Physician, Dentist or licensed professional. They must know their patient and be responsible to them. They need to be aware if they are contributing to an addiction. It begins with the Doctor, the staff and others that are familiar with the patient's history. There are many who need pain medication to maintain a quality of life. There is no argument for those patients whose serious medical conditions require this type of medication.
There should be a great concern for the abusers and once identified, help and assistance provided. These prescription drugs are being taken from our own medicine cabinets and sold in our high schools. Vicodin is one of the most popular drugs of choice and one of the easiest to obtain. We need to be educated and aware of this problem.
This problem is on a local, state and national level. It receives very little attention due to the sensitive nature of the topic. We need to have a responsibility and awareness of this problem to find a solution. Most Doctors simply want to treat their patients with compassion and trust. It is immoral to take advantage of the Doctors and Pharmacies who make every effort to do their job in an ethical and caring manner.
Prescription drugs are a salvation for the patient suffering with a terminal illness. Careful monitoring and attention is needed to prevent the addiction and abuse of prescription drugs. Taking this topic seriously and working together to find a solution will hopefully prevent any future lives from being destroyed.