Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Life is pain, anybody who tells you diffrent is selling something.

Let me first qualify the legitimate use of prescription drugs in today's society. Prescribed medications, closely monitored by a credited physician, can provide great relief to many common ailments. The intent of this post is to not demonize the legitimate use of medications. The intent is to discuss the rampant misuse of the same prescriptions used daily by billions worldwide.

As I write this, prescription drug abuse is nationally on the rise as is overdose deaths related to misuse of these substances. Prescriptions are viewed a safe and have led to multi-billion dollars profits for pharmaceutical companies. Every day physicians prescribe tablet of narcotics, depressants, and stimulant drugs promising a cure for common everyday ailments. If your sick, society suggests taking a pill. It’s that simple.

By way of comparison, in the late 1800's the United States Federal Government formed the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to combat drug addiction rates. During that time, Morphine was commonly used as pain medication and as an ingredient in snake oil type elixirs. As a result of Civil War injuries and sales of morphine enriched elixirs, roughly 50% of Americans became addicted to Morphine. Arguably, many did not know they were consuming the drug and even more knew nothing of its addictive nature. Morphine was simply a liquid that was "good for what ails you". Side effects of substances like morphine (and cocaine) were not known. As a result the drugs were common additives in early medicine. Snake oil elixirs were literally sold door to door as "cure all" treatments for hard labor. Does your back ache? Are you tired and have 48 acres to plow. Take a little morphine to take away the pain and a little cocaine to provide a boost. You'll complete your work, guaranteed. Companies producing the medicines only knew they worked. They didn’t know why or the consequences of consumption. Anyone remember how tobacco was once marketed to kids. Companies were held liable for customer’s terminal illness because of the harmful effects of the product. The FDA banned the use of many substances for everyday use and required a prescription from a physician before use. This one act resulted in the largest reduction of addiction this country has ever seen.

Simply put those who were addicted did not understand the nature of the substance and were not using for enjoyment. Restricting access was enough to significantly lower addiction rates. Today's addiction rates do not compare to rates seen at the inception of the FDA but use of narcotic pain medication is wide spread. Drugs like Oxycontin and codone, Hydrocodone, Loritab, Percocet, Endocet, Methadone, etc... vary in strength with some having a lesser or greater effect than Morphine. In addition, poly drug use (the use of more than one substance at the same time) is a common practice resulting in dangerous effects. Many patients take daily cocktail of narcotics or muscle relaxers for pain, a depressant for anxiety or depression, a stimulant to treat hyperactivity, and a sleep aid. Daily prescription are often chased by alcohol which at least increases intoxication effects. Societal acceptance of prescriptions as a "cure all" has added to unchecked use. Abuse, misuse, and dependence are rampant.

Much like heart disease and diabetes, addiction is a legitimate disease that is contracted based on family history and choices. Like eating high fat foods with no exercise will lead to heart disease, so can the use of chemical substances (including prescription) in excess will increase tolerance levels triggering addiction. Prescription substances have the same addictive qualities as illegal substances and arguably more commonly abused. Illegal and prescription substances differ (beside the legality of possession) based on the strength of an individual dose. The common intent of consuming a Illegal drug is to get high or to obtain intoxication or impairment. The strength and quality of illegal substances differ from source to source and are not regulated. Therefore one cannot judge the strength or effect of an illegal substance until after the drug is consumed. Prescription substances are usually prescribed in a dose that will not cause intoxication or impairment. Prescription drugs are therefore viewed as safe because they are obtained and regulated through a physician. Using more than is prescribed or using high prescribed doses for extended periods, will raise tolerance to addiction. Nobody is immune from addiction.

Based on chemical rewiring and brain changes once a person has succumbed to addiction that person will own the disease for life. There is no cure, there is only maintenance. Drug use conditions the brain to addiction by creating pathways of behavior. Like a habit, the brain reverts to common behaviors in times of stress and discomfort. Using drugs in high quantities, for long periods of time, cement addiction pathways as dominate. Simply put, drug use becomes second nature and is viewed by the brain as normal behavior. Attempts to change behavior prove more difficult than creating the behavior. Failure to control use is common and a key sign of dependence. Addiction is a treatable disease that takes time and effort over a lifetime. The more one controls behavior the easier it is to predict behavior. Family support and treatment will increase success.

Today’s society has placed a stigma on addiction stereotyping it as a personality flaw or an inability to control actions or desires. Many who suffer continue to suffer in order to avoid being ostracized or judged. Addiction is a disease that affects many. This problem is growing. In order to combat this problem we must recognize the addictive nature of the substances in order to prevent addiction, we must remove societal stigmas related to addiction in order to create perceptions conducive to change, and we must take charge of our lives by seeking information prior to making choices. I must stress, prescriptions have a valid place in society but are not a cure all. They are a tool that can have drastic consequences when misused.

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