Pubdate: Thu, 14 Feb 2002
Source: Messenger-Inquirer (KY)
Copyright: 2002 Messenger-Inquirer
Contact:  http://www.messenger-inquirer.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1285
Author: Sean Simone, MD

PILL FOR EVERY ILL MINDSET LEADS TO PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE

Regarding the Nov. 13 article "Prescription drug misuse, diversion a 
serious problem" by Dr. Janna Pathi: Prescription drug abuse is a serious 
problem, but why? Dr. Pathi tries to point the blame toward the patient, 
but is the patient at fault?

That patient by the time he or she has reached 18 years of age has seen 
20,000 hours of TV drug commercials telling him or her how great they are 
or how great they make you feel. Drug companies spend $14 million per day 
convincing Americans that they need the new "miracle" drug of the month. 
Patients are then told by their doctors that they "need" the drug and are 
quickly written a prescription. From birth until death the patient is told 
"don't worry about your diet, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, stress etc. 
We have a pill that will fix you."

As a last resort certain prescription drugs are needed in acute life 
threatening situations, but in the HMO medical system they have become 
first resort.

Parents wonder why their teen-ager is on illegal drugs. The answer is 
simple. We have taught them at an early age that any negative feeling, 
ailment, or emotion can be fixed with drugs. If mom is on Prozac, dad is on 
Paxil and little brother is on Ritalin why can't Johnny smoke a little pot 
or worse.

I realize my opinion may ruffle feathers of some in the medical and 
pharmaceutical community but so be it. The "War on Drugs" will be a failure 
and a farce as long as Americans blindly follow the drug companies "pill 
for every ill, potion for every emotion" mentality that pervades 
advertising, TV and the doctors office.

Dr. Sean Simone, Owensboro
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D