Pubdate: Mon, 18 Feb 2002
Source: Palm Beach Post (FL)
Copyright: 2002 The Palm Beach Post
Contact:  http://www.gopbi.com/partners/pbpost/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/333
Author: Marcia Barbacki
Note: Editor's note as published in source.

PREVENTING PRESCRIPTION ABUSE STARTS WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

I read with interest The Post's Feb. 8 front-page article "The Xanax Zone," 
which details the abuse of Xanax in combination with other drugs and 
alcohol by young people. I am concerned that benzodiazepines, such as 
Xanax, Valium and others, commonly are prescribed to adult and elderly 
people who continue to consume alcohol as part of their lifestyle and are 
unaware of the dangers of this potentially lethal combination.

Though the article does note that "mixing alcohol with Xanax can be deadly" 
and that a single Xanax in combination with alcohol has been documented to 
kill, I have encountered many consumers in my home health practice who 
assume that such consequences only occur with "abuse" and not when "taken 
as prescribed."

Despite the many brain-disabling or toxic effects of benzodiazepines in 
general, they are prescribed frequently, and therefore, I believe it is 
irresponsible for consumers not to be made aware of the "synergistic 
effect" that occurs when alcohol and benzodiazepines are combined. Because 
alcohol is metabolized first and at a fixed rate, the benzodiazepines 
continue to circulate steadily, increasing the effect. If a person already 
has an impaired liver or a cirrhotic liver, the alcohol is metabolized much 
more slowly, intensifying the effect of the benzodiazepine and increasing 
the risk of death.

Health professionals need to do a better job with patient education. As 
consumers, we need to ask questions about side effects and precautionary 
measures, read labels and do any additional research to ensure safe use of 
medications.

If we are really serious about saving lives, we need to fight the drug war 
in the homes, medical centers and offices of physicians and psychiatrists 
- -- not just on the streets or in the schools.

MARCIA BARBACKI,
West Palm Beach

Editor's note: Marcia Barbacki is a registered occupational therapist
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MAP posted-by: Alex