Pubdate: Fri, 30 Dec 2005
Source: Muskogee Daily Phoenix (OK)
Copyright: 2005 Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Contact: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/customerservice/contactus.html
Website: http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3319
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

WATCH YOUR MEDICATIONS

As a society we are out of control when it comes to drugs, legal and
illegal, and it appears the abuse of legal medicines, prescription
drugs, is increasing to dangerous proportions.

This month, a state paper reported the abuse of prescription
painkillers is rising and killing more Oklahomans than any other drug.
A national story followed with a report that America's teens are
smoking and using illicit drugs less, but popping more pain pills.

The recent stories reported the following statistics:

- - An estimated 180,000 Oklahomans, about 5 percent of the state
population, have a chemical dependency related to prescription pain
medications, illegal drugs or alcohol.

- - Methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone accounted for nearly half of
the state's 526 drug deaths in 2004.

- - In the 1990s, the state had fewer than 20 methadone-related
deaths, but in 2004, the state had 135 deaths related to methadone
abuse.

- - Last year, nearly one in 10 high school seniors tried prescription
painkillers.

- - The National Institute of Drug Abuse reports about 9 million
Americans in 1999 took prescription drugs for non-medical purposes: to
get high, have fun, get a lift or calm down.

Drugs have their proper use, and some people will be lured to illicit
drug use for a number of reasons. But it appears we are not doing a
very good job educating our children, or adults for that matter, about
the perils of drug abuse.

The war on drugs has many fronts, but there's one we will address
here: Parents make sure you keep prescription drugs put up, away from
your children, and account for all of your pills.

And parents, if you have a problem, seek help, and recognize that
perhaps, a doctor is not the best person to talk to. A recent survey
found that nearly half of primary care physicians said they have
"difficulty talking about substance abuse with patients."

They obviously are not trained to deal with drug abuse, and that may
be part of the problem.

But don't allow your life or the lives of your children to spin out of
control because of drugs. They can do wonders for an illness, but used
without control, they are, as some have said, one of America's
greatest ills.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin