Pubdate: Fri, 17 Oct 2014
Source: Amherst News (CN NS)
Copyright: TC Media 2014
Contact:  http://www.cumberlandnewsnow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3379
Author: Shirley Hallee
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n618/a03.html?1219

ONE PILL CAN KILL

This past summer, one of my columns was entitled, "Special training
needed for drug dealers." The title came from a "tongue-in-cheek"
comment made by Dr. Brian Ferguson. He was upset and angry because of
the deaths of young people due to use of painkiller
medications.

A recent article in the Chronicle Herald has put names to two victims
of a one-time use of prescription medication.

Last April, Dale Jollota went into her daughter's room to wake her up
for school. Olivia Jollota was sitting cross-legged on her bed with
her computer on her lap - and she was dead. A toxicology report
indicated Olivia had died from taking one hydromorphone pill.

Four years ago, just prior to her 21st birthday, Brianne Ashley died
from taking the same painkiller medication.

Brianne's step-father, John Munro, is working to get information
regarding the use and dangers of painkiller medication out in the open.

Amy Graves, whose brother died after taking just one prescription
pill, has established the program Get Drugs Off The Street.

Dr. Ferguson became aware that there are persons who are willing to
put other people in danger for the sake of profit and greed as far
back as 1980. In a recent conversation, he told me of a celebration he
attended three days before graduating from Dalhousie as a medical
doctor. The event was held in his home community where he was being
honoured and congratulated on his achievement.

A fellow - who he thought of as a friend - asked him to go outside
with him. This guy then asked him to write him a prescription for a
painkiller - and for doing this he would share half the profits.

Brian Ferguson's reply was, "Are you crazy?" To this day Dr. Ferguson
feels upset that someone he thought of as a friend could make such a
request. A very happy event ended up being tainted, and after all
these years the memory of that conversation still upsets him.

So far this year, there have been 17 deaths in this province due to
prescription drug overdoses.

Dr. Ferguson and others who have come in contact with these tragic
deaths want parents and kids to know that just one pill can kill. The
reason for this is that the majority of young people are "drug naive."
When a doctor first prescribes medication for someone in pain, they
begin with a low dosage, and once the body (specifically the liver)
has adjusted they may increase the dose to control pain. The young
person popping that pill may well come across a dosage their body
can't handle and/or it might be a drug their body has never dealt with
before.

There are rapid relief medications and sustained relief medications.
Dr. Ferguson sees greater danger in the sustained relief painkillers
because the slow onset allows the person to think they are fine and
after having alcohol or simply going to bed they may never wake up.
However, it must be noted Olivia Jollota and Brianne Ashley died after
taking Dilaudid, the rapid relief medication. Any painkiller can be
deadly.

Kids might be fooled into thinking prescription drugs are safe because
a doctor can prescribe them. They also might think they can hide
"getting high" from parents because Mom or Dad will not smell alcohol
or marijuana on them. It is important for parents to realize their
young person is at risk.

Olivia Jollota was an honours student who was planning her course
schedule for Grade 10. She had already chosen her future career path.
She was the type of child her mother thought was too smart to take any
kind of drug.

The mantra for parents, teachers, doctors, community police officers
and friends of young people must be: "One pill can kill."
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MAP posted-by: Richard