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Cedarville Magazine
number of deaths from prescription drug
abuse each year is more than the number of
deaths from heroin and cocaine combined.
The accessibility of prescription drugs
is a major contributor to the epidemic.
More than 50 percent, perhaps as high as
70 percent, of abused drugs come from
family and friends, either offered or stolen.
Although the highest rates of death have
been in the 45–54-year-old category, this
problem reaches all age groups, including
teenagers. Perhaps you have heard about
a new style of party that is popular with
teens — called “skittling” or “pharma,”
among other names —where participants
simply bring whatever pills they can find,
add them to a bowl, and consume a handful
of the colorful drugs. It doesn’t take long
to understand these parties are dangerous.
Easy Availability
The epidemic had noble beginnings.
Throughout recent decades, pain
management — especially among
individuals experiencing some sort of
chronic pain syndrome —was suboptimal
at best. Physicians shied away from
aggressive therapy for fear of overdosing
a patient and being sued.
In the mid-1990s, a variety of good
things occurred that set change in
motion. State governments addressed
physicians’ concerns regarding the link
between aggressive pain management,
unintended outcomes, and malpractice
litigation. Changes in malpractice laws
were accompanied by improved pain
management education for health care
professionals during and following
their medical training. Pharmaceutical
manufacturing companies studied and
produced improved (more effective
and, supposedly, less addictive) pain
medications. At the same time, public
awareness was growing about the physical
and emotional benefits of controlling
chronic pain, easing patient concerns
regarding the risk of addiction in favor of
good pain control.
But, it didn’t take long for the pendulum
to swing the other direction. Pain is
certainly more effectively treated now, and
for that we can be truly grateful; however,
as the medical community and patients
became more comfortable with treating
(and, being treated for) pain, the number
of pain medicines being stored in home
medicine cabinets grew to an all-time high,
introducing a whole new problem. Today,
addiction to prescription medications,
primarily due to misuse and abuse
(not legitimate treatment managed by a
health care provider) is at a greater level
than ever before. And, so are the tragic
outcomes of that misuse and abuse, namely,
accidental deaths.
Supply and Demand
The increased demand for prescription
medications on the street — sustaining
and creating new addicts — has resulted
in the proliferation of illegitimate pain
management clinics. The scourge of so-
called “pill mills” (providing phony care
and prescribing and/or providing narcotics
— usually as a low-overhead, cash-only
business) has magnified the problem in
many U.S. cities.
Further complicating the situation,
treatment options for addiction are
incredibly limited. Current medical
treatment includes the prescription
medications methadone (distributed only
by a limited number of specialized clinics)
and buprenorphine (Suboxone). Much
study is presently underway in an effort
to identify newer, more effective options;
however, we are likely months to years
away from such products being tested and
marketed for public use.
In response to the epidemic, state and
federal governments have aggressively
pursued legislation aimed at curbing access
to medications, including shutting down
“pill mills.” In addition, prevention efforts
have been aimed at educating the public
about the problem, including reducing
the most common mode of medication
access: the home medicine cabinet. These
initiatives have achieved some success;
the most recent annual report from the
White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy notes the number of people
abusing prescription drugs decreased by
nearly 13 percent between 2010 and 2011
(the most recent years for which data is
available), although there is clearly more
that we all can do to protect our families
and communities.
Safety Precautions
Awareness of the problem is key to curbing
it. Even if you haven’t already been affected
by this epidemic, you are now aware.
Tell others.
Contact your local
pharmacist, health department, or hospital
to request additional education for your
church, school, or community group. If
you happen to live near a university with a
pharmacy or medical school, contact them
for the same.
Be aware of the types ofmedications that
are most commonly abused.
Frequently
abused medications include prescription
pain killers (e.g., OxyContin, Vicodin,
oxycodone, hydrocodone), sedatives
or tranquilizers (e.g., Valium, Xanax,
diazepam, alprazolam), and stimulants
(e.g., Adderall, amphetamines, Cercerta,
methylphenidate, Ritalin).
Recognize your own unwitting
contribution.
As noted above, as much
as 70 percent of all abused prescription
drugs are coming from our medicine
cabinets. Keep your medications out of the
reach of others (even other adults), using
locks if necessary.
Discard any unused medications.
The
U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has
sponsored Drug Take Back Days for the
past couple of years. In cooperation with
local and state law enforcement, public
health organizations and other institutions,
events have been staged to receive any
and all unneeded medications from the
public. More than 1,000 tons have been
collected to date. The medications are
securely received and then incinerated.
Some communities have secure drop-off
boxes located at police stations, and states
