Terrible news in the morning paper! At least I thought it was terrible!
Briefly, everyday three Tennesseans will die of prescription drug overdose and two babies will be born addicted to drugs. As of July 15, this year 432 babies were born in Tennessee with problems caused by their mother’s use of narcotics or other drugs. How can this be fair to the baby? Many of these babies will be mentally handicapped for life!
If that doesn’t make your blood boil, nothing will. The front page article went on to say that Tennessee doctors prescribe more controlled substances (narcotics) per capita than all but one other state. Dr. John Dreyzehner, Tennessee Commissioner of Health, said, “The problem is in the community and the solution is in the community.” He blamed increased community acceptance of opiates (narcotics).
I agree with Dr. Dreyzehner’s assessment. It is a community problem and it is fueled by doctors who over prescribe pain pills as well as other meds.I have seen adult patients who are asked to bring “all their medicines” in at the next visit arrive with a large, paper, grocery bag filled with bottles of pills! I recently talked with a woman who was having a reaction to a medication which she was given in too high a dose. Instead of stopping the medication her doctor added another med to her “grocery bag.”
According to the article mentioned above, Doctors in Tennessee prescribe more than 275 million hydrocodone pills annually, that’s enough for everyone of us over age 12 to have a pill a week for the whole year. I don’t have that much pain! Do you? Doctors also prescribe enough oxycodone to give us each of us 21 pills a year! Everyone knows that these two medications head the list of addictive drugs in the US. How many celebrities do we know who have become addicted to them? Too darn many!!!
On the other hand, people demand pain medicine! There is a pill for everything, why hurt? But, do we really need narcotics for pain? Sure the day or two after surgery or a major injury pain meds might help, but more than a 4-5 days, to my way of thinking, is asking for trouble.
I have written at length about the tragedy of using Ritalin and other stimulants for kids with ADD and ADHD. You all know what I think of that! Now, adults are using these same drugs for their ADD! I like kids with ADD and ADHD, they are fun, active, happy and a joy to know. If properly handled, without medications, they become CEOs, surgeons, or other people who convert their restlessness into productive, overachieving lives.
I really don’t hate medicines, but those of you whose kids I have cared for know that I am reluctant to use meds. It’s a precaution I learned in medical school and was reinforced during my residency and years in practice. Once during my final year of Pediatric training my chief called me a “Therapeutic nihilist”. After I looked up “nihilist” I felt complimented: I think that’s how Dr. Peterson intended it. The body is phenomenal machine capable of healing itself from many diseases and most injuries, let it work without damaging itself or risking addiction for ourselves or the infants women are privileged to carry.
I have taken narcotics after back surgery and hernia surgery. Almost all of the pills were still in my drawer when we packed to move many years later. I can not stand the way these meds make me feel. I want to be able to think straight, not be in a blur! Blurred thinking comes soon enough! Furthermore, they give me a stomach ache. I’ll take aspirin for headaches, and ibuprofen for my aching back, but please don’t give me a narcotic.
I know there are some very justified uses of pain killers, tranquilizers, and sedatives, but sometimes we have to bite the bullet and bear the pain.
To read the complete article go to http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013307260072.