Rush Limbaugh's admission that he was addicted to pain medications is an open door for you to look at this issue that affects millions. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimated that 9 million people abused prescription drugs in 1999.
|
E-MAIL NEWSLETTER |
Sign up to receive Al's Morning Meeting by e-mail:
* Click here (sent Monday-Friday at 7 a.m.)
| |
Addiction is more a medical issue than a moral lapse.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association,
the area of pain and chemical dependency has become an increasingly important issue. Although chronic pain affects over 45 million Americans -- more than either cancer or heart disease -- treatment is a low priority in the current health care system (Chronic Pain Advocacy League).
A 2001 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse at Columbia University indicated that approximately 50 percent of primary care physicians have difficulty speaking with their patients about substance abuse (FDA Consumer Magazine, Sept.-Oct., 2001).
The National Institute on Drug Abuse says, "There are several reasons to believe that prescription drug abuse is on the rise.
- From 1990 to 1998, the number of new users of pain relievers increased by 181 percent; the number of individuals who initiated tranquilizer use increased by 132 percent; the number of new sedative users increased by 90 percent; the number of people initiating stimulant use increased by 165 percent.
- In 1999, an estimated 4 million people — almost 2 percent of the population aged 12 and older — were currently (use in past month) using certain prescription drugs nonmedically: pain relievers (2.6 million users), sedatives and tranquilizers (1.3 million users), and stimulants (0.9 million users).
- Although prescription drug abuse affects many Americans, some trends of concern can be seen among older adults, adolescents, and women. In addition, health care professionals—including physicians nurses, pharmacists, dentists, anesthesiologists, and veterinarians may be at increased risk of prescription drug abuse because of ease of access, as well as their ability to self-prescribe drugs."
Resources: The
American Academy of Pain Medicine is the primary organization for physicians practicing the specialty of Pain Medicine in the United States.
American Pain Foundation (APF) is the nation's leading nonprofit organization serving people with pain. Their site includes a library of stories about pain and treatment.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse has
prescription drug abuse facts.
Limbaugh said he had tried treatment before and would enter treatment right away. What are some options?
Here is a toolbox.
On the other end of this issue is this from the
ArthritisSupport.com, "
50 million people in the United States living with chronic pain forgo effective treatment with prescription medication due to misperceptions and fears of addiction." If Rush is in a swanky rehab center now for...
