Nursing Home Residents Who Need Pain Drugs

The war on drugs has totally disrupted the health care system in America. Patients and seniors in long-term-care facilities are having trouble getting pain medication; serious delays are causing needless suffering. A number of staff members working in nursing homes steal the patients pain medication to sell or use; the DEA in response now requires doctor's signatures along with a sleuth of other approvals when pain medication is ordered. The Washington Post reports that lawmakers have become concerned and, "wrote to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. this month, urging that the Obama administration issue new directives to the DEA and support a possible legislative fix for the problem, which has bothered nursing home administrators and geriatric experts for years". There doesn't seem to be an easy solution to this problem; on the one hand there are not enough doctors to be around every nursing home at all times, on the other a serious number of prescription pain medications such as: morphine, Oxycontin, Percocet, and Vicodin are being stolen. How to secure the distribution of opiates and provide nursing home residents who need pain drugs in a timely matter is the question?

Pharmacies that provide pain medication to nurses without all the approvals in order face tens of thousands of dollars in fines. "The system is broken. It isn't working, and patients are suffering," said Claudia Schlosberg, director of policy and advocacy for the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. "While we need to ensure there are proper controls on the medications, the overall law enforcement concern has to be compatible with meeting patients' needs, and right now it's not", according to the Washington Post. Scholsberg has a good point, patients' rights need to prevail over all else, there obviously needs to be some restrictions but they can't get in the way of a patients' well being. Nobody would want their loved ones to suffer while in the care of someone else, it just is not acceptable.

It does not seem right that the war on pain has to suffer from the war on drugs; I guess that is war though, they are usually not fair. Nurses and doctors cannot effectively manage their patients' pain as a result of the Drug Enforcement Agencies strict policies. Hopefully, a compromise can be found that will stop all the delays and still monitor the drugs in order to keep them off the streets.

More Young Teens are Using Alcohol and Marijuana

The California Healthy Kids Survey was released on Monday showing that more young teens are using alcohol and marijuana in Santa Cruz County. More young people believe that alcohol is harmful but that is not deterring them from drinking; teens are smoking more pot believing that it is not harmful, how could it be - it's medicine. The laws in California and fourteen other sates allowing the use of medical marijuana have created an ideology that marijuana is in no way harmful. There is evidence that there are medical benefits to weed, there needs to be a way to produce and distribute the drug without sending out the wrong message to the young and impressionable. "Bill Manov, the director of Alcohol and Drug Services for the county's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, thinks it's good news that more teens are perceiving alcohol as dangerous because it could lead to a decrease in future drinking habits. And although he said there's a pretty widespread acceptance of marijuana in Santa Cruz, he said he is still alarmed at the upward trend of use among children", reports San Jose Mercury News. Here are the reported statistics:

• Thirty-six percent of high school freshmen countywide who were surveyed in February say they've been very drunk or sick from alcohol, up from 29 percent in 2005. Sixteen percent of seventh-grade students report binge drinking, up from 10 percent in 2005.

• More freshmen report thinking that alcohol is harmful or extremely harmful, which is up seven percent from 2005.

• Twenty-six percent of freshmen who took the survey report having used marijuana in the last 30 days, as opposed to 18 percent in 2005. Half of juniors say they've tried the drug.

• Cigarette use increased three or four percentage points for high school students since 2007.

• Six percent more said they think frequent use of cigarettes is harmful.

• About a third of seventh grade students are overweight or at-risk, though those numbers drop to 29 percent in ninth grade and 23 percent in 11th grade.

• More than 75 percent of seventh- and ninth-grade students still break a sweat for 20 minutes three times a week.

Fewer teenagers are exercising and more of them are partying. Habits in all different forms are popping up at alarming rates; young people are not as healthy as they were in the past for a number of reasons. About two hours of every young person's day is spent in front of the television. "Idle hands are the devil's workshop", the message is being sent that it is alright to get high and drink. Alcohol and marijuana may be sitting next to each other at the store one day very soon. America needs to tread lightly in figuring out the best way to implement medical marijuana.

U.N. Calls For A Tougher Anti-Opium Fight

Afghanistan is the center of the world-wide opium trade which continues to flow across its borders virtually unchecked. With the opium comes large amounts of heroin as well as all other illicit activities that can be thought of. U.N. Offices on Drugs and Crime Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa said in a UPI report, "The Afghanistan-Pakistan border region has turned into the world's largest free trade zone in anything and everything that is illicit -- drugs of course, but also weapons, bomb-making equipment, chemical precursors, drug money, even people and migrants". Afghanistan has become a state of chaos which adversely affects everyone of its neighbors eventually and eventually the drugs find their way into: Europe, Russia, India, and China. 900 tons of opium and 350 tons of heroin annually cross Afghanistan's borders via Balkan and Eurasian drug trafficking routes. The U.N. calls for a tougher anti-opium fight in the region in order to curb the unbelievable amount of drugs crossing the border.

Afghanistan's opium is directly responsible for increased drug addiction as well as a bump in diseases that can be transmitted intravenously, like HIV. The money incurred from the sale of Afghan opium trickles down to the terrorist organizations in the region, similar to how drug profits fund the Mexican cartels continents away. A UNODC report published by the UPI states, "The report from the U.N. Offices on Drugs and Crime said Afghanistan produces almost all the world's opium, from which heroin is made. The global opium market is estimated at $65 billion and the number of addicts is estimated at 15 million, with an annual death rate of 100,000". It is very clear that action needs to be taken if there is any chance in curbing the devastating problem. Current efforts to stop the flow have produced minimal results, only about 2% of all the opium harvested is seized by authorities because of corruption and lawlessness in Afghanistan and its uncontrolled borders.

Afghan opium is not anything new, that region of the world is premium real estate for growing the drug. Nevertheless, the majority of drugs grown in Afghanistan have a hard time staying within Afghan borders. The time has come for the world to step up and try and fix the growing problem; entire nations are susceptible to the Afghan deadly poison which holds entire families in bondage. Small children are becoming addicted to opium and heroin on a daily basis which has become completely unacceptable. People will sell anything to get one last fix and before they know it they have nothing left. A plan needs to be devised by the U.N. to stop the problem before it gets out of hand more than it already is.

The Painkiller Task Force is Charged with Curbing the Oxycontin Epidemic

The children of today's world are faced with a new enemy, a threat that can be obtained legally throughout the world. Prescription medications can be obtained as easy as candy and are devastating the younger generations. The use of prescription medications has become quite common among teenagers and young adults; sadly, many do not understand how dangerous drugs like Oxycontin can be. Teenagers who see drugs like Oxycontin on the medicine cabinet shelves in their own home are some how led to believe that there is no harm in consuming a drug that was prescribed. People are just now starting to understand that drugs like Oxycontin are tantamount to heroin; the side-effects of consumption are just as devastating as heroin if used inappropriately. In San Diego County a task force was recently developed to combat this pain medication problem. The painkiller task force is charged with curbing the Oxycontin epidemic especially, this is a result of the numerous cases in the county involving the drug.

"Oxycontin, which is derived from Oxycodone, is a painkiller prescribed for moderate to severe pain. Oxycontin is a highly addictive opiate and can be lucrative for drug dealers, said Ralph Partridge, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's San Diego field office," reports the La Jolla Light. 200 Oxycontin related arrests in the San Diego area since last November has raised many concerns throughout the community. Kids as young as 12 years old have been experimenting with Oxycontin and similar drugs in the opiate family. Oxycontin can be sold for as much as a dollar a milligram which has led many drug dealers to see how lucrative the drug can be. Since Oxycontin does not carry the same stigmas as heroin it is more likely to be bought and consumed by young people; teenagers do not seem to understand that the risk of overdose is just the same as heroin.

Unfortunately, prescription medication can be a lot easier to hide from anyone who might be concerned. This allows continued drug use to go on with teenagers unchecked; by the time a problem is detected by loved ones it's usually too late because addiction has already tightened its grip. Most parents are not aware of the signs that they should be looking for or even worse choose to believe that there is no way their child could be caught up with drugs. According to the La Jolla Light, "children and teens who are hooked on Oxycontin don't 'meet your normal profile'. The average profile of an Oxycontin addict is 15 to 30 years old. It's not unusual for an addict to be a college student or an athlete, said Dr. Sean O'Hara an addiction specialist..." Oxycontin use among young people cannot be ignored any longer, it will only be a matter of time before other opiates like heroin come into the picture. The quicker a problem is identified, the faster it can be resolved; hopefully, states will work hard to educate young people about the serious effects of this drug.

Mary Bono Mack Will Take Drug Addiction Right To Washington D.C.

Health Care reform in America seems to be a heated debate these days. What to include, what not to include and just how do we go about real change in the health care system. California Representative Mary Bono Mack will give a speech on Saturday, October 17, 2009, at Riverside Community College District's Moreno Valley Campus. She will be discussing her son's struggle with drug addiction . Mack believes that addiction prevention should be one of the main topics in the health care debate. Unfortunately, her son Chesare, began abusing pain medication shortly after his father, Sonny Bono, died in a ski accident in 1998. What started as Oxycontin abuse, progressed as most opiate addicts do, to using harder opiates such as heroin. Chesare went to two drug treatment centers before the recovery process began to take hold. Mary Bono Mack will take drug addiction right to Washington D.C..

Mack, according to The Press Enterprise, "began speaking out after she and her son, Chesare, went public in a People magazine story in February about his struggle with drug addiction and recovery". Since that article she has become, by default, a voice for the drug and alcohol community to help shed light on the disease of addiction. We can no longer keep the subject of addiction in the closet, we need to open the conversation so there can be a solution found in a health care system that does not currently understand addiction. "In Washington, D.C., Bono Mack is set to testify Thursday about narcotics trafficking during a House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere meeting. She also said she's pushing for tighter Food and Drug Administration controls on Oxycontin", stated The Press Enterprise. Bono Mack has opened her ears to the countless families that have loved ones addicted to drugs, she feels that it is necessary to step up and speak out.

There needs to be more courageous people like Bono Mack who are willing to go as far as it takes to get the information out there regarding the dangers of prescription medications. The longer we ignore what drugs like Oxycontin do to people, the longer families will continue to be devastated. Prescription drugs are just as addictive as illegal drugs and have the ability to ruin just as many lives - if not more. "A lot of parents don't know prescription pills are a dangerous substance," she said. "They need to educate themselves about what's out there. It's a tough battle", reports The Press Enterprise.

If you are interested in participating in this discussion, here are the details:

Substance Abuse Conference
What: Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, as well as public and mental health officials will speak during the conference aimed at youths, young adults and parents.
When: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Riverside Community College District Moreno Valley campus, 16130 Lasselle St., in Student Services room 101
Cost: Free and no reservations needed
Information: 951-571-6100

Telltale Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction

How do you tell if you or someone you know is abusing alcohol? In many cases an alcoholic knows that there is something wrong without being told that they are an alcoholic. There are many alcoholics that are high functioning, they have jobs, families, and are able to appear like nothing is wrong. It can be hard at times to see patterns of unmanageability in one's life which can allow the disease of addiction to go on unchecked. In most cases, it is only a matter of time before one's disease catches up with them; hopefully they can realize they have a problem before the trail of damage becomes too long. The National Institute of Health has designed questions to identify symptoms of alcohol abuse and dependence; the NIH created a questionnaire that may help a person determine whether of not he/she has a problem. According to the NIH, if you answer yes to one question it could mean that someone is abusing alcohol, answering yes to three or more could suggest alcohol dependence or alcoholism.

The Questionnaire created by the National Institute of Health is short and easy to take. We encourage anyone who is unsure about themselves or someone they know to answer these questions. It could potentially help determine whether or not help is needed. The quicker a problem is identified, the sooner a life could be potentially saved. The questions below are telltale symptoms of alcohol addiction.

In the past year, have you:

Had times when you ended up drinking more than you intended?

More than once wanted to cut down or stop drinking, but couldn't?

More than once gotten into situations while or after drinking that increased your chances of getting hurt -- such as driving or having unsafe sex?

Had to drink much more than you once did to get the effect you want or found that your usual number of drinks had much less effect than before?

Continued to drink even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem, or after having had a memory blackout?

Spent a lot of time drinking or getting over the aftereffects of drinking?

Continued to drink even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?

Found that drinking -- or being sick from drinking -- often interfered with taking care of your home or family, or caused job troubles or school problems?

Given up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to you in order to drink?

More than once gotten arrested or had other legal problems because of your drinking?

Found that when the effects of alcohol were wearing off, you had withdrawal symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, shakiness, restlessness, nausea, sweating, a racing heart or a seizure?

(Source: National Institutes of Health. Questions are based on symptoms for alcohol use disorders in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.)

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then you should discuss this with your doctor.

Vaccines For Drug Addictions Are Showing New Promise

The disease of addiction is a biological disorder in the brain that affects the award system and is in no way a moral failing by any means. Science has shined a new light on addiction and has given us the ability to understand what is operating in the human brain. Addiction is inherited and is not something that anyone asks to have, new developments in science have shown us that it may be possible to create a medical solution to the disease. Vaccines for drug addiction are showing new promise; it may not be long before we have a vaccine for all addictive substances. A report in the LA Times stated, "Vaccines to help people recover from such addictions as nicotine, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines now appear scientifically and medically achievable after doctors reported Monday that a vaccine to treat cocaine dependence had produced a large enough antibody response to reduce cocaine use in 38% of addicted individuals". 38% is an amazing number and one that reaffirms the promise of these kinds of scientific pursuits.

A vaccine for addiction will not work the same way as normal vaccines. If you are born with a hereditary disposition towards drugs and alcohol there is no way to reverse it. However, a vaccine could potentially keep drugs that enter the body from reaching the brain thus preventing the high from ever being experienced. The vaccines stimulate the body's immune system to create binding antibodies that will attach themselves to the drug preventing them from ever reaching the brain. Unfortunately, creating vaccines does not equate to dollars for pharmaceutical companies to create these vaccines. They can make a lot more money from addiction maintenance than they could off a vaccine. This problem makes it very hard for certain studies to take place because of the lack of much needed funding which is in the 100's of millions. An ethical dilemma is clearly visible and I am sure will be addressed in the coming years.

Studies with the goal of creating a vaccine is a huge step in modern science and shows us that with understanding we can treat the most baffling of diseases. In the coming years we will see what role vaccines for drug addiction will have around the world and whether the pharmaceutical companies will set greed aside and hop on board. I encourage you to watch a Dr. Nancy Snyderman video on the subject:

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Adderall Abuse Epidemic In America

The academic world is facing an enemy far greater then anyone could of thought. The abuse of prescription medicine to deal wilth the stresses of life has become a rampant problem with no real solution in sight. Drugs like Adderall, Ritilan, and Dexedrine have become coping mechanisms for a number of reasons throughout the collegial atmosphere and in many cases have become not only socially acceptable, it's almost expected. It is almost hard to believe that 14 million prescriptions of Adderall were filled last year; it is no wonder the drug can be found on every college campus. Adderall abuse went relatively undetected for a long time because it is a prescribed medicine. However, like any prescription medication it can be sold or traded amongst peers and it is on a regular basis. There is no question that there is an Adderall abuse epidemic in America.

"At Cornell, a 2006 Gannett study found that at least six percent of the student body had used the drugs in the past year - though the impression of many students is that the actual percentage is much higher", according to the Cornell Sun. Many people do not talk about taking the drug because of the legal ramifications; many people also view amphetamine use as a way of cheating. Amphetamines give people a heightened sensitivity and greater concentration. Adderall is an amphetamine that increases the amount of dopamine released in the brain increasing the number of neurotransmitters available which increases concentration and alertness. When people take more than the prescribed amount the drug becomes tantamount to Crystal Methamphetamine; abuse can have a damaging effect on the brain resulting in permanent damage.

Sadly, Adderall abuse continues after college as people find that they have become dependent upon it to get their work done. Over time, one has to take more of the drug to get the desired effect because of higher tolerance levels. Amphetamine addiction is a real problem among young adults and many times treatment is the only solution. The vast majority of people who use prescription psychostimulants have very little idea about the serious side effects that can accompany the drug; prescription drugs have become such commonplace and are inside just about every medicine cabinet, this has given many students the idea that there is nothing wrong with their use.

I encourage you to watch this video of a CNN Interview with Dr. Drew Pinsky about this problem.

Ph D Died After Apparently Injecting Herself With Buprenorphine

What does a drug addict look like? Society has placed stigmas and stereotypes on the appearance of addicts and alcoholics over the years. When someone utters the word "Junkie" a picture usually pops into one's head of a withering human, perhaps on their last breath who would do anything to get their fix. Unfortunately, the majority of addicts have the ability to hide their addiction from their friends and family; they hold full time jobs and it appears like they are functioning members of society. It can be hard to imagine that someone who has been successful both in education and business could be suffering from an addiction that is in many ways invisible. Doctors, lawyers, and politicians are just as susceptible to drugs and alcohol as those living on the streets. Some of the last people that you would ever think of are in the grips of a terrible drug addiction. On Sunday in Baltimore Maryland, a Ph.D died after apparently injecting herself with buprenorphine while trying to get high with her boyfriend. Carrie Elisabeth John earned a doctorate in physiology and pharmacology and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Maryland School of Medicine studying the effects of drug addiction when she died from an overdose.

The police said, Carrie and her boyfriend Clinton Blaine McCracken grew marijuana inside their home and used narcotics purchased over the Internet from a Philippine pharmacy that shipped pills hidden inside stuffed animals. "John and McCracken led a life that the young woman's mother never saw. McCracken told authorities that he and John injected themselves with buprenorphine and morphine. Police said they had turned their unkempt house into an indoor marijuana farm, with grow lights and fans vented with aluminum dryer hoses. Police said they found pills in bags, at least 20 bongs, 30 marijuana plants growing up to two feet high and more packed and stored in Mason jars", according to the Baltimore Sun. The police are going to charge McCracken with many different charges related to everything found in the couple's home. McCracken believes that John did not overdose, rather, it was a bad batch of drugs that led to the death - toxicology reports are still pending.

Whatever the case may be, Carrie John died needlessly in the prime of her life. She never had the opportunity to seek help and no one seemed to have a clue about her struggles with addiction. It is surprising that the University of Maryland did not drug test their employees, especially the ones working in John's department; they had had constant contact with addictive drugs on a daily basis. I imagine they will start testing after this terrible incident. It just goes to show that most addicts and alcoholics go undetected through life until something horrific happens.