tagged w/ Prescription drug addiction
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In light of the continuing controversy surrounding Whitney Houston’s death, including questions of blame and responsibility for what the coroner may determine was an overdose involving drugs and alcohol, here is a look at the science behind the central and often misunderstood concept of self-medication in mental illness, addiction and recovery. My interest in this is both professional and personaIn light of the continuing controversy surrounding Whitney Houston’s death,... more
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This video offers a view of some of the devastating life consequences of addiction. It also provides a glimpse of hope for individuals who choose to abandon a drug using lifestyle and enter recovery.This video offers a view of some of the devastating life consequences of addiction. It... more
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OxyContin® is a prescription painkiller used for moderate to high pain relief associated with injuries, bursitis, dislocations, fractures, neuralgia, arthritis, lower back pain, and pain associated with cancer.(1) OxyContin® contains oxycodone, the medication's active ingredient, in a timed-release tablet. Oxycodone products have been illicitly abused for the past 30 years.(2)
Oxycodone is a Schedule II narcotic analgesic and is widely used in clinical medicine. It is marketed either alone as controlled release (OxyContin®) and immediate release formulations (OxyIR®, OxyFast®), or in combination with other nonnarcotic analgesics such as aspirin (Percodan®) or acetaminophen (Percocet®). The introduction in 1996 of OxyContin®, commonly known on the street as OC, OX, Oxy, Oxycotton, Hillbilly heroin, and kicker, led to a marked escalation of its abuse as reported by drug abuse treatment centers, law enforcement personnel, and health care professionals. Although the diversion and abuse of OxyContin® appeared initially in the eastern US, it has now spread to the western US including Alaska and Hawaii. Oxycodone-related adverse health effects increased markedly in recent years. In 2004, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for marketing generic forms of controlled release oxycodone products.
More......OxyContin® is a prescription painkiller used for moderate to high pain relief... more
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In this Peabody Award-winning edition of Vanguard, correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to South Florida--the "Colombia of prescription drugs"--to expose a bustling pill pipeline that stretches from the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale to the rolling hills of Appalachia. "The OxyContin Express" features intimate access with pill addicts, prisoners and law enforcement as each struggles with a lethal national epidemic.In this Peabody Award-winning edition of Vanguard, correspondent Mariana van Zeller... more
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"Years ago, the main concern parent's had was that their teens might raid their liquor cabinet," states Mary Rieser, Executive Director for Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia. "Now they have another cabinet to worry about: the medicine cabinet."
A recent survey among 12-to-17-year-olds by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) showed some startling results:
Getting prescription drugs was easier than getting cigarettes or beer.
Of those teens abusing prescription medications:
· 31 percent said they got these from friends or classmates;
· 34 percent said they got these from home, parents or the medicine cabinet;
· 16 percent said other;
· Nine percent said from a drug dealer.
"Parents need to be aware that they may be unwittingly contributing to drug addiction by not locking their medicine cabinet," comments Ms. Rieser. "It is one thing for a teen to drink, which is bad enough. It is another to be hooked on OxyContin, Xanax, Percocet, or any other drug that may be in the medicine cabinet. These are not drugs to play around with. Withdrawal is very painful, and in the case of Xanax, can be deadly. The addicted teen will do anything to stop the withdrawal symptoms. Anything."
Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia advises that there are things that can be done:
Lock the medicine cabinet. Properly dispose of any unused prescription medications.
Be aware that even such seemingly benign over-the-counter drugs containing DXM, such as cough syrup, can be chugged to get a high.
Monitor your child's behavior- The CASA survey showed that 50 percent of those children staying out after 10 PM drank, smoked or got high.
Educate your children on the dangers of drug abuse, even medical drugs.
"Kids think that because these are prescribed by a doctor, they are safe," comments Ms. Rieser. "There is only one problem. The difference between the amount they take for a high and the amount that causes an overdose is very little.
"One small thing that the survey showed is very simple: Have dinner with your children. The CASA survey noted that 23 percent of teens who ate fewer than three dinners a week with their family had used marijuana, compared with 10 percent when the family ate together five or more times a week."
For more information on drug addiction rehabilitation, over the counter drug abuse, or drug education, call Narconon of Georgia at 1-877-413-3073."Years ago, the main concern parent's had was that their teens might raid... more
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BuddyP
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added this
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4 years ago
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The Student Health Services Pharmacy is doing everything possible to prevent the abuse of prescription drugs on-campus as trends of abuse are on the rise nationwide.
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University in New York recently released a survey which shows more teens are abusing prescription medication than virtually any other drug.
"We can only disperse medication with a valid prescription from a doctor," Patrick Moraleda, SHS pharmacy supervisor, said.
In some cases, if Moraleda or one of his coworkers believes a student does not need his or her prescribed medication any longer, the student's doctor will be contacted to make sure there is still a need for the prescription.
According to most college students, some of the more commonly abused prescription drugs on college campuses have become drugs for patients with Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder such as Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta.
However, Moraleda stated that less than 10 percent of the prescription drugs the SHS pharmacy distributes are drugs of this type. In fact, the majority of drugs the school's pharmacy distributes are basic antibiotics and psychotropics.
So how are students getting their hands on these drugs so easily? The most common method is from fellow students who already have a prescription.
"The easiest way to get Adderall or a drug like that is by asking someone who already has a prescription," Evan Tenuta, senior marketing major, said. "I know students who do not have a prescription and have tried it at least once."
According to an article by the Houston Chronicle, a recent study confirmed 23 percent of people say they have loaned their prescription medicine to someone else and 27 percent say they have borrowed someone else's prescription drugs.
When asked why students take these types of prescription drugs, Tenuta claimed it helps people study and stay focused. However, these types of drugs can be easily abused.
"I've seen people take an Adderall and go out and drink all night," Tenuta said. "I've also seen people snort it."
According to the Archives of Internal Medicine, in a recent study of nearly 50 million U.S. death certificates, more than 224,000 involved fatal medication errors, including overdoses and mixing prescription drugs with alcohol and street drugs.
According to a recent survey, nearly 20 percent of students on campus are unaware of the services of the SHS Pharmacy.
"We are here to serve the students when needed," he said.The Student Health Services Pharmacy is doing everything possible to prevent the abuse... more
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BuddyP
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added this
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4 years ago
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A teenager has been cleared in the death of a fellow student who overdosed on OxyContin.
Erica Million, 16, died in February of 2007. She was found dead in New Castle High School.
A judge dismissed the civil suit brought on by her mother against Josh Stewart.
The suit blamed Stewart for allegedly selling the girl the pills.
Stewart's attorney argued that his client could not be held responsible for the actions of someone who caused her own death.
Stewart was already charged as a juvenile in a criminal case. He is now serving one more year of probation.A teenager has been cleared in the death of a fellow student who overdosed on... more
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BuddyP
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added this
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4 years ago
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Results from the Arkansas State Crime lab revealed Friday the cause of a Wesley teen's death nearly five months ago.
Police say 17-year-old Amanda Lynn Wolfe died of an accidental overdose on April 3.
"She had elevated levels of methadone, Oxycodone and Benadryl," said Fayetteville Police Sgt. John Warren.
Wolfe's body was discovered inside a Fayetteville apartment. Circumstances surrounding her death were initially called suspicious and Fayetteville police did not rule out foul play.
According to a 911 call, Wolfe's mother and aunt began looking for the teen on the morning of April 3. At about noon, they discovered Wolfe's car outside an acquaintance's apartment at 1211 N. Oakland Ave. After knocking on the front door, they encountered two men, one of whom allegedly denied that Wolfe was inside the residence.
Wolfe's mother told police that she thought the man was lying and entered the apartment anyway. Inside, she reportedly discovered her daughter's body in a back bedroom and called 911. At the direction of dispatch operators, she attempted to perform CPR on the teen and realized that her daughter was dead. Wolfe's mother told police that she didn't see any weapons or drugs near her daughter's body.
Fayetteville police arrived at the residence within minutes and interviewed the occupants of the apartment. One of the men reportedly left prior to officers' arrival but was later questioned. Evidence collected at the scene was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock to determine the teen's official cause of death.
Wolf was a senior at Huntsville High School at the time of her death. Results from the Arkansas State Crime lab revealed Friday the cause of a Wesley... more
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BuddyP
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added this
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4 years ago
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When Cindy McCain is asked what issues she would champion as first lady, she often cites one of the most difficult periods of her life: her battle with -- and ultimate victory over -- prescription painkillers. Her struggle, she has said repeatedly, taught her valuable lessons about drug abuse that she would pass on to the nation.[more]When Cindy McCain is asked what issues she would champion as first lady, she often... more
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"It was in the late 1980s, after a series of miscarriages and giving birth to three children, that Cindy developed spinal problems and was prescribed painkillers after surgery. Her husband and family had no idea she was secretly taking pills stolen from a charity she had created called the American Voluntary Medical Team, which sent mobile surgical units to war zones. When federal agents began to investigate gaps in the charity’s records, Cindy telephoned her husband, a senator in Washington, and confessed.
She admitted at the time that the 1994 episode had “nearly destroyed both of us”. But she underwent treatment and attended meetings of Narcotics Anonymous as part of a deal with prosecutors who dropped charges.
Cindy recently admitted that she keeps a “grudge list”.
Cindy McCain, now 53, claims she has no interest in policy making - “I am not the legislator in this family. He is” - and that she intends to keep busy running her charities and her family’s company. As first lady, it is clear that she would play a key role. Acknowledging that McCain had made many enemies in Republican ranks, she added: “The only person my husband can trust is me.”
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Doesn't sound like first lady material to me! I'll take Michelle Obama over Cindy McCain anytime!
iF THE ONLY PERSON McCAIN CAN TRUST IS HIS WIFE SHOWS PROOF OF HIS GROWING PARANOIA & ALTERED CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS...WHAT ABOUT HIS NEW BEAUTY QUEEN VP PICK....HE CAN'T TRUST HER??? I THINK THE McCAIN CAMP IS IN BIG TROUBLE!
"It was in the late 1980s, after a series of miscarriages and giving birth to... more
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Cindy McCain describes her husband as a leader with a "sense of history and a clear view of the future."Cindy McCain describes her husband as a leader with a "sense of history and a... more
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Mere hours after Hurricane Gustav came ashore, the two women expressed sympathy and support for Louisianans bracing themselves for Gustav.
"America stands with you during this trying time," Cindy McCain, wife of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, said.
John McCain Sunday asked Republican party officials to curtail the activities at the convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, out of concern for the victims of the storms and asked delegates to "put aside our political hats and put on our American hats" and help those hurt by the storm.
McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis emphasized Monday that all political activity will be suspended for the time being.
"We hope to regain our schedule at some point," Davis said.Mere hours after Hurricane Gustav came ashore, the two women expressed sympathy and... more
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It caught Vanity Fair's attention when First Lady Laura Bush and would-be First Lady Cindy McCain took the stage Tuesday night wearing some rather fancy designer clothes. So they asked their fashion department to price out the outfits.
here's the breakdown:
Laura Bush
Oscar de la Renta suit: $2,500
Stuart Weitzman heels: $325
Pearl stud earrings: $600–$1,500
Total: Between $3,425 and $4,325
Cindy McCain
Oscar de la Renta dress: $3,000
Chanel J12 White Ceramic Watch: $4,500
Three-carat diamond earrings: $280,000
Four-strand pearl necklace: $11,000–$25,000
Shoes, designer unknown: $600
Total: Between $299,100 and $313,100
Wow! No wonder McCain has so many houses: his wife has the price of a Scottsdale split-level hanging from her ears.
(All prices except Laura’s shoes and Cindy’s watch are estimates, and the jewelry prices are based on the assumption that the pieces are real.)It caught Vanity Fair's attention when First Lady Laura Bush and would-be First... more
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This act is supported by Obama
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Cindy McCain used to take drugs. Lots of 'em. She even stole them from her own charity relief organization. But that's not the bigger story. Why does the "fist bump" greeting of Michelle Obama get more press than Cindy McCain's drug use and theft? Can you imagine what a field day Fox and others would have if this story was about Michelle Obama??!!Cindy McCain used to take drugs. Lots of 'em. She even stole them from her own... more
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