Legal drugs getting scrutiny
By Steve Wildsmith
When most people think of an addict, the first thing that comes to mind is a stereotype a down-and-out bum, living under a bridge, eating out of trashcans and begging for change on the sidewalk.
I know, because that was my definition of what an addict was. Because I had a college degree, was able to hold myself together on the job and because, for the first several years of my addiction, I obtained my drugs legitimately, I convinced myself I didn't have a problem.
For several years, I was what's called a "functional addict," meaning that while my personal life was in shambles, I was able to hold myself together enough to work a job. And because I kept a steady paycheck and was able to pay my bills, I lived in denial about my problem.
And because for several years my drug of choice was opiates prescribed by a physician and filled legally by a pharmacist, I certainly didn't lump myself into the collection of stereotypes I had in my head when it came to addiction and those who use drugs.
There's a saying in the rooms of recovery, though my body doesn't know the difference between street dope and doctor dope. Whether I get it on the corner of a bad neighborhood or from a smiling guy in a white jacket behind the counter at Walgreen's, it still gets me high. It still enslaves my mind and body, and it still wrecks my life.
Last week, the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, Board of Pharmacy, announced the statewide launch of the Controlled Substance Database, a tool that will keep track of prescriptions. Officials say it will monitor those written by doctors, dispensed by pharmacists and consumed by patients.
According to a state press release, "Such research will identify patients, prescribers, dispensers, and others who may be abusers of controlled substances so that appropriate treatment can be provided."
It works this way all pharmacists and health care practitioners who prescribe certain drugs will have to report that information to the database twice a month. After three to six months of data collection, both will have access within seconds to a patient's history of prescriptions. For addicts, that's a huge stumbling block to obtaining their drugs, because, in theory anyway, it effectively eliminates "doctor shopping," a method by which addicts visit several different doctors to obtain multiple prescriptions.
It won't eliminate the problem there are still doctors out there known as "pill mills," who will write prescriptions for whatever a patient desires for the right price. And I'm sure that not all doctors and pharmacists will use the resources of such a database to help spot a patient's addiction problem.
But it's a start. As an addict, I was determined to get my drugs, no matter the source. A legal prescription and a 24-hour pharmacy just made it a lot easier, and until I moved on to street dealers, that was how I got my fix for years. With such a database at hand, perhaps my addiction might have been spotted and treated long before it spiraled out of control.
Maybe not if anything, addicts are good at getting high by whatever means necessary , and I'm sure that it won't be long before a way is found to circumvent such data collection.
But maybe with such information, pharmacists and doctors can help those addicted to prescription drugs get help, before they turn to illegal street drugs to meet their habits.
Steve Wildsmith is a recovering addict and the Weekend editor for The Daily Times.
Excellent post, CO.
I do believe a database such as this will help the growing problem of addiction to rx drugs. Most do not start out buying their pills on the street. They turn to the street when their habits have outgrown what multiple doctors are willing to dispense. This will help reduce doctor shopping and force many people to examine their intake much sooner than they otherwise would have. More people will be hearing "you have a problem" much sooner. Perhaps before it ever occurred to them that a problem exists, or is forming.
I think it's past due. With all the money spent on elaborate databases to track pseudoephidrine (sp) purchases, I can't imagine why these systems are not already in place.
I wonder if OP's will be factored into this system. They are a huge part of the problem.
I do believe a database such as this will help the growing problem of addiction to rx drugs. Most do not start out buying their pills on the street. They turn to the street when their habits have outgrown what multiple doctors are willing to dispense. This will help reduce doctor shopping and force many people to examine their intake much sooner than they otherwise would have. More people will be hearing "you have a problem" much sooner. Perhaps before it ever occurred to them that a problem exists, or is forming.
I think it's past due. With all the money spent on elaborate databases to track pseudoephidrine (sp) purchases, I can't imagine why these systems are not already in place.
I wonder if OP's will be factored into this system. They are a huge part of the problem.
I just need to say YES Awesome post & so sad but true.
I wasnt like you as far as thinking Street people with addiction but I must admit these last couple years I GOTTA say it has scared & surprised me how many middle class & up people abuse prescriptions.
Many people think that just because a Dr orders them ...well than they must be safe right?People seem to forget that Drs arent Super MEn & such...they are human like us & make mistakes & BAD choices as far as treatment care.
Great Post
I wasnt like you as far as thinking Street people with addiction but I must admit these last couple years I GOTTA say it has scared & surprised me how many middle class & up people abuse prescriptions.
Many people think that just because a Dr orders them ...well than they must be safe right?People seem to forget that Drs arent Super MEn & such...they are human like us & make mistakes & BAD choices as far as treatment care.
Great Post
Hey Cynical,
You procrastinating out there....lol
I am curious as to what you think of this. I am not sure how I stand and I so wonder what the consequences will be from this action.
Wonder what bad might come, what desperation might bring. Wonder if a whole new lot of dealers might show up, wonder if a whole different cross section of heroin addicts will show up as well. Wonder where the innocent will suffer, and if doctors in the end, those bad ones anyway won't find a way around it all.......
I so see this as pushing, and if a person is not ready to get help, to end thier madness, nothing good will come.
Elim wrote yesterday in a thread about this war on drugs we have....
What a total failure.
Wonder when they will finally get that the answer is in the user.
And shut one door, a bunch are always waiting to open. I don't see the problem ever being solved by regulations, and laws......
You have a great day,
Love
Tina
You procrastinating out there....lol
I am curious as to what you think of this. I am not sure how I stand and I so wonder what the consequences will be from this action.
Wonder what bad might come, what desperation might bring. Wonder if a whole new lot of dealers might show up, wonder if a whole different cross section of heroin addicts will show up as well. Wonder where the innocent will suffer, and if doctors in the end, those bad ones anyway won't find a way around it all.......
I so see this as pushing, and if a person is not ready to get help, to end thier madness, nothing good will come.
Elim wrote yesterday in a thread about this war on drugs we have....
What a total failure.
Wonder when they will finally get that the answer is in the user.
And shut one door, a bunch are always waiting to open. I don't see the problem ever being solved by regulations, and laws......
You have a great day,
Love
Tina
No, not procrastinating, I have my nose deep in the books, just have to take a break every couple hours and give my brain a rest. The Criminal Justice final Im not sweating, the History final, Im sweating big time.
You know I too have mixed feelings, wondering if it will push some into the streets to get what they want, what they need. Or maybe swapping the pills for something they can easily find there, thats not as expensive. On the other hand, some may be too scared to ever hit that street level. They feel safe, and can maybe even justify in their heads that it came from a doctor and was filled at the pharmacy therefore its not a problem. Stay stuck in that denial.
But, I also think that many doctors are just plain nave, not really careful about handing out them refills, or over-prescribing narcotics when something else may be just as effective. I went to the doctor a couple weeks back with a really bad sore throat, and was prescribed Vicodin. Warm salt water worked better.
And, then there are the doctors with questionable ethics and motives, legislation should slow that down, hold them accountable. But, as long as the net-pharms are not included that will always be an option, albeit a stupid and dangerous one.
The war on drugs to me is a waste of money. As long as there is the demand, a supply will always be there. Get rid of all illegal drugs, have big brother monitor prescription drugs, just go on the internet and find recipes for combinations of things we have in our homes to find that escape. Thats one of the reasons I get a little ticked when I see blame thrown around, blame the dealers, the government, friends, etc. As long as there is a need to numb and block out, a way will be found.
IMO. Stepping up education, prevention, and research into identifying and altering that ism gene would be a better use of available resources. Treatment should also be readily available and affordable for anyone who needs it. Its a whole lot less expensive to treat an addict than to house an inmate. And, the stigma that addiction carries also needs to be brought out into the mainstream and addressed, get rid of that guilt and shame that serves no purpose and so many carry.
And, then it all comes back to the addict themselves, if they arent done yet, no amount of prevention, legislation, education or even love is going to make them stop.
You know I too have mixed feelings, wondering if it will push some into the streets to get what they want, what they need. Or maybe swapping the pills for something they can easily find there, thats not as expensive. On the other hand, some may be too scared to ever hit that street level. They feel safe, and can maybe even justify in their heads that it came from a doctor and was filled at the pharmacy therefore its not a problem. Stay stuck in that denial.
But, I also think that many doctors are just plain nave, not really careful about handing out them refills, or over-prescribing narcotics when something else may be just as effective. I went to the doctor a couple weeks back with a really bad sore throat, and was prescribed Vicodin. Warm salt water worked better.
And, then there are the doctors with questionable ethics and motives, legislation should slow that down, hold them accountable. But, as long as the net-pharms are not included that will always be an option, albeit a stupid and dangerous one.
The war on drugs to me is a waste of money. As long as there is the demand, a supply will always be there. Get rid of all illegal drugs, have big brother monitor prescription drugs, just go on the internet and find recipes for combinations of things we have in our homes to find that escape. Thats one of the reasons I get a little ticked when I see blame thrown around, blame the dealers, the government, friends, etc. As long as there is a need to numb and block out, a way will be found.
IMO. Stepping up education, prevention, and research into identifying and altering that ism gene would be a better use of available resources. Treatment should also be readily available and affordable for anyone who needs it. Its a whole lot less expensive to treat an addict than to house an inmate. And, the stigma that addiction carries also needs to be brought out into the mainstream and addressed, get rid of that guilt and shame that serves no purpose and so many carry.
And, then it all comes back to the addict themselves, if they arent done yet, no amount of prevention, legislation, education or even love is going to make them stop.
Very well put CO....
I hope to see the above happen in my lifetime.....
Thanks for posting and I always enjoy your view and Tina's on these things...
Stacey
| QUOTE |
| IMO. Stepping up education, prevention, and research into identifying and altering that ism gene would be a better use of available resources. Treatment should also be readily available and affordable for anyone who needs it. Its a whole lot less expensive to treat an addict than to house an inmate. And, the stigma that addiction carries also needs to be brought out into the mainstream and addressed, get rid of that guilt and shame that serves no purpose and so many carry. |
I hope to see the above happen in my lifetime.....
Thanks for posting and I always enjoy your view and Tina's on these things...
Stacey
Glad to hear you got that nose buried in books. Try not to worry about that history exam. You will do fine.
I loved what you wrote that Stacey put in the pretty quote box.....
LOL Stacey see you got it!
But something is missing, seems missing. It isn't getting better it is getting worse, and the drugs themselves are at a level of purity, or stronger then ever before, more dangerous, legit or on the street.....
How did this happen, when did it happen....
Kinda think honestly it was always here, just not as looked at, not as cared about. What are our children missing in life that they have this need to numb? What were they taught......oh that pill to cure all screams in my head.....Have this take that, Oh you have what, take this. God forbid anyone didn't take the easy way, actually tried first to find a better way.
Where does society come in as that is a big part, maybe a huge part....
Not sure they will ever fix this. Really ain't carrying much faith in that. And I sure as hell won't be waiting on anyone to educate my kids.
All I do know is that real people are dying everyday in some way from drugs. There was one furneral already this week in the town I live in that was drug related, and sadly I just heard there will be another.....
A bit of blowing off steam....
You both have a good night,
Love,
Tina
I loved what you wrote that Stacey put in the pretty quote box.....
LOL Stacey see you got it!
But something is missing, seems missing. It isn't getting better it is getting worse, and the drugs themselves are at a level of purity, or stronger then ever before, more dangerous, legit or on the street.....
How did this happen, when did it happen....
Kinda think honestly it was always here, just not as looked at, not as cared about. What are our children missing in life that they have this need to numb? What were they taught......oh that pill to cure all screams in my head.....Have this take that, Oh you have what, take this. God forbid anyone didn't take the easy way, actually tried first to find a better way.
Where does society come in as that is a big part, maybe a huge part....
Not sure they will ever fix this. Really ain't carrying much faith in that. And I sure as hell won't be waiting on anyone to educate my kids.
All I do know is that real people are dying everyday in some way from drugs. There was one furneral already this week in the town I live in that was drug related, and sadly I just heard there will be another.....
A bit of blowing off steam....
You both have a good night,
Love,
Tina
We are a quick fix society, not just medicine but everything. We want, what we want, when we want it, and that is right now. Instant gratification. I see young adults early to mid-twenties chaining themselves to these jumbo mortgages that will keep them house poor for years. What happened to those dingy old apartments that we use to cram a half dozen people in, then the townhouse, then the starter home, and then maybe one day the big dream house. Hell Im just building my very first garage. Now, they go for the dream house right away. And, same goes with the cars, I scraped up summer job money to buy a used pickup truck, worked full time for a couple of years and then was able to go for a newer, better used car. My next door neighbor girl is 17 and drives a BMW. Where is mine?
And, the pills, want to lose weight- take this pill, have anxiety- take another pill, cant get it up- heres a blue one. There is a pill fix for everything, and kids see that young. If I had the answers, trust me, I wouldnt be a 46 year old college student. And, you are so right on the purity of stuff, back in the day (dont you just love that phrase) it was nothing compared to what is out there now. And, another thing that scares the s*** out of me is these bathtub chemists cooking up meth, and these club drugs. Who knows what the hell youre getting. I see it getting worse, and starting younger. Kids can be mean little f***s, especially girls, and everyone is trying to fit in, to not be outcast or different. Wrap them in cotton as long as you can, but then you have to let them go and find their own way.
And, the pills, want to lose weight- take this pill, have anxiety- take another pill, cant get it up- heres a blue one. There is a pill fix for everything, and kids see that young. If I had the answers, trust me, I wouldnt be a 46 year old college student. And, you are so right on the purity of stuff, back in the day (dont you just love that phrase) it was nothing compared to what is out there now. And, another thing that scares the s*** out of me is these bathtub chemists cooking up meth, and these club drugs. Who knows what the hell youre getting. I see it getting worse, and starting younger. Kids can be mean little f***s, especially girls, and everyone is trying to fit in, to not be outcast or different. Wrap them in cotton as long as you can, but then you have to let them go and find their own way.
This "database" already exists in California. I know because I was caught doctor shopping in June. I wasn't offered help for my addiction. It appears that all states are adoping a program like this.
Quick fixes....
Entitlement, boy that reigns!
I will make sure I send you out that BMW for Christmas....
I am so smiling. Who are you kidding not thinking you would ever find a need for one.
A 50,000 car, a huge house, all those fancy gadets and gizmos dont' set who we are. Now if we could get our children to really understand that about all of life. About beauty not being shown by weight or the absence of zits. If we could get then to understand that they need not worry so much of what others think and find what they wish in life.
About the work, school, time it took into getting a certain place, affording the luxuries. And that it is ok not to have 3 cars, and it is ok if someone does. In the end it doesn't really matter. There are more important things to focus on.
Maybe we need to get some adults to see that first....
The children in this have to be the most heartbreaking. It all becomes so sad.
Back in that day, drugs where everywhere just as today. They might have been different, but they were there nontheless in abudance, and all to easy to get. I still get shocked when people write it wasn't like this when I was young. It sure as hell was when I was. We didn't get to far in my eyes.
And look here we are all these years later.....And all this education, the dare program, the scared straight program, the drunk driving simulator, constant presentations on drugs, speakers brought in, addicts, showing the worst of what became for then using. We have all these in the school system where I am with deaths still coming out of that same district, to many senseless deaths if you ask me.
Catherine, how sad there was no help offered. It isn't like they don't know, and didn't understand when setting this up what the outcome would be. That there would be those with addiction in this. That is what they set out to find, the addicts. Gotta wonder what the motives truly are with programs like this. And who might be making sure that thier pockets stay abundantly filled.....
You both have a great day!
Love,
Tina
Entitlement, boy that reigns!
I will make sure I send you out that BMW for Christmas....
I am so smiling. Who are you kidding not thinking you would ever find a need for one.
A 50,000 car, a huge house, all those fancy gadets and gizmos dont' set who we are. Now if we could get our children to really understand that about all of life. About beauty not being shown by weight or the absence of zits. If we could get then to understand that they need not worry so much of what others think and find what they wish in life.
About the work, school, time it took into getting a certain place, affording the luxuries. And that it is ok not to have 3 cars, and it is ok if someone does. In the end it doesn't really matter. There are more important things to focus on.
Maybe we need to get some adults to see that first....
The children in this have to be the most heartbreaking. It all becomes so sad.
Back in that day, drugs where everywhere just as today. They might have been different, but they were there nontheless in abudance, and all to easy to get. I still get shocked when people write it wasn't like this when I was young. It sure as hell was when I was. We didn't get to far in my eyes.
And look here we are all these years later.....And all this education, the dare program, the scared straight program, the drunk driving simulator, constant presentations on drugs, speakers brought in, addicts, showing the worst of what became for then using. We have all these in the school system where I am with deaths still coming out of that same district, to many senseless deaths if you ask me.
Catherine, how sad there was no help offered. It isn't like they don't know, and didn't understand when setting this up what the outcome would be. That there would be those with addiction in this. That is what they set out to find, the addicts. Gotta wonder what the motives truly are with programs like this. And who might be making sure that thier pockets stay abundantly filled.....
You both have a great day!
Love,
Tina
