-
The Senate Finance Committee is looking into an inquiry that two senators proposed over financial ties concerning some pain experts and the producers of certain prescription painkillers. The New York Times recently reported that the committee is reviewing an inquiry to make certain doctors and their patients are getting the correct information regarding their medications’ benefits and risks. Continue Reading
-
In Quarryville, PA headlines have been grabbed by just the latest evidence of our nation’s epidemic problem with prescription drug abuse. It was there that a state senator’s son (just 20 years young) was handed down a felony drug charge for his role in the overdose fatality of 21 year old Andrew Glassmyer. Continue Reading
-
A pharmaceutical company may have the answer to pain pill drugs without the effects that drive addiction. An article in Life Scientist has information about a drug that is comparable to MS Contin and OxyContin, but may be less effective for those who abuse prescription pain pills. Continue Reading
-
Drug abuse is costly. It costs the addict in terms of damaged relationships, impaired health, lost jobs, education and even the person’s future. But there is also a cost to the rest of us. Even if you don’t personally know anyone who abuses drugs, their addiction is costing you money. This is especially true in the case of prescription drug abuse. Continue Reading
-
A Year After Minor Surgery, Some Patients Are Still Taking Opioid Painkillers
Posted on
April 12, 2012A Canadian research team found that 10% of elderly patients who received heavy-duty pain killers after minor surgeries were still using them a year later and may have developed addictions. Continue Reading
-
Drug addiction is often treated with multiple types of therapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy. This treatment seeks to identify cues for drug use and learn new tools for responding to those cues in healthy ways. However, for some patients who need additional help, therapy is just part of the treatment required. Continue Reading
-
Pregnancy makes you responsible for another life. Everything you do suddenly affects another person. Usually, expectant moms make some changes during this time in order to promote the health and wellness of their growing baby. If your lifestyle includes abuse of prescription drugs now is an important time for you to make changes that will help you as well as the life that is so dependent upon your choices. Misuse of pharmaceuticals damages your own health and places the very life of your child at risk. Continue Reading
-
A Difficult Decision for the Elderly: To Use Prescription Painkillers or Not?
Posted on
March 23, 2012Millions of older adults are in severe pain yet they aren’t taking the most commonly prescribed painkillers. Why? Researchers aren’t sure whether physicians are hesitant to prescribe potent opioids like codeine and oxycodone or older patients aren’t filling their prescriptions for fear of side effects, drug interactions or addiction. Continue Reading
-
A significant number of American adults are obese and it is causing tremendous concern in the medical community. As many as 75 million adults in this country are seriously overweight which represents more than one third of our adult population. Continue Reading
-
Financial experts say that the abuse of prescription medications is costing everyone in the United States a staggering $70 billion per year. The abuse of prescription drugs has risen sharply over just the past few years and law makers along with law enforcement agencies are scrambling to find the best methods for staunching the spread of the epidemic and controlling the tremendous expense to the nation. Continue Reading
-
President Obama’s administration is increasing their efforts to fight the battle against prescription drug abuse, according to the Huffington Post. The DEA has currently cracked down on two major health care providers, Cardinal Health and CVS Caremar, the first of which is a main Florida drug distributor. Continue Reading
-
Pain pills prescribed to help patients sometimes end up killing them. Over 24,000 Americans died from accidental drug overdoses in 2006. Most of these overdoses are from opiate prescription painkillers. Continue Reading
-
Pam Bondi, Florida’s Attorney General, says they have seen a huge decrease in oxycodone sales in Florida. She believes newly enacted tougher law’s on prescription drug sales is working in her state, although she knows the job is far from being over. Continue Reading
-
Recent Report Shows Holes in Government Efforts to Combat Prescription Drug Abuse
Posted on
February 2, 2012The Government Accountability Office released a new report showing problems with federal agencies and their efforts to track education on the serious risks of prescription painkiller abuse, according to a recent blog post. The government is trying to crack down on this problem which has become an overwhelming epidemic here in the United States. Continue Reading
-
A Doctor’s Dilemma: Treating a Patient’s Pain Without Overprescribing Pain Medication
Posted on
January 25, 2012The Wong-Baker pain scale chart graces medical offices around the country. The scale’s cartoon faces range from a broad smile (0 pain) to a face with tears (10 pain). Medical providers use the scale to help their patients describe the intensity of their pain. Continue Reading
