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Michael Jackson and Doctors Not the Only Ones Guilty of Prescription Drug Abuse

August 25, 2009

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Michael Jackson

LOS ANGELES (RPRN) 08/25/09 — Michael Jackson’s murder claims, Heath Ledger, Anna Nicole, Elvis and You 

By Jeffrey Jolson and Susan Jenkins

While the LA County Coroner has ruled Michael Jackson’s death a homicide, as it has been determined that the powerful anesthetic propofol killed him, in fact, Jackson’s death makes it clear there was also a long history of prescription drug abuse.

However, before throwing stones at Michael Jackson or any other well known celebrities like Heath Ledger, Elvis etc, you might first be sure that you or your teen children are not also guilty of prescription drug abuse!

No one would disagree that Jackson had foolishly left himself in the hands of others and was apparently caught up in the “prescription drug abuse” epidemic that is running rapidly throughout the US.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), prescription drugs are now the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and Canada, behind only cancer, heart disease, and stroke.

It is estimated that at least 20 percent of people in the United States have abused prescription drugs through nonmedical use.

Another aspect of the growing problem is the fact that many in this country watch the commercials and suggest to their doctors that they should be on a specific medication and that frequently, the physician will give the patient the medication they recommended.

Does this sound familiar? Does this really differ significantly from what Michael Jackson did when he wanted his doctors to prescribe certain medications? Sure, he had upped it to a different level, but let’s be honest and admit that many in this country have crossed the line with regard to medication.

Most do not even recognize the problem and it is multi-faceted. First, the pharmaceutical companies are big, powerful and have the money and influence to advertise and affect what people think. The commercials reflect that this or that medication is the answer and result in money-making responses for that product.

We are the problem! According to most statistics, many would rather take a pill than eat right, exercise or resort to other non-medication solutions.

This has also adversely affected our children! Teens have turned from street drugs, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President. Instead they have turned to prescription drugs, rivaling the users of marijuana. In 2005, 2.1 million teenagers were abusing prescription drugs.

Even over-the-counter drugs are being abused. One example is the OTC drugs that teens are abusing which are intended to treat cold/flu symptoms, headaches, or sinus conditions. Teens are using the active ingredient (DXM) or dextromethorphan which is found in more than 120 non-prescription cough and cold remedies to get high. When taken in high doses, DXM can be extremely dangerous.

Often, they simply go into their parent’s medicine cabinet and take whatever is in there, incorrectly believing that a prescription medication is “safe” because it’s something that a doctor prescribes and that their parents use.

Prescription drug abuse is insidious in that it frequently goes unnoticed until it is too late. Many adults don’t recognize the dangers connected to these drugs, so how can we expect our children to understand.

No one would deny that Michael Jackson and Elvis and many others contributed to their own downfall, but look around or start with the person “in the mirror” before throwing that first stone.

Source: Hollwood Today

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