Painkiller Abuse: Obsession with Escaping Discomfort?
A study that was released by the White House recently showed that there was a very significant increase in admissions for substance abuse treatment for prescription pain killers over a ten year period. Figures pegged the increase at more than 400 percent, from 1998 to 2008.
In a feature on the Christian Science Monitor, Pamela Hyde, the administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), was quoted as saying that the “tragic consequences [of prescription drug abuse] are seen in substance abuse treatment centers and hospital emergency departments throughout our nation.”
Prescription drug abuse – which includes abuse of prescription pain relievers – is considered as the second most abused substance in the country. The feature included views expressed by addiction specialist Clare Kavin of The Waismann Method, a treatment center for opiate dependency, which we totally agree with: “We are in a culture of immediate gratification and nobody will put up with even the slightest discomfort anymore.”
Essentially, it seems that the country has become too dependent on pain relievers. More people are turning to pills for relief of even slight discomfort, and there is a demand for stronger painkillers, despite the fact that there are low strength and non-addictive options available.
Dr. Scott Glaser, president of Pain Specialists of Greater Chicago, revealed that the problem of prescription painkiller abuse exists across age groups and socio-economic status. He also shared the following information: “There has been a strong push among doctors in recent years to be more aggressive in addressing pain. This has led to the dramatic increase in opiates such as morphine, but the problem is there hasn’t been a whole lot of science to go along with that.”
Tags: medicine abuse, painkiller abuse, prescription drug abuse
July 17, 2010 at 12:20 amJames
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“We are in a culture of immediate gratification and nobody will put up with even the slightest discomfort anymore” what a brilliant and true statment. 100% our culture focuses on quick fix solutions rather than getting to the core of the problem. This is part of the reason why more people suffering from mental health issues are in prolonged mental pain, because doctors are not providing cognitive therapy but instead saying he is a pill to fix the problem. This makes life more difficult for the patient and for the surrounding relationships there people have. I just finished reading a fantastic book called turbulent journey, a mothers perspective on mental illness and addiction which showed the pain family and friends go through when a loved one is suffering. doctors need to take more responsibility for their actions to avoid them becoming a contributing factor in a person becoming addicted to drugs.