Pain Killers Turned People Killers

Every generation has its own different drug epidemic.  The 70’s had a spike in heroin and cocaine usage. The 80’s and 90’s had crack cocaine.  Then the 2000’s came along and things changed.  There was a spike in abuse and deaths related to prescription medications.  Yes, drugs that are legal and prescribed by doctors across the country. Specifically Narcotic Pain Killers.

These prescription drugs are now being called gateway drugs.  Men and women are becoming addicted to these prescription drugs.  Once their addiction strengthens and their high lessens, then they move on to stronger drugs.  Drugs, such as heroin and fentanyl.

I spoke with Doctor Andre Harris Sr. to get some insight from a medical professional as to what may be the cause in the recent increase in prescription drug addiction and deaths.

Dr. Harris explained that, “within the past 20 years the number of the amount of prescriptions for these drugs has more than doubled.”

These drugs are highly addictive and are more accessible than ever now.  According to The National Institute on Drug Abuse, 207 million prescription opioids were prescribed.   This means that there is more of a supply than ever before.

Dr. Harris then went on to say that “these drugs that are being prescribed are highly addictive.  It is not unusual for a patient to become addicted.”

Dr. Harris practices near Dayton, Ohio where there is a major drug and specifically heroin abuse problem.  Therefore, he is no stranger to prescription drug addicts or heroin abusers.

So what is the reason so many prescription drugs are being handed out every day?  It is illegal for drug companies to pay doctors to prescribe their medications.  Yet, it is not illegal for drug companies to pay doctors to advertise their medications.  Doctors across the United States are earning thousands and thousands of dollars, to promote these different drugs.

“I am a firm believer in prescribing only what is necessary for the patient.  I will never prescribe a drug, specifically an addictive drug, that isn’t a necessity for my patient.”

Dr. Harris explained to me that he doesn’t agree with promoting drugs for drug companies.  He thinks that it will create a distrust between society and medical professionals.

According to the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, “In 2015, 276,000 adolescents were current nonmedical users of pain reliever, with 122,000 having an addiction to prescription relievers.”

The National Safety Council published a study that 4 out of 5 heroin abusers started out on prescription drugs.  With the rise in prescription drug abuse and a rise in heroin abuse, does it make you wonder if there is a direct correlation?

David Hamrick, of Elyria, Ohio was able to tell me a little bit of his story and battle with opioid addiction.  He said “I started using drugs in high school.  My buddy’s mom would always have perks, and we started out just taking those before and after school.”

Studies have shown that many people who become addicted to prescription drugs are given them from a friend or family member.  David went on to say “Once we were hooked on those, we started taking anything we could get our hands on.  Including heroin. After that it was downhill from there. “

David has been in and out of jail and rehab for the majority of his adult life.  He is now 37.  He is currently still addicted to heroin and plans on returning to rehab in the near future. He also said “One of the reasons it has been so hard for me to stay clean is because it is all around me.  All my friends shoot up, and in Elyria everyone either sells or uses some type of drug.”

The National Institution on Drug Abuse has been doing non-stop research in efforts to:

• “To identify the characteristics and patterns of drug abuse;
• To understand how genes, environment, and development influence the various risk and protective factors for drug abuse.;
• To improve and expand our understanding of basic neurobiology as it relates to the brain circuitry underlying drug abuse and addiction; and
• To apply this knowledge toward the development of more effective strategies to prevent people from ever taking drugs and from progressing to addiction if they do.”

But will this research change the way doctors prescribe drugs?  Studies are showing that doctors across the country are constantly over prescribing these drugs and painkillers.  Some suggest that doctors should do more detailed background investigations on patients who are being prescribed pain killers.  Family history of addiction is something many doctors are not looking into when prescribing patients highly addictive drugs.

The accessibility of narcotic pain killers is at an all-time high.  Is it a coincidence that heroine abuse and overdoses are also at an all-time high? Should the government be cracking down on regulating pain killer prescriptions?  As of now doctors basically have free reign to prescribe any amount of any type of drug they deem fit for their patient.  Communities are beginning to limit the amount of times they will be responding to addicts who have repeatedly overdose.  Yet, medical professionals share responsibility for the rise in drug abuse.