On July 29, 2015, the publication Drugwatch posted an online exposé article by Chris Elkins with the above title. The article, which cited over 30 resources, was an in-depth look at prescription drug usage in the United States.
The article notes some startling statistics beginning with the fact that prescription drug abuse kills more people in the U.S. than does car accidents each year. The article reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) has classified this issue as an epidemic.
Although other nations are also having a problem, the U.S. leads the way. According to the New York Times, Americans account for 99 percent of the world’s hydrocodone (Vicodin) consumption, 80 percent of the world’s oxycodone (Percocet and Oxycontin) consumption, and 65 percent of the world’s hydromorphone (Dilaudid) consumption.
The author goes on to list a number of chilling statistics.
- An estimated 52 million Americans use prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons at least once in their lifetimes – with some using prescription drugs for recreational purposes.
- Deaths by overdoses involving prescription painkillers quadrupled since 1999.
- Every day, about 50 Americans die from prescription painkiller overdoses.
- Every year, prescription painkillers cause more than 16,000 deaths and 475,000 emergency room visits.
In response to this growing problem, 27 U.S. medical groups have joined together to form a coalition to help deal with this issue.
“We have joined together as part of this special task force because we collectively believe that it is our responsibility to work together to provide a clear road map that will help bring an end to this public health epidemic,” said Dr. Patrice Harris, AMA Board chair-elect. “We are committed to working long term on a multipronged, comprehensive public health approach to end opioid abuse in America.”
The problem has gotten so bad that one group of Cincinnati hospitals has mandated drug testing of new mothers and infants. “Testing is designed to help the family, the mother and the infant,” said Scott Wexelblatt, medical director of regional newborn services at Cincinnati Children’s. “It enables us to ensure that the hospital can monitor the infant after birth and provide the appropriate care if the infant begins to show withdrawal symptoms.”
Dr. George Curry, president of the International Chiropractors Association offers a different viewpoint to the problem. “The problem is that our society is being trained that drugs are the answer to pain and health issues.” Dr. Curry continued, “Treating pain or many other health issues with drugs does not deal with the underlying cause of the problem. Chiropractic has always taken the approach that looking for a cause is a better course of action, than treating an effect. In chiropractic’s 120 year history, we have not created one drug addict.”
If you or anyone you know could benefit from a better functioning nervous system, please call us at 512-452-2525 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Swanson.