Pill Heads
An article in the NY Daily News states that prescription drug use has skyrocketed to 430% over the past decade. This number is astronomical as it seems that prescription drugs are the equivalent to taking vitamins in our society. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Tylenol with codeine, Darvocet, Percocet and Vicodin were among the top choices for prescription pills in the United States. The article describes the phenomenon of doctors who are crooked in their practices and are intentionally writing prescriptions for patients who may not need the strong medication. Addicts have been known to doctor shop and the proposed question is, are doctors willingly engaging in this activity but playing stupid because of other underlying motives? Now, we have to be concerned with our doctors exploiting addiction for money. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) report that the admissions to drug rehab facilities has decreased over the years. Minimization of the seriousness of addiction by some medical professionals may also be a contributing factor to the decrease of admissions to addiction treatment. It is scary to think that taking prescription pills regularly is becoming the norm in our culture.