That was the title of an article I read the other day. We were leaving one of definitely the restaurants — popular because they serve a delicious bison cheese pizza, a great salad and fresh veggies for the kids, all in a very cool atmosphere — and I picked up a health journal on my way to avoid the entranceway. Just wanted something to look at on our drive home.
It was filled with the typical and expected substance-free articles… too challenging for a writer to say a lot of anything with a 300 word limit!
Anyhow, one article caught my eye and kept my attention. Actually, I was stopped in disbelief! Maybe it was shock, who knows! s23 This content was featured in the Nurturing section of the journal and was called, “How to keep prescribed drugs away from your kids. inch
Of course, my knee-jerk reaction was, “Don’t take prescribed drugs , nor give any to your kids… simple. inch I decided to delay my tendency to over-simplify issues pertaining to wild drug utilization in our society, and see the article in its entirety.
That’s when the disbelief and shock came in!
Now, once again, I assure you that we do not live in a very dark closet. I realize that people take prescribed drugs for all sorts of reasons. We make the best decisions we can based our belief systems and the information we have available to us at the time. I get it.
I also understand that kids getting into their parents’ prescribed drugs for recreational purposes has become an enormous problem. That was the foundation of this article.
What caused the shock and disbelief was the quality of desensitization that has occurred in our society in general the wild over-use of, and reliance upon, prescribed drugs. Drugs are a “normal” part of our existence in The united states. Strange times.
This article began with the premiss that the average American home contains multiple prescribed drugs. I’m sad already. Then, the statement that, although prescribed drugs such as sedatives, pain killers, stimulants and allergic reaction medications do have some benefits (I’ll let that one slide), when they are taken by “anyone other than for whom the drugs were prescribed” they can be LETHAL!
Immediately, I’m thinking, “How does the drug know Who was supposed to take it? inch and, “Why is lethal for the non-prescription beneficiary, but not the prescription beneficiary? What makes it OK for that person to take it?? inch
Don’t even Try to encourage me that drug studies prove a drug’s safety for its specified purposes. Drug testing and safety has become such a ruse. Follow the money trek. Drugs are pushed onto the market WAY before they’re tried and tested for safety and efficacy. PLUS, it is rather common to order drugs for conditions or age brackets the drug was not even tested for! (case in point — Ritalin)
For a moment, let’s just pretend that drug testing is perfect. Right still wonder… how can this drug be “OK” for me, but lethal for my spouse??? Our ancestral make up is not that different!
Anyhow, this content gave some expected tips, like throwing out expired drugs, locking up your drugs, keeping the lines of communication open with your kids, know who they’re spending time with and so on.
The one recommendation that made me much more sure I’m living in some sort of Twilight Zone was this told parents to discuss the “MYTHS” of prescription drug safety. It reported to be sure you “replace the misinformation” your children have about the safety of prescribed drugs. It told parents to “debunk the myth” that prescribed drugs are any safer than illegal street drugs!
WHOA! Hold on tight a minute… I have NOT heard that hot little tid bit on any drug commercial on television lately! No ma’am… I’ve only seen those happy, fit, socially balanced people skipping around in a state of pleased euphoria on the drug tv ads! No one’s saying, “Hey, you may decide to’ try some CRACK before you consider taking these items your doctor gives you… the crack is safer! inch
Seriously, that the main article amazed me.
I know it’s true. But the “raw” nature of these truth was lost… not enough emphasis was placed on the very obvious nature of these statement.
Yes, kids need to find out that prescribed drugs are not safe, wish health professional prescribed them. But the bigger point, in my opinion, is that we just skim over the fact (and blindly accept it) that prescribed drugs ARE dangerous… for all of us, not just kids.
It irks me to no end that we have become so desensitized to this. We assume that everybody takes drugs… or probably should i really enjoy seeing! After all, we all have discomfort from time to time, or stress, or anxiety, or immune system issues, or a runny nose… goodness thoughtful, where are the drugs when we need them?!
Health and happiness don’t come from a bottle.
I know there’s a time and place for prescribed drugs. They can save lives. That’s not what I’m talking about hassle-free all. How many people do you think are taking a drug, on an ongoing basis, to literally save their life? Life saving involvement is a short term thing. Drug use has become a chronic, lifestyle thing. Also, I can’t think of a drug that creates better health, restores homeostasis or improves overall function. I guess we just have to be sure we’re clear on the our goals are. If my well being is in danger and a drug could help keep me alive long enough to do something aggressive about the situation, then by all means, hook me up, doctor!
The final point, offered by the hypnotherapist at a local substance abuse center, was for parents to “lead by example” and to remember that “actions speak louder than words”. Unfortunately, this content ended there… kinda’ left me hanging!
Was he trying to tell parents to get off their drugs so that their kids didn’t model after them? Or was he just telling parents to not use their drugs to get high? I’m uncertain.
One thing I’m fairly certain of is that, in our drug-happy, desensitized culture, his point is very lost. Nobody ‘heard’ him say that. We’ve not come to the tipping point yet. Grown-ups aren’t ready to throw their drugs and replace them with aggressive change in lifestyle. Not yet. Particularly when a substance abuse hypnotherapist won’t even come right out and say that that’s Exactly what many parents should do!