The overlooked epidemic: Prescription drug abuse alarm
A doctor is terrified by the amount of medication with addictive substances that patients can consume. "I have to shout this: all of this is in homes in monstrous quantities, on prescription. Often for free or heavily subsidized," he warns.
"I once read an interview about cocaine or amphetamine abuse by residents of big cities. And something broke inside me!" the doctor, who remained anonymous for his patients' sake, confesses in an interview with OKO.press.
The expert points out that the medicines which a significant portion of society takes in horrendous amounts contain addictive, body-destroying substances.
"The body will be slowly destroyed"
The expert cited data indicating that a substance called fentanyl kills about 80,000 Americans annually.
"But we have benzodiazepines and opioids. I have to shout this: all of this is in homes in monstrous quantities. On prescription. Often for free or heavily subsidized," the doctor revealed to OKO.press.
The interviewee mentioned that once, a woman in her 60s came to him asking for a prescription for 180 tablets of a drug prescribed for exceptionally severe pain, such as after surgery. A person who had their appendix removed takes the medication for 2-3 days post-operation.
"But 180 tablets? For one person? You could consume this for twenty years! (…). She will still live (the patient with 180 tablets - editor's note), but her body will be slowly destroyed. As with any abused psychoactive substances, personality changes will slowly occur," the OKO.press interviewee warned.
"Take this, grandson, it helps me, so it will help you too"
The doctor recalls that in many cases, dangerous situations arise where seniors share strong medications, such as those containing tramadol, with other family members.
"The grandson comes over, complains about his back, then his knees. The grandmother loves him, so she says: 'Take this, grandson, it helps me, so it will help you too.' The grandson doesn’t think twice. If it helps, it helps. And he takes it. Then he gets into a car, not realizing it wasn't just a regular painkiller," the doctor explains.
When such a person gets behind the wheel after taking the mentioned medications, it can lead to tragedy. "He is groggy, slow, loses awareness - worse than after half a litre of clear liquor," the doctor describes the "grandson."
"People take anything to get high"
The doctor admits that senior women excessively ask for prescriptions for sedatives that aid in sleeping. "People take anything to get high," he warns. He also notes that when suggested to stop taking these medications, patients react with immediate opposition.
"This is a clear symptom of addiction. A patient would allow all lifesaving medications to be taken away but would not allow those from the group of benzodiazepines or opioids to be taken away. This repeats," he confesses to OKO.press.
