Prescription Drug Abuse "Science Verses Faith"

Prescription drug abuse is my greatest concern in the culture that we are presently living in. There are many reasons that I have been alerted to this. The mass marketing of Pharmaceutical companies that I believe have an advertising effect to desensitizing people that they reflect back to their doctors a need for the medication. According to Inaba and Cohen (2007) there are an estimated 5 to 33 percent of our elderly that are on these drugs, and they have a misconception about sharing their drugs with others that they believe might have the same aliment. It is further stated that 1/3 of the elderly in intermediate care facilities are on long lasting meds that are not designed for the elderly. (Inaba & Cohen,2007).

Inaba & Cohen (2007) have stated, “America is in the midst of a prescription drug abuse epidemic, mainly opioid painkillers and benzodiazepines.” (p 4.1). It is shocking to learn that over 10,000 people die yearly because of this epidemic and millions are harmed from side effects that come from their usages, and we do not fully understand the full magnitude from these side effects long term. It is my concern that I am seeing no slowdown from the medical model or from the companies that are producing new amounts of them on a huge marketing scale.

Inaba & Cohen (2007) also express concern for the young. It is an alarming situation when children or adolescents can go to their parents medicine cabinets and retrieve dangerous drugs, and can even sell them to friends for up to ten dollars each. It seems that many oversight the issues concerning prescription drug abuse or the accidental injuries that can occur for the sake of its legality. Prescription drugs and still drugs, and we need to have a wider awareness of the dangers with more information given about the known side effects and how it’s going to determine the next generation along with the impact on our society for many years to come.

Drug addictions that control our lives compare a great deal to idols and strongholds that seem impossible to overcome. Spirituality can lead to redemption, while the medical model may only treat the symptom. The highest calling that is indicated to me in my journey to work with others that are struggling with these types of overpowering addictions is to bring hope through redemption, and not just a medication that merely will not cure, but only treat the top layer of the problem that may lie within the root. The Lord is able to deliver us from these things and not just put a bandaid on our wounds.

While the medical model struggles with the options that can cure the result, spirituality and the presence of the Lord in our lives gives us peace and redemption to know that will Him all things are possible, and we can overcome. I long for healing and though we may use medications to aid us along in that journey, we want to ensure those that we walk along side with that all hope is not lost, and our only option does not rest completely within the medical model. Our concern is to do no harm, so it is critical that we learn about these things while walking along side one of the road to recovery, not just the treatment alone.

References:

Cohen, W.E. & Inaba, D.S. (2007) Uppers, Downers, All Arounders 7^th Edition