That was the title of an article I read the other day. We were leaving one of definitely the restaurants — well liked 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 publication on my way to avoid the door. Just wanted something to look at on our drive home.
It was filled with the normal and expected substance-free articles… too challenging for a writer to say much of anything with a 300 word limit!
Anyhow, one article caught my eye and kept my attention. Actually, I was suspended in disbelief! Maybe it was shock, who knows! Your content sr9009 was featured in the Parenting section of the publication and was titled, “How to keep prescription drugs away from your kids. inch
Of course, my knee-jerk reaction was, “Don’t take prescription drugs and don’t give any to your kids… simple. inch I decided to delay my tendency to over-simplify issues pertaining to wild drug easily use in our society, and read the article in its entirety.
That’s when the disbelief and shock came in!
Now, once again, I assure you that i do not live in a very dark closet. I am aware of that people take prescription 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’ prescription 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 its entirety the wild over-use of, and reliance upon, prescription drugs. Drugs are a “normal” part of our existence in The usa. Strange times.
This article began with the forecasts that the average American home contains multiple prescription drugs. I’m sad already. Then, the statement that, although prescription drugs such as sedatives, pain killers, stimulants and allergy or intolerance 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 PERILOUS!
Immediately, I’m thinking, “How does the drug know Who was supposed to take it? inch and, “Why is perilous for the non-prescription recipient, but not the prescription recipient? What makes it OK for that person to take it?? inch
Don’t even Try to convince me that drug trials prove a drug’s safety for its specified purposes. Drug testing and safety has become such a joke. Follow the money trek. Drugs are pushed onto the market WAY before they’re tried and tested for safety and efficacy. PLUS, it is extremely common to designate drugs for conditions or age groups the drug was not even tested for! (case in point — Ritalin)
For a moment, let’s just pretend that drug testing is perfect. Don’t you still wonder… how can this drug be “OK” for me, but perilous for my spouse??? Our ancestral make up is not that different!
Anyhow, your 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 all the more certain that I’m living in some sort of Twilight Zone was this urged parents to discuss the “MYTHS” of prescription drug safety. It said to be certain that you “replace the misinformation” your children have about the safety of prescription drugs. It told parents to “debunk the myth” that prescription drugs are any safer than illegal street drugs!
WHOA! Hold on 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 delighted euphoria on the drug projects! No one’s saying, “Hey, you may decide to’ try some CRACK before you consider taking this stuff your doctor gives you… the crack is safer! inch
Seriously, that section of the article amazed me.
I know it’s true. But the “raw” nature of your truth was lost… not enough emphasis was placed on the very obvious nature of your statement.
Yes, kids need to find out that prescription drugs are not safe, just because a doctor prescribed them. But the bigger point, in my opinion, is that we just skim over the fact (and blindly accept it) that prescription 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 prescription 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 intervention 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 amount our goals are. If living is in danger and a drug could help keep me alive long enough to do something into action about the situation, then by all means, hook me up, doctor!
The final point, offered by the physical therapist at a local substance abuse center, was for parents to “lead by example” and to remember that “actions speak louder than words”. Unfortunately, your 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 not sure.
One thing I’m fairly certain of is that, in our drug-happy, desensitized culture, his point is totally lost. Nobody ‘heard’ him say that. We’ve not come to the tipping point yet. Grown-ups aren’t ready to throw out their drugs and replace them with into action change in lifestyle. Not yet. Particularly when a substance abuse physical therapist won’t even come right out and say that that’s Exactly what many parents need to do!