Narconon Can Return Sobriety to Those Who Become Addicted to Prescription Drugs, But Preventing Addiction through Wiser Use is a Better Solution 
Narconon Arrowhead Spokesperson cites conviction of Michael Jackson’s doctor as a prime example of how prescription drug use can turn into abuse and then addiction that requires drug rehabilitation.
The conviction of Michael Jackson’s doctor for the singer’s death from an overdose of medical drugs is just the latest chapter in a book on prescription drug deaths that goes on far too long. There’s probably few people in the US missed the news of Mr. Jackson’s death in 2009 from an overdose of Propofol, a powerful anesthetic normally used in hospital settings. In this case, Dr. Conrad Murray was found guilty of manslaughter for administering the drug in a negligent manner. In the trial that ended on November 7, 2011, the prosecution successfully made their case that he had failed to follow the usual precautions that would have been used in conjunction with use of propofol.
“The pressures of celebrity have caused too many people to rely on prescription drugs in a way that has caused their deaths,” observed Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions at Narconon Arrowhead; a non-profit organization located in Canadian, Oklahoma.
Both Michael Jackson and Marilyn Monroe died as a result of prescription drugs normally taken for insomnia, as did Heath Ledger. Anna Nicole Smith died as a direct result of a prescription drug cocktail and Elvis Presley’s death was related to the large number of prescription drugs he was taking.
In the U.S., between overuse situations and outright abuse, prescription drugs cause most of the 26,000 drug overdose deaths that occur each year, according to a report in USA today.
“When high stress situations or another situation like depression combine with physical conditions that are being treated with prescription drugs, such as chronic back pain, headaches or insomnia, it’s easy for prescription drug abuse to turn into prescription drug abuse,” advised Mr. Hallmark. “Abuse can often lead to addiction rather quickly and then the only way out is drug rehabilitation to put the person back on a drug-free path.”
Narconon Arrowhead admissions staff have recently seen trends in drug rehab admissions that match the rising statistics for prescription pain medication distribution: more people arriving for drug rehabilitation are seeking help for addiction to sedatives, anti-anxiety medication like Xanax, pain pills like Oxy Contin or Loritab or stimulants like Ritalin.
“After completing the Narconon drug rehabilitation program, people who have become addicted can find lasting sobriety. But greater caution in using prescription drugs for problems that might be able to be improved through other means would reduce the danger of becoming addicted and overdose deaths,” Mr. Hallmark added.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, features many drug-free alternatives to prescription drug treatment for pain or illness. And while strong pain medications like Oxy Contin might at one time have been a recommendation for pain such as that resulting from fibromyalgia, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services now recommends trying drug-free alternatives like aerobics, acupuncture and strength training, among other approaches, to reduce the pain.
“More prudence in prescribing, less reliance by patients in using addictive medications and effective rehabilitation for those who become trapped in a cycle of abuse and addiction and we can begin to see these overdose numbers go down at last,” Mr. Hallmark summarized.
For more information on Narconon or the Narconon program call 800-468-6933.
References:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-conrad-murray-20111108,0,4044841.story
http://www.pharmacytechs.net/blog/18-celebrities-who-died-from-prescription-drugs
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-09-30-drug-overdose_N.htm
http://nccam.nih.gov/
http://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=14869&search=fibromyalgia
