Prescription Drug Abuse Sending More to Hospitals

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Another problem I see is that prescriptions drugs are delt with as a once size fits all pain type of approach and they seem to always go on the light side. While it is very good for drs to be cautious, it can have unintended consequences. When you are in the hospital, IV drugs are calculated very carefully for your weight, gender race (yes some drugs metabolize a bit differently based on genetics)yet when it comes to pills its always lowest theriputic adult dose. I had my knee replaced last year and so did my father (I am female, about 130lb and he is probably about 220) we were given the exact same dose of percocet and antibiotic. As might be expected he was in a good deal of pain most of the time and started to take the pilles earlier and sometimes two at a time, but the dr would not alter the prescription "for concrens of dependence". Luckily Dad never went over board, but if someone was really in pain and desperate to stop it, they could easily self medicate poorly

Nicole of VA 9:40AM April 07, 2010

wow. thats really stupid.
the problem is and has always been over-medication by doctors and society. feelin' blue? medicate. feelin' stressed? medicate. kid had too many mountain dew's and wont stop running around? medicate.
theyre inventing diseases and disorders so they can sell you a pill to cure it. then three more to cure the side effects of that one. being chubby is a disorder now. being skinny is a disorder as well. and if youre perfectly healthy start taking an aspirin a day because its good for you...
get a clue people. stop letting people selling drugs give you advice.

d of MN 1:38PM April 06, 2010

People will always self-medicate. If they do not get it through doctors then it will be available on the street. Do not blame the doctors or the patients. It is natural. If all legal outlets are shut down illegal one will arise. The doctor's put themselves in the position of being informed drug dealers long ago when they propagandized the illegal drug use and wanted all the power in their hands. Doctor's are not god's. Many are ill informed and follow their own personal prejudices.
Decriminalization and legalization will be the way of the future.

Mark of WA 1:17PM April 06, 2010

People will always self-medicate. If they do not get it through doctors then it will be available on the street. Do not blame the doctors or the patients. It is natural. If all legal outlets are shut down illegal one will arise. The doctor's put themselves in the position of being informed drug dealers long ago when they propagandized the illegal drug use and wanted all the power in their hands. Doctor's are not god's. Many are ill informed and follow their own personal prejudices.
Decriminalization and legalization will be the way of the future.

Mark of WA 1:15PM April 06, 2010

A bunch of dumbazz housewifes that do nothing else but drive around talking on the phone stoned out of their gourd thinking they aren't drug addicts.

john of LA 12:11PM April 06, 2010

This from the Kaiser Foundation Prescription Drug Trends Fact Sheet 2008
Utilization. From 1997 to 2007, the number of
prescriptions purchased increased 72% (from 2.2
billion to 3.8 billion), compared to a US population
growth of 11%. The average number of retail
prescriptions per capita increased from 8.9 in 1997
to 12.6 in 2007.

ak gary of MA 12:03PM April 06, 2010