Prescription Drug Addiction Headlines Abound

Prescription Drug Abuse Making Headlines More and More

Prescription drug abuse and drug addiction are in the news as more people realize that the prescription drugs they are taking are highly addictive and can lead to abuse.

The past year could be called “The Year of Prescription Drug Abuse” as reports of prescription drugs being abused by celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger, DJ AM, Burt Reynolds, and recently, rumors that Lindsay Lohan abuses prescription drugs grab headlines.

“The tragic news of Michael Jackson’s death really grabbed a lot of attention, but the focus and blame hasn’t been correctly pointed yet,” comments Mary Rieser, Executive Director for The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab in Georgia. “However, even more recently, the death of DJ AM, a well-liked musician, of an ovedose of cocaine, oxycodone, hydrocodone (Vicodin), Ativan, Klonopin, Xanax, Benadryl and Levamisole (a drug used to cut cocaine) served to point out that prescription drugs are more widely abused than previously realized.

“It appears that Jackson is one of the sad tales in prescription drug overdose deaths, celebrity or otherwise. The antidepressants and sleeping pills seem to be the culprit, in which case the responsibility lies in the hands of the doctor who prescribed both of these toxic substances as well as the drug companies who promote the drugs as being safe and effective.”

The Atlanta Recovery Center Drug Rehab in Georgia has seen more and more people looking for help because of drug abuse that involves prescription drugs.

“When celebrity drug rehab tabloid gossip mainstays such as Lohan, Spears and Winehouse begins to rule airwaves, it’s easy to assume that a drug-related death is due to illegal substances, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with Jackson or Ledger. Police reports show no foul play, evidence of suicide attempt, or other substances from the toxicology report.”

Mike Adams from NewsTarget.com shows that FDA-approved pharmaceuticals kill twice as many Americans each year as the entire Vietnam War.

This disturbing fact that’s routinely swept under the carpet by mainstream media and government officials is echoed by the number of calls we get on a weekly basis of otherwise well-meaning people who are now full-blown addicts because of prescription drugs that were recommended to them by their doctors and the ensuing havoc created by them.

Ms. Reiser continues, “Remember, the drugs ruining our society aren’t just the ones on the street. Just turn on the television to see pharmaceutical ads or drive down the road where you see brand new pharmacies popping up in every suburban development. When damaging antidepressants are just as common in homes as Flintstones vitamins, there is a major problem that isn’t being looked at enough.”

For more information on drug addiction rehabilitation or drug education, call The Atlanta Recovery Center of Georgia.