Welcome to Drug and Alcohol Treatment
| ||
Thornton Drug Alcohol Treatment Article
This is a selection made from among articles on Thornton Drug Alcohol Treatment. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for future reading, click here.
from:
Drug Detox Can Help With Prescription Drug Addiction, But Addiction Is Not Our Biggest Prescription
By Gloria B. MacTaggart
Why are so many people dying or getting ill from prescription drugs? Although some prescription drugs cause addiction and dependency that may require drug detox, and may also lead to using illegal drugs or acquiring prescription drugs illegally, many of the deaths and events are from drugs that shouldn't be killers. So, why are they causing so much trouble? The answer may be surprising.
First, let's have a look at some of the facts surrounding deaths and 'serious events' caused by prescription drugs:
* 106,000 hospital patients die every year from drugs that were properly prescribed and administered, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. That's 10 times the number of deaths caused by illegal drugs, many of which could have been prevented with medical drug detox and, if needed, drug rehab.
* A report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies said that medication errors and side effects account for $3.5 billion in hospital costs each year.
* About 1.5 million "adverse drug events" occur in the U.S. every year, and about one third of those are in outpatient settings such as clinics and doctors' offices, also according to the IOM. Again, it's likely that most of these events did not involve prescription drug addiction or dependency that required drug detox.
* The American Medical Association reported that drug-related problems kill as many as 198,815 people every year, put 8.8 million in hospitals, and account for up to 28% of hospital admissions.
Why is this happening? Surprisingly, one of the major problems is that patients frequently don't know what drugs they're taking.
A recent study on blood pressure medication provides a good example: Researchers at Northwestern University's Institute for Healthcare Studies studied 119 patients who were taking blood pressure medication. They were first tested for their medical literacy - simple questions to determine their ability to follow instructions on how to take the drugs and so on - then they were asked to list the drugs they take, then their lists were compared to their medical records.
The results showed that between 40 and 68% of the patients did not know the names of any of the drugs they were taking - the less literate were at 68%, the more literate were at 40%.
Additionally, when the patients were able to list their drugs and their information was compared to their medical records, only about 40% of those with inadequate medical literacy correctly identified any of the drugs in their medical records. The numbers improved for those with adequate medical literacy, but only to about 65%.
What does this all mean? As all medical records are not necessarily correct or complete, doctors often rely on patient information about the drugs they're taking. Given the wrong information, doctors can prescribe other drugs that may be harmful when taken in combination with those the patient is already taking.
If you're taking drugs that cause addiction and dependency, getting off them might be advisable: consult with a medical professional in liaison with a medical drug detox program counselor to find out. However, for other drugs, it's important to get together with your doctor - bring the actual bottles of your drugs with you to the doctor's office - to make sure the drugs you're taking are safe for you by themselves, and in combination.
Gloria is a freelance writer who contributes articles on health
contact: info@novusdetox.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gloria_B._MacTaggart
http://EzineArticles.com/?Drug-Detox-Can-Help-With-Prescription-Drug-Addiction,-But-Addiction-Is-Not-Our-Biggest-Prescription&id=946759
Thornton Drug Alcohol Treatment Specific links
Thornton Drug Alcohol Treatment News
Huguely Breaks Down in Court - Patch.com
Huguely Breaks Down in Court Patch.com By Laura L Thornton The trial for George Huguely, left, who is accused of murdering Yeardley Love, right, began Monday. AP/ ZUMA Press The first week of George Huguely's trial for the killing of Yeardley Love ended on Friday, Feb. |
Demi Lovato Not Back In Rehab Says Rep - Neon Limelight
 Neon Limelight | Demi Lovato Not Back In Rehab Says Rep Neon Limelight The troubling talk began when the gossip site BlindGossip posted an article claiming Lovato was admitted into the Malibu, California in-patient rehab facility, Passages. The article further alleges that Demi is being treated for alcohol and drug ... Report: Demi Lovato back in rehab: True, or a crock of poo? UPDATED: Demi Lovato Reportedly Back in Rehab Is Demi Lovato back in rehab? Gossip site report says yes |
Jury Selection Completed, Witnesses Called in Huguely Trial - Patch.com
Jury Selection Completed, Witnesses Called in Huguely Trial Patch.com The Virginia state medical examiner has ruled that Love, who was 22, died of blunt-force trauma to the head, but Huguely's attorneys intend to "suggest that Love could have died from an irregular heartbeat related to Adderall, a drug used to treat ... |
PUBLIC RECORDS - Chillicothe Gazette
PUBLIC RECORDS Chillicothe Gazette Angel D. Pero, 7817 Egypt Pike, tampering with evidence, sentenced to three years community control, 60 days in the Ross County Jail, assessment and treatment for drug and alcohol dependencies, 100 hours of community service, court costs. |
Healthline lands Drugs.com ad deal - Medical Marketing and Media
Healthline lands Drugs.com ad deal Medical Marketing and Media “We wanted a partner that could help marketers take advantage of our critical position in the treatment consideration process,” said Drugs.com CEO Philip Thornton. “Healthline not only gives us a roster of strategic sellers with deep DTC experience but ... |
Son To Mom Who Walked Away, 'Mommy, You Lost Me' - Yahoo! Contributors Network (blog)
 Daily Mail | Son To Mom Who Walked Away, 'Mommy, You Lost Me' Yahoo! Contributors Network (blog) Hatfield says the last memory she has is sitting in her van with her two young sons, ages 2 and 4, at a Thornton, Colo., gas station Saturday. Nearly 12 hours later, around midnight, she arrived outside the National Jewish Hospital in Denver, ... Stay-At-Home Mom Doesn't Remember Leaving Children |
Jury Selection Continues for Huguely Trial - Patch.com
Jury Selection Continues for Huguely Trial Patch.com By Laura L Thornton The trial for George Huguely, left, who is accused of murdering Yeardley Love, right, began Monday. AP/ ZUMA Press Jury selection continued Tuesday for the case against George Huguely V, a former University of Virginia lacrosse ... |
NEAL v. STATE - Leagle.com
NEAL v. STATE Leagle.com No drugs or alcohol was found in the victim's blood. About 13 years before, Neal choked his then-wife, and there were several other instances of physical abuse by Neal during that marriage. Neal argues that the evidence was insufficient to prove beyond ... |
Bus driver's family gets condolences - Ninemsn
Bus driver's family gets condolences Ninemsn The passengers were treated at the scene for minor injuries, while the truck driver underwent mandatory drug and alcohol testing. NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian extended her sympathy to the family of the bus driver. The driver had worked for ... |
Circuit court sentencings - Battle Creek Enquirer
Circuit court sentencings Battle Creek Enquirer Carlos Vance Watts, 43, 1107 Concord 2D, Kalamazoo, pleaded guilty to possession of less than 25 grams of a controlled substance: 18 months probation, must successfully complete substance abuse treatment program, $973 in fines, costs and fees, ... |