“Why Don’t You Just Shut the F*ck Up?”

These words of wisdom were proffered to me not so long ago by a good friend of mine, Vince. And by good friend I mean someone who will tell you like it is. These types of people are rarer than you might think. Ask yourself how many of your friends fit this description.

What Vince meant by this is, “you have a pretty good life… and a lot to be thankful for… a lot to be grateful for… so quit bitching”. Take a minute, take a breath, and take stock of your own life. I bet you’ll come to pretty much the same conclusion.

Now, pick your chin up and get on with the rest of your day. And don’t forget to shut the fuck up.

Painkiller Epidemic Update: Painkillers Top Choice Among New Illicit Drug Users

2007 SAMHSA Study: Initiates for Specific Illicit Drugs among Persons Aged 12 or Older

According to findings from the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), painkillers (OxyContin, MS Contin, Vicodin) are now the top drugs in “use initiation” (also known as incidence or first-time use).

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in its 2007 survey, provides a variety of figures related to substance use initiation. Among the 2.7 million persons aged 12 or older surveyed, a staggering 2.1 million reported that the first illicit drugs they used were painkillers.

That figure puts painkillers above marijuana, and far above cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, and all other illicit drugs as “drugs of first use”.

Anyone need further evidence of a Painkiller Epidemic?

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• SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use & Health
• Trends in Initiation of Substance Use: Specific Drug Used When Initiating Illicit Drug Use among Past Year Initiates of Illicit Drugs Aged 12 or Older: 2007
• View other Painkiller Epidemic Updates

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Graphic courtesy of SAMHSA.

How long for OxyContin to kick in?

Those of you out there concerned and/or interested in this Painkiller Epidemic issue should spend some time surfing Web forums—like the one linked below.

“Remember to crush thoroughly next time” 😉

– Mr. Blonde (anonymous poster)

Our youth are experimenting with dangerous prescription narcotics, largely due to their easy access, and turning to anonymous idiots on the Internet for advice on abusing them. This is how people die.

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Link to Bluelight, the Internet forum mentioned above.

FDA Suspects Fentanyl Patches in 3,500 Deaths

Friday’s advisory reinforced an FDA earlier alert from 2005

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new warning on Friday regarding the popular painkiller fentanyl, basically a re-issue of its 2005 warning. The FDA estimates that the patch version of the potent painkiller may have been involved in more than 3,500 deaths.

Fentanyl patches (brand name Duragesic) are typically prescribed to patients with chronic pain, or to those who have trouble swallowing pills. The patch’s transdermal system releases a uniform dosage of the drug over the course of three days.

“I think there is more that needs to be done, or else we’re just going to see this [warning] happen again another two years from now… the deaths are going to continue.”

-Michael Cohen, Institute for Safe Medication Practices (PA)

The FDA also warns that heat and exercise can cause the patches to release the drug at a faster and potentially lethal rate. Patients who experience breathing problems while using fentanyl should call their doctors immediately, because high doses of the drug can cause the patients respiratory system to fail.

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• View the 2005 fentanyl  FDA Alert
• View the 2004 fentanyl  FDA Recall Notice
• Duragesic Website: duragesic.com
• Image Courtesy Wikipedia

Painkiller Epidemic Update: “You’ve Got Drugs!”

A new white paper released by Columbia University’s CASA (The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse) reveals that the vast majority of Websites selling narcotic painkillers (OxyContin, Vicodin, etc.) do so without requiring a prescription.

While this does not surprise me, it is somewhat startling to see it printed in black and white by a major research university. What I’ve been calling the Painkiller Epidemic is essentially a rising tide of patients developing powerful addictions to prescribed opiate-based painkillers. Like it or not, these illegal web merchants are simply responding to a very real surge in demand.

If the failed “War on Drugs” has taught us anything, we should know that shutting down these Websites will not fix the problem. Fundamental changes in the way narcotic painkillers are used and prescribed are needed to combat this problem in the future. As for the present, the needs of these addicts will be addressed one way or another—either through treatment, or through the criminal—and often violent—machinations of the black market.

It’s up to us to choose.

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CASA’s Website: www.casacolumbia.org

Download the CASA White Paper: “You’ve Got Drugs!” V: Prescription Drug Pushers on the Internet