An ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

Drug abuse, we think of drug abuse as someone traveling to meet a seedy character and purchasing street drugs in an alley. Prescription and over the counter drugs are equally as dangerous to the chemistry of the brain. We live in a “fix it now world” we expect whatever ills us to be cured without a little work on our part. Becoming extremely common is the pills for everything from relationship break ups to financial stress. Kate is a student at the local university she had just broken up with her boyfriend and finding it hard to cope, found herself talking to her PCP, private physician. After leaving his office she had four prescriptions one for stomach which she couldn’t settle another for her depression, one for the headaches that were stress related and then for the all over anxiety another little white pill that is going to fix everything.
My goal in writing this is about awareness. There are medical conditions that need the attention of a medical provider and so I believe that people should seek help when they need it. We are becoming a world so dependent on prescription drugs. As I spoke with a physician who had become a friend of mine said “ if we are not prescribing, the patient is disappointed in not getting a prescription or a fix all.”
What is the alternative help for stress and depression? Learning how to cope in our fast paced world. In an alternative or complementary practice, alternative therapy would encompass discipline of the diet and exercise and mental conditioning and life style changes.
Consider that you have a headache and you could reach for the advil, instead you rub a little peppermint into your forehead, close your eyes for a few moments and relieve the headache naturally. Consider that your mildly depressed instead of running to your doctor
For medication, you put yourself first for a change and join the spa a couple days a week.
Consider the next time your in severe pain from a injury or arthritic condition that you try a little mind over matter therapy and subject yourself to a positive mental health atmosphere that will eliminate any negative energy.
Is it possible that we could be less dependent on drugs? It is key to self analyze ones own personality. Ask yourself what are your strengths and your weaknesses and how best to handle them?
My daughter was nine years old she was having migraines, not sure of what was causing the headaches I took her to the doctors. The doctor confirmed they were migraines and prescribed a mild anti depressant and a Nasonex spray. I over road his decision to give her medication and started to chart her headaches, when did they occur? What did she eat?and looked for a pattern and then worked to overcome the headaches naturally.

Is and alterative suitable for everyone? No! it takes self discipline and a little control over ones own life to bring the spirit to a happy medium. Are we all capable? Indeed working with self to improve self is possible for everyone. My very favorite of all quotes, which I had adhered to in life for almost everything from financial to my physical being, is that “ an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”

In 2000, 43 percent of those who ended up in hospital emergency rooms from drug overdoses-nearly a half million people-were there because of misusing prescription drugs.Source: SAMHSA
In 2001, 36 million Americans (16 percent of persons aged 12 or older) had used prescription-type drugs nonmedically at least once in their lifetime. This included 9.6 million persons (18 percent) aged 12 to 25. In 2001, almost 3 million youths aged 12 to 17 (12 percent) and almost 7 million young adults aged 18 to 25 (23 percent) had used prescription-type drugs nonmedically at least once in their lifetime.
The annual number of new users of pain relievers has been increasing since the mid-1980's, from about 400,000 initiates to 2 million in 2000.Source: NHSDA
The DEA has budgeted $6.3 million to fight illegal online pharmacies this yea
A few commonly abused prescription drugs
In the United States, the Controlled Substances Act divides drugs and medications into five schedules dependent on their potential for abuse. The list below contains many, but not all, commonly abused prescription medications:
Schedule I (high potential for abuse, has no accepted medical use in the U.S. and lack of safety for use under medical supervision)
Schedule II (high potential for abuse, has a currently accepted medical use, may lead to severe physical dependence or addiction)
Alfentanil (Alfenta)Amobarbital (Amytal, Tuinal)Amphetamine (Dexedrine, Biphetamine, Adderall, Obetrol)CodeineDihydrocodeine (Didrate, Parzone)Fentanyl (Duragesic, Sublimaze, Innovar)Glutethimide (Doriden, Dorimide)Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)Levomethadyl (ORLAAM)Levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran)Marinol (Dronabinol)Methadone (Dolophine, Amidone, Methadose)
Methamphetamine (Desoxyn)Methylphenidate (Ritalin)Mepridine (Demorol, Mepergan)Morphine (MS Contin, Oramorph, Duramorph, Roxanol)Oxycodone (OxyContin, Percodan, Percocet, Tylox, Roxicodone)Oxymorphone (Numorphan)Pentobarbital (Nembutal)Phendimetrazine (Preludin)Secobarbital (Seconal, Tuinal)Sufentanil (Sufenta)

Schedule III (has a potential for abuse less than Schedule I or II, has a currently accepted medical use, may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or addiction)
Amobarbital compoundsAnabolic SteroidsBenzphetamine (Didrex, Inapetyl)Boldenone (Equipoise, Parenabol, Vebonol)Buprenorphine (Buprenex, Temgesic)Hydrocodone 15 mg/du (Tussionex, Tussend, Lortab, Vicodin, Hycodan, Anexsia)
Ketamine (Ketaset, Ketalar)Methyltesosterone (Android, Oreton, Testred, Virilon)Opium 25 mg/du (Paregoric)Phendimetrazine (Plegine, Prelu-2, Bontril, Melfiat, Statobex

Prescription Drugs
1 2 3 4

Schedule IV (has a potential for abuse less than Schedule III, has a currently accepted medical use, may lead to limited physical dependence or addiction)
Alprazolam (Xanax)Chloral Hydrate (Noctec)Chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Libritabs, Limbitrol)Clonazepam (Klonopin, Clonopin)Dextropropoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet, Dolene, Propacet)Diazepam (Valium, Valrelease)Estazolam (ProSom, Domnamid, Eurodin, Nuctalon)Ethchlorvynol (Placidyl)Ethinamate (Valmid, Valamin)Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol, Narcozep, Darkene, Roipnol)Flurazepam (Dalmane)
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Maxindol (Sanorex, Maxanor)Meprobamate (Miltown, Equanil, Deprol, Equagesic, Meprospan)Modanafinil (Provigil)Oxazepam (Serax, Serenid-D)Oxazolam (Serenal, Convertal)Pentazocine (Talwin, Talacen)Quazepam (Doral, Dormalin)Sibutramine (Meridia)Temazepam (Restoril)Triazolam (Halcion)Zaleplon (Sonata)Zolpidem (Ambien, Stilnoct, Ivadal)
I was working out a the gym and a sign posted on the wall it said take control of your life become physically fit. Becoming physically fit is as important as becoming emotionally fit. Taking back the reigns of control from society to self will bring a balance with the world around you.