PROMOTING 'GOOD' DRUGS IN SHADOW OF THE BAD

My Thoughts On Things...

I don't know how our society expects to control drugs and substance
abuse, when anti-narcotic ads are running almost side-by-side with
prescription drug promotions.

In one ear people can hear about how marijuana, crystal meth, cocaine
and ecstacy will ruin their lives, while in the other ear they hear
about how sleeping pills, erectile dysfunction meds and the vast
pharmaceutical catalog of legal drugs can help make their lives better.

When the government can't properly educate and explain to the public
the similarities between the two, what right does society have to
condemn the 'illegal' drugs in society?

We've all been told about the drugs that do good for us and our
families, but rarely do we hear about how damaging, addictive and
deadly prescription drugs can be... the focus is always on the 'bad' drugs.

Growing up I saw friends grind up and snort anything from sugar to
ground up Tylenol, Codeine, Ritalin, along with over-the-counter
drugs. As adults, some of them have grown up, while others still cram
stuff up their nostrils.

What are they looking for you may ask? A solution or a 'cure' and a
key to what ails them, be it depression, family life, the need to fit
in or whatever.

When drug ads appear on television, they portray how their product
can improve life, so many take that route instead of dealing with
life head-on. It's impossible not to be exposed or addicted to
something in life, be it caffeine, sugar, fatty foods to illegal
drugs... the question is how you choose to deal with each scenario.

My grandmother fought with prescription drug addiction during the
1960s and 70s and shortly before her death, my mother dumped enough
unmarked pills out of her purse and down the drain, they could have
filled a candy dish. She lived in a generation when substance abuse
was relatively new, counselling was unavailable and addiction was hush-hush.

Although I have my share of addictions and vices, I look at her
struggle as an example I can live my life on. I grew up on
antibiotics and pain killers and as of my teens, swore them off
completely because of complications.

I feel stronger, seemingly am less sick and fight off illness faster
without my body having to process foreign materials. I'd much rather
give my body the chance at fighting off infection first, before
trying medications.

For many people, it seems the placebo effect or 'because I'm taking
something I therefore feel better' mentality often trumps common
sense. Some take comfort in a stocked up medicine cabinet, but I don't.

A good example is sleeping pills, for which I recently saw a
ridiculous advertisement.

It boasted that the pill could give you seven to eight hours of
'undisturbed' sleep. I understand there are sleep disorders, but come
on... for the people who deal with them how about they go for a long
walk, stay up late or do something else to bring them to
physical/mental exhaustion first. Pills are a cop-out.

Our ancestors lived life without many of these types of aides, so why
do we have to baby ourselves instead of fighting through these minor
issues? Some arguments could be convenience or 'because we can', but
all-in-all they're the one's dealing with the side effects.

Drug companies don't suggest alternatives to resolve the consumer's
sleeping problem... their solution is their drug. It's media
manipulation for profit and these companies would be disgusted if
they realized how their careers can have a negative impact.

For all the good medications that heal/help people, the symptomatic
relief and other unnecessary meds hurt many other people at the same time.

I imagine they'd argue that it's up people to make their own
choices... but even with all the push for 'media literacy', many
people based a large amount of their decisions on what goes on in the
media, in terms of reports, news stories, advertising, etc.

It's a slimy way to go about it, but they're not doing anything
illegal... just immoral.

Immorality is based on society's opinion, so until the majority can
fully understand both sides of the illegal/prescription drug issue,
addictions will be ever-present.

Until then pharmaceutical companies will continue to take advantage
of consumer weakness, while promoting the 'good' drugs in the shadow
of the 'bad'.