PRESCRIPTION PILLS, NOT MARIJUANA, ARE THE REAL THREAT

Regarding the Sept. 7 article, "Underground relief": As a health care
provider, I see many patients with chronic pain who are taking
dangerously high doses of legally prescribed narcotics. Many patients
accidentally overdose and die. People build up tolerances to narcotics
very quickly and then there is no end in sight to keep them
comfortable. Did you know that the number one choice of drugs of abuse
among teens are prescription pills?

Some patients, including the elderly, admit that they have smoked
marijuana for their pain, depression, or insomnia, and it has helped,
but they are too afraid to buy it illegally. These are decent,
law-abiding citizens trying to get some relief. I think that the case
has already been made as to the benefits of medical marijuana, but
what is the point if people still cannot get it? I'm sorry that I
missed the Monday meeting but I was busy at the office prescribing
lethal doses of narcotics.

Holly Purcell-Callin, CNP

Santa Fe