PRESCRIPTION-DRUG ABUSE EPIDEMIC

The sun is starting to set on people addicted to prescription drugs. Fred
Shulte's article on painkillers was informative and alarming, but just
scratched the surface on what has become a full-blown epidemic.

The common solution to a problem of either physical or mental discomfort is
to prescribe a pill. But one is not enough, and thus starts the cycle that
separates the people in need from the abusers.

Unfortunately, this has become a problem for young and old alike, and
recreational use of painkillers is becoming the No. 1 drug problem of the
day, especially with the younger set.

Until the medical field comes up with safer alternative treatments or
starts to vigorously monitor persons taking these pills, the problem won't
be going away anytime soon.

I also believe that advertising is to be held responsible. What else can
you expect when on TV you can see ads for everything from Prozac to Botox,
all claiming that you need them to feel better and live a normal life?

I have personally known many young people involved in either taking or
selling prescription painkillers and they are able to obtain them with
ease. They start with one or two, then three or four, and so on and they
don't even realize they have a problem. For them it's no big deal. Just
something to take the edge off.

There are no quick fixes in life. A pill won't solve your problems. Drug
companies are just concerned with profit; the human factor does not even
register.

Until all parties involved acknowledge that there is a problem, painkillers
will continue being abused.

Alex Putnik, Boca Raton