PREVENTING PRESCRIPTION ABUSE STARTS WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

I read with interest The Post's Feb. 8 front-page article "The Xanax Zone,"
which details the abuse of Xanax in combination with other drugs and
alcohol by young people. I am concerned that benzodiazepines, such as
Xanax, Valium and others, commonly are prescribed to adult and elderly
people who continue to consume alcohol as part of their lifestyle and are
unaware of the dangers of this potentially lethal combination.

Though the article does note that "mixing alcohol with Xanax can be deadly"
and that a single Xanax in combination with alcohol has been documented to
kill, I have encountered many consumers in my home health practice who
assume that such consequences only occur with "abuse" and not when "taken
as prescribed."

Despite the many brain-disabling or toxic effects of benzodiazepines in
general, they are prescribed frequently, and therefore, I believe it is
irresponsible for consumers not to be made aware of the "synergistic
effect" that occurs when alcohol and benzodiazepines are combined. Because
alcohol is metabolized first and at a fixed rate, the benzodiazepines
continue to circulate steadily, increasing the effect. If a person already
has an impaired liver or a cirrhotic liver, the alcohol is metabolized much
more slowly, intensifying the effect of the benzodiazepine and increasing
the risk of death.

Health professionals need to do a better job with patient education. As
consumers, we need to ask questions about side effects and precautionary
measures, read labels and do any additional research to ensure safe use of
medications.

If we are really serious about saving lives, we need to fight the drug war
in the homes, medical centers and offices of physicians and psychiatrists
- -- not just on the streets or in the schools.

MARCIA BARBACKI,
West Palm Beach

Editor's note: Marcia Barbacki is a registered occupational therapist