This is a guest post by Patricia Rosen.
Our children are dying. Lives are left shattered. Doctors continue to write prescriptions for drugs like Oxycontin, which is the same as heroin.
Deaths from prescription drug overdose have been called the ” silent epidemic” for years.
Now with one American dying every 17 minutes from an accidental prescription overdose, it is being described as ” the biggest man-made epidemic in the United States. More people are dying from drug overdoses than from any other cause of injury death, including traffic accidents, falls, or guns.
Did you know that the manufacture of Oxycontin (Purdue Pharma) generated $3.1 BILLION in revenue in 2010? Yes, BILLION. Scary, isn’t it?
My son Steven was one of these statistics. He grew up in a loving home with two brothers, parents that loved him, and more love than anyone could ask for. He was well-behaved and extremely respectful.
He was the “go-to” person that all his friends liked to confide in and ask for advice. He played little league, soccer, went to overnight camp, and travel camp, had cars, and went to the college of his choice. He excelled in school and graduated with honors with a degree in Psychology.
He was getting ready to begin his Master’s Program and started working part-time for a state-funded program, ironically assessing people with addiction problems when his life changed-FOREVER
My son made a life-changing decision when he took an Oxycontin. I am sure, had he known the devastating effects this drug would have on him, he would never have tried it. The fact that it came from a doctor, and was prescribed, in his mind made it ok.
From that time on, his life seemed to go round and round like a merry-go-round. He would sign up for school and then drop his classes. He eventually quit his job, found another job, was fired, enrolled in college again, withdrew, and finally realized he needed to come home and do something about his addiction.
He eventually went for help (twice) and had seven months clean when he relapsed and overdosed.
I lost an angel.
Life goes on, but part of me died with him. Life will never be what it once was.
I know the pain and anguish of having a child with addiction problems. I also know the shame and secrecy people feel, for I too was one of them. That is the reason I started The Sober World.
The Sober World is a resource guide for parents, families, and addicts themselves. This is a magazine that you can look at in the privacy of your own home, read articles from some of the leading experts in the country, and find anything from Detox Centers, Interventionists, Treatment Centers, Court Liaisons, Sober living, and more.
The most important message I am trying to spread is for people to realize, they are not alone, it is affecting almost every family in America today, and it is nothing you did or didn’t do and you are NOT TO BLAME!!
You have nothing to be ashamed of. I know how overwhelming it is when you find out your loved one is using drugs. You have no idea where to turn, and going on the Internet can be the most overwhelming experience because there are thousands of treatment centers.
You are afraid to speak to someone because, in your mind, you think, “it’s only happening to you, and everyone else’s children are perfect” The fact is, today everyone knows someone that has an issue with substance abuse. This concept of an addict in the alley with a needle hanging out of his arm is ridiculous.
An addict today can be your typical high school student, college student, and the person behind the Mcdonald’s counter, your own doctor, lawyer, plumber, or electrician. Addiction knows no boundaries. Rich, poor, old, young, it makes no difference.
We must “shatter” the stigma (there are many groups focused strictly on this cause, and one is called Shatter the Stigma) Addiction is a disease, and like all diseases, you look for the proper care.
Has prescription drug abuse affected you? How can we change this epidemic? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
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Thank you for reaching out. Yes, you are very lucky to not have been touched by addiction . It is a terrible feeling to have to witness someone ruining their life and having to stand by helpless.
Educating people about addiction and the potential danger of taking certain pharmaceutical drugs is very important.
I commend you for being pro-active. I think by educating yourself to the epidemic at hand and learning about addiction and it’s signs are extremely important when you have children. Hopefully, you will never need the information but it never hurts to be prepared.
I am glad you were able to see the problem and were able to help yourself. The few days of being uncomfortable going through detox is certainly worth having a full life of happiness in front of you. For anyone out there that has tried detoxing themselves, and really can’t endure it, I have medical detox facilities in my magazine that can help make the process very comfortable.
I agree with you and that is a very big part of the problem today- doctors prescribing addictive medications.It needs to stop!
Thanks for stopping by Ricki. I understand your concerns and why you would be worried about your daughter. Substance use can be so challenging. One of the strategies that I have found to be the most powerful is positive reinforcement, so noticing what your daughter is doing well and allowing for negative consequences. Letting the world be her teacher can be really helpful, which sounds like you may have been doing some of that already.
While it is hard to be positive, that can help the most. If you can compliment her in a sincere way whenever possible, that helps support what she is doing well. Do take care of yourself along the way. Finally don’t give up hope. Your daughter can recover and live a meaningful life.