Prescription drug abuse and addiction is prevalent in Hollywood. Heath Ledger’s death, Anna Nicole Smith and her son’s deaths and now Brittany Murphy and her husband’s deaths. Prescription drugs, when abused, are highly addictive and can be fatal.
Anna Nicole Smith’s 2007 death was due to an overdose concoction involving nine various prescription pills. Earlier this month the Los Angeles prosecutor’s office filed conspiracy charges against Anna Nicole Smith’s doctor, Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, for knowingly prescribing drugs to an addict.
Addiction is not just prevalent in Hollywood, but is on the rise among the rest of the nation, as well. Drugs are readily prescribed at most any visit to the doctor, leading to dependency. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse:
In 2008, 15.2 million Americans age 12 and older had taken a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant, or sedative for nonmedical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: National Survey on Drug Use and Health (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Web Site). The NIDA-funded 2008 Monitoring the Future Study showed that 2.9% of 8th graders, 6.7% of 10th graders, and 9.7% of 12th graders had abused Vicodin and 2.1% of 8th graders, 3.6% of 10th graders, and 4.7% of 12th graders had abused OxyContin for nonmedical purposes at least once in the year prior to being surveyed. Source: Monitoring the Future (University of Michigan Web Site)
Prescription drugs should be taken for medically necessary purposes only. Consult a physician if you may have developed a dependency. Do not operate machinery or a motorized vehicle when under the influence.
See Prescription “Drug Driving” Fatally Impairs.
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