I spent the morning writing my column for Sunday. This was a tough one. A recent Washington Post article gave statistics on opioids. It was eye-opening for some.
The numbers were dated, but from 2006 to 2012, pharmacies in the county where I live distributed the equivalent of 140 pills for per person in the county. Most of these pills filtered through a handful of pharmacies.
During that time, it was not uncommon to read the obits in the daily paper that someone died in their residence. Had the person that died been elderly that would be understandable, but when they are 22 years old, that's a different story. It's almost always a code phrase for accidental overdose. I don't know how many people died as a result of opioid addiction.
My column was about my baby brother. He died of liver failure, but his decline started when he hurt his back when he slipped on an icy sidewalk.
Needless to say, the column while I'll post next Monday evening is not a happy one, but it's something I needed to say.
On a happier note, I saw another harbinger of autumn on our morning walk.
The numbers were dated, but from 2006 to 2012, pharmacies in the county where I live distributed the equivalent of 140 pills for per person in the county. Most of these pills filtered through a handful of pharmacies.
During that time, it was not uncommon to read the obits in the daily paper that someone died in their residence. Had the person that died been elderly that would be understandable, but when they are 22 years old, that's a different story. It's almost always a code phrase for accidental overdose. I don't know how many people died as a result of opioid addiction.
My column was about my baby brother. He died of liver failure, but his decline started when he hurt his back when he slipped on an icy sidewalk.
Needless to say, the column while I'll post next Monday evening is not a happy one, but it's something I needed to say.
On a happier note, I saw another harbinger of autumn on our morning walk.
Chronic pain is a beast. And the treatment for it frequently outsucks Dyson. I am so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteMy mother fell into their trap. She had a bad knee and doctors kept handing her prescription after prescription and in her mind, if a doctor ordered it, it had to be ok. We had to lock horns over them more than once. I pity anyone who gets put on them for long. They are a hard addiction to break because they mess with the pain receptors and when an addict says they are in pain and need them, they're not lying. But it's the opioid causing the pain.
ReplyDeleteHugs.
This cannot be discussed and told enough, the opioid, a modern day legal curse.
ReplyDeleteAmazing, the crutch has been around for years, but has become a curse.
Sherry & jack (nearly every family is touched by it.)
They need to start arresting doctors that get people hooked on these things. I had 4 wisdom teeth pulled at once. I refused a prescription and Tylenol worked fine. Opioid addictions are terrible here in my town.
ReplyDeleteLisa.
Please accept my condolences about your brother. The drug epidemic is growing yet some people want to legalize drugs. Think, people!
ReplyDeleteThis is a real problem...look at Robert Kennedy’s granddaughter who overdosed and I think it is from opiates.
ReplyDelete