Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

I have seen the tragedy of prescription drug abuse

John F. Dombrowski, MD
Meds
September 29, 2012
Share
Tweet
Share

A guest column by the American Society of Anesthesiologists, exclusive to KevinMD.com.

To say prescription drug abuse is one of the biggest drug problems in the United States today is clearly an understatement. The Partnership at Drug-Free America cites every day more than 2,000 kids use a prescription drug to get high for the first time. While it’s true a variety of prescribed medications are abused, most overdoses from prescription drugs are caused by opioids, a type of pain reliever. The majority of people who misuse opioids were not prescribed the medication, but obtained it from someone else.

Be smart

As an anesthesiologist and pain specialist, I treat patients suffering from pain nearly every day. Prior to prescribing necessary and appropriate prescription drugs, I make it my first priority to educate my patients on the dangers of abusing prescription and over-the-counter medication. Educating parents and patients can be a first step in helping to prevent prescription drug abuse. We can all play a critical role in putting an end to this deadly epidemic.

I strongly encourage parents to have an open dialogue with their children about the dangers of abusing prescription and over-the-counter medicine.

In addition, adults must be responsible for properly and safely storing and disposing of any unused or expired medication. Follow instructions about disposal on the medication label. Also, look for take-back programs, where you can lawfully dispose of your medications. If there are no instructions on the label about disposal or drug take-back programs in your community, you can mix the medication with an undesirable substance, like kitty litter or coffee grounds, and throw them out in the trash.

Recognize the signs

While our primary goal is prevention, parents and patients should also be familiar with the signs and symptoms of overdose. These include:

  • Slow, shallow, erratic, or stopped breathing
  • Choking sounds, or a snore-like gurgling noise
  • Fingernails and lips have turned blue or purplish black in color, or skin is clammy
  • The person is awake but unable to talk, or has lost consciousness

If any of the above signs or symptoms are present, please dial *911 immediately.

Take action

I have seen firsthand the tragedy of prescription drug abuse. When prescribing pain medicine, I urge physicians to take the time to speak with patients and their parents or loved ones about the risks of misusing drugs, as well as the signs and symptoms of overdose.  It is vital that patients and parents lead by example.

Each of us must do our part to help put medicine abuse to rest. It starts with education.

For more information on pain medicine, please visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ patient website, Lifeline to Modern Medicine.

John F. Dombrowski is on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists. 

Prev

Help your doctor better help you

September 29, 2012 Kevin 9
…
Next

Break the cycle of intimate partner violence

September 29, 2012 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Medications, Primary Care

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Help your doctor better help you
Next Post >
Break the cycle of intimate partner violence

ADVERTISEMENT

More by John F. Dombrowski, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    ASA: Patients demand physicians provide anesthesia care

    John F. Dombrowski, MD

More in Meds

  • How drugmakers manipulate your health from diagnosis to prescription

    Martha Rosenberg
  • The food-drug interaction risks your doctor may be missing

    Frank Jumbe
  • Why retail pharmacies are the future of diverse clinical trials

    Shelli Pavone
  • Why does rifaximin cost 95 percent more in the U.S. than in Asia?

    Jai Kumar, MD, Brian Nohomovich, DO, PhD and Leonid Shamban, DO
  • A world without antidepressants: What could possibly go wrong?

    Tomi Mitchell, MD
  • The truth about GLP-1 medications for weight loss: What every patient should know

    Nisha Kuruvadi, DO
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

      Rajeev Dutta | Education
    • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • Why compassion—not credentials—defines great doctors

      Dr. Saad S. Alshohaib | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 2 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • A physician’s reflection on love, loss, and finding meaning in grief [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How fragmented records and poor tracking degrade patient outcomes

      Michael R. McGuire | Policy
    • How New Mexico became a malpractice lawsuit hotspot

      Patrick Hudson, MD | Physician
    • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

      Rajeev Dutta | Education
    • Understanding depression beyond biology: the power of therapy and meaning

      Maire Daugharty, MD | Conditions
    • Why compassion—not credentials—defines great doctors

      Dr. Saad S. Alshohaib | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

I have seen the tragedy of prescription drug abuse
2 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...