Drugs, Doctors and Death: Heath Ledger Becomes Another Victim
Posted on: Friday, 22 February 2008, 21:00 CST
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla., Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Throughout the past decade, Florida Detox(TM) has successfully treated over 5,000 addicted patients. Interestingly, Florida Detox(TM) has seen an exorbitant increase in the ratio of patients using prescription medications, compared to patients using illicit street drugs. Ten years ago, 50% of our patients were addicted to prescription pain medications. In 2007, 95% of our patients were treated for prescription medication addiction. The recent surge of deaths derived from doctor prescribed medication has far surpassed the overdose prevalence related to illicit street drugs. This alarming trend has recently come to light secondary to the tragic death of Hollywood celebrity Heath Ledger.
This Hollywood actor allegedly overdosed from a combination of physician prescribed opiate pain medication, such as Oxycontin(R), Vicodin(R), or Percocet(R) and a benzodiazepine (Xanax(R), Klonopin(R), Valium(R)) class of anti-anxiety medication. The combination of these two classes of medication can produce a synergistic effect causing respiratory depression and overdose death.
Ironically, the majority of adult patients treated for addiction at Florida Detox(TM) have been prescribed both classes of drugs by their doctor. Many of these patients state that their "pain doctor" simply asks them what opiate or benzo they want, spending less than five minutes with them, during their visit. These patients become dysfunctional at work and home secondary to decreased cognitive ability. Many experience short-term memory problems and frequently forget how much medication they have taken. This phenomenon can precipitate accidental overdose, as in the case of Heath Ledger. Unfortunately, many physicians fail to closely monitor the patient's declining mental function.
Our clinical research demonstrates that patients who "feel more normal" on the combination of these sedating medications typically suffer from an underlying anxiety disorder. These anxiety disorders are usually biochemical in nature and can be effectively treated with non-addictive medication, if properly diagnosed.
Men like Heath Ledger, who suffer anxiety and insomnia disorders, frequently have genetic deficiencies of serotonin or excess production of dopamine, glutamate, phenylethylamine or histamine. The increased prevalence of depression, anxiety, and insomnia disorders in America is multi-factorial and correlates directly to the exponential growth of pill popping patients. Both patients and physicians are responsible for creating America's addiction epidemic.
Florida Detox
CONTACT: Rick Sponaugle, MD, Medical Director, Florida Detox, BoardCertified in Addiction Medicine, +1-727-945-9198
Web site: http://www.floridadetox.com/
Source: PRNewswire
Related Articles
- Medical Food Reduces Medical Costs and Use of Anticonvulsant Medication When Treating Diabetic Neuropathy, According to HealthCore Study Presented at ISPOR
- Consumer Watchdog Calls on Google to Cease Lobbying Effort to Allow Sale of Patient Medical Records; Urges Congress to Adopt Privacy Protections in Economic Stimulus Bill
- Standard Register Aligns With SureScripts-RxHub to Provide Clinical Solutions for Better Managing Patient Medications
- Brain Cancer Patients at Two Leading Hospitals Treated Using Fast and Efficient RapidArc Radiotherapy Technology From Varian Medical Systems
- Valley Forge Medical Center and Hospital to Become the First Addiction-Free Pain Management Center of Excellence on the East Coast; Will Host Three Day Professional Training Seminar.
- Goodall Hospital Connects Community Physicians Electronically to Successfully Obtain Patient Medication History for Medication Reconciliation Using RcopiaAC By DrFirst
- Data Suggest Cymbalta(R) Improved Functioning in Patients With Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Resistance to the Use of Prescription Drugs to Treat Addiction Disorders is a Significant Barrier to Market Growth
- New Analysis Shows Patients Who Treat Their Migraine Pain Early With Trexima(TM) (Sumatriptan Succinate/Naproxen Sodium) Have Higher Sustained Pain-Free Rates Than Those Who Treat Late
- Negative News Drives Patients With Chronic Headaches to Reduce or Eliminate Pain Medications
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds