Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Write Your Representative
I have added a link to our resources ( http://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml )that will help you to identify your house representative - simply click on the link, enter your information and it will provide contact information. I will continue to collect and post contact information for all levels of government. Please take the time to let them know the impact these and other drugs are having on our world. What is it they say "The squeaky wheel gets the grease" - lets "SQUEAK".
Monday, January 5, 2009
I am so angry - the more I read about Oxycontin and Methadone the more disturbed I get - it is astonishing how many people have died - and our government passes optional laws? controls? I am so sad that Jimmy had to be another statistic - you go to the doctor and trust that they are making the right decisions for you and your health. How many people read every word about every prescription they receive? Jimmy didn't want to have risky surgery because he was aware of the risks, why wasn't he given the same information on the drugs he was being given - from what I have read the risks are much greater. Would his doctors have given his family member the same prescription with the same information? I am betting the answer is "No".
~Never Forget! I love you Jimmy! I promise you we will make a difference - save someones brother, father, son and friend ~ in your name this is our goal....
~Never Forget! I love you Jimmy! I promise you we will make a difference - save someones brother, father, son and friend ~ in your name this is our goal....
Methadone Deaths: The frightening Facts
Article: Methadone Deaths: The Frightening Facts
Deaths caused by methadone, a narcotic drug used to treat chronic pain and drug dependence, have increased significantly over the past 10 years according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, the CDC reports that methadone deaths increased a startling 468% (no, that's not a misprint) from 1999 to 2005 alone. But why?
The facts
Methadone, or Dolophine, has been around for over 50 years. While it is a low cost treatment for those who are attempting to decrease their usage of stronger narcotics such as heroin, it is also commonly used by patients who suffer with chronic pain. However, according to the CDC, many doctors do not realize that methadone stays in the body from between eight to 59 hours after dosing and that has caused death rates from methadone use to increase significantly. Here are some facts from the CDC (www.cdc.gov/):
Methadone poisoning deaths increased 468% from 1995 - 2005. To put this number in context, the CDC reported that poisoning deaths from other drugs only increased an average of 66% over the same time period and said that of all narcotic drugs mentioned in poisoning deaths, methadone had the largest relative increases during that period.
Death rates highest for those between ages 35 and 54. Death rates are highest for this age group than for those who are younger or older. In fact, the CDC stated that the death rate for those 55-64 years of age was nine times greater in 2005 than it was in 1999. <1i>10 states with the highest reported methadone deaths. The following 10 states reported the highest reported methadone related deaths in 2005:
Florida 430
North Carolina 299
Washington 269
California 213
Texas 199
New York 179
Ohio 158
Kentucky 156
Maryland 145
Tennessee 134
Deaths caused by methadone, a narcotic drug used to treat chronic pain and drug dependence, have increased significantly over the past 10 years according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In fact, the CDC reports that methadone deaths increased a startling 468% (no, that's not a misprint) from 1999 to 2005 alone. But why?
The facts
Methadone, or Dolophine, has been around for over 50 years. While it is a low cost treatment for those who are attempting to decrease their usage of stronger narcotics such as heroin, it is also commonly used by patients who suffer with chronic pain. However, according to the CDC, many doctors do not realize that methadone stays in the body from between eight to 59 hours after dosing and that has caused death rates from methadone use to increase significantly. Here are some facts from the CDC (www.cdc.gov/):
Methadone poisoning deaths increased 468% from 1995 - 2005. To put this number in context, the CDC reported that poisoning deaths from other drugs only increased an average of 66% over the same time period and said that of all narcotic drugs mentioned in poisoning deaths, methadone had the largest relative increases during that period.
Death rates highest for those between ages 35 and 54. Death rates are highest for this age group than for those who are younger or older. In fact, the CDC stated that the death rate for those 55-64 years of age was nine times greater in 2005 than it was in 1999. <1i>10 states with the highest reported methadone deaths. The following 10 states reported the highest reported methadone related deaths in 2005:
Florida 430
North Carolina 299
Washington 269
California 213
Texas 199
New York 179
Ohio 158
Kentucky 156
Maryland 145
Tennessee 134
Friday, January 2, 2009
Why is this even being prescribed?
In my research I found the following warning.... I am certain there are other options why prescribe something so dangerous. Since Jimmy's death and my researching of this particular drug I have met many people who have been prescribed Oxycontin - so far not one of them has been helped by it -
WARNING:
OxyContin is an opioid agonist and a Schedule II controlled substance with an abuse liability similar to morphine.
Oxycodone can be abused in a manner similar to other opioid agonists, legal or illicit. This should be considered when prescribing or dispensing OxyContin in situations where the physician or pharmacist is concerned about an increased risk of misuse, abuse, or diversion.
OxyContin Tablets are a controlled-release oral formulation of oxycodone hydrochloride indicated for the management of moderate to severe pain when a continuous, around-the-clock analgesic is needed for an extended period of time.
OxyContin Tablets are NOT intended for use as a prn analgesic.
OxyContin 80 mg and 160 mg Tablets ARE FOR USE IN OPIOID-TOLERANT PATIENTS ONLY. These tablet strengths may cause fatal respiratory depression when administered to patients not previously exposed to opioids.
OxyContin TABLETS ARE TO BE SWALLOWED WHOLE AND ARE NOT TO BE BROKEN, CHEWED, OR CRUSHED. TAKING BROKEN, CHEWED, OR CRUSHED OxyContin TABLETS LEADS TO RAPID RELEASE AND ABSORPTION OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL DOSE OF OXYCODONE.
WARNING:
OxyContin is an opioid agonist and a Schedule II controlled substance with an abuse liability similar to morphine.
Oxycodone can be abused in a manner similar to other opioid agonists, legal or illicit. This should be considered when prescribing or dispensing OxyContin in situations where the physician or pharmacist is concerned about an increased risk of misuse, abuse, or diversion.
OxyContin Tablets are a controlled-release oral formulation of oxycodone hydrochloride indicated for the management of moderate to severe pain when a continuous, around-the-clock analgesic is needed for an extended period of time.
OxyContin Tablets are NOT intended for use as a prn analgesic.
OxyContin 80 mg and 160 mg Tablets ARE FOR USE IN OPIOID-TOLERANT PATIENTS ONLY. These tablet strengths may cause fatal respiratory depression when administered to patients not previously exposed to opioids.
OxyContin TABLETS ARE TO BE SWALLOWED WHOLE AND ARE NOT TO BE BROKEN, CHEWED, OR CRUSHED. TAKING BROKEN, CHEWED, OR CRUSHED OxyContin TABLETS LEADS TO RAPID RELEASE AND ABSORPTION OF A POTENTIALLY FATAL DOSE OF OXYCODONE.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Resource links
Please check out the resource links on the bottom right of the page - the more research I do the more blown away I am at the enormity of it all. The list will continue to grow.
Visitors - if you know of other resources please let us know - knowledge is power.
~Never Forget!
Visitors - if you know of other resources please let us know - knowledge is power.
~Never Forget!
Be Careful
Please be careful when you are looking for information on Oxycontin, Dad opened a site and it downloaded several viruses.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Jimmy's Story
My mom posted this on her blog about my brother - people don't understand how serious these addictions can be - it's not like illegal drugs that you buy from a punk on the street - you legally get a prescription to kill yourself... the word needs to be spread - lives need to be saved. Jimmy was a good guy who got hurt and took medicine to help with the pain - now he's gone ~ Never Forget!
Jimmy's Story
I am sure many are wondering what happened to Jimmy and I feel I need to make sure everyone knows the facts.
Several years ago Jimmy was working at a Guest Ranch in Colorado and injured two vertebrea by lifting a very heavy rock, he was in severe pain so the doctor put him on Oxycontin (this was before we had ever heard of that drug and how terrible and powerful it is). This injury was really bad. Later Jimmy would be told he needed a risky surgery but refused because of the chance something might go wrong. Jimmy needed the medicine for his pain and eventually his body just needed the drug. He tried several times to go off the drug but just couldn't, the withdrawal symptoms were so bad. Sometime not long ago (I'm not sure when but within the last year) a doctor put him on Methadone to help him get off the Oxycontin. This past October, out of the blue Jimmy came to Rexburg for a visit, he was really sick the whole time he was here (I thought he had the flu) but after he left Glenn said Jimmy told him he was going cold turkey off the Methadone. Jimmy felt this drug was as bad or worse than the Oxycontin. He had to go back to Seattle (being away from his son was hard) so he went back. Thanksgiving he came to Utah and came home with us again. He was still trying not to take the Methadone and still had terrible symptoms (couldn't sleep, terrible anxiety and stomach problems) but seemed to get a little better. He wanted to go back to Seattle to have an early Christmas with Jayden and then come back to Rexburg. Something went terribly wrong, we would call to see when he was coming back and he just kept saying tomorrow. The last day, he didn't even sound like himself. Glenn tried to get a flight out on Saturday and couldn't, then they found him dead Sunday morning. We thought at first he had taken his own life but after the investigation they (the police) think (Cindi and Michael agree) his symptoms were still bothering him which made his depression worsen. He tried over the counter drugs but they did not help. He still had some Methadone which he took but after being off it for so long the dose was just too strong and his body had a violent reaction and he died in his sleep.
I believe that Jimmy never got a drug that he didn't have a legal prescription for. It really saddens me that doctors hand out powerful medicines just for the asking. We all feel we made some terrible mistakes, we should have encouraged Jimmy to work with a doctor and not go off the drug cold turkey, he should have never gone back to Seattle alone (he needed constant moral support to handle the withdrawal symptoms) and we should have gone immediately when we saw things starting to go wrong. We will forever wish we could go back and do thing differently. We do know Jimmy knew we loved him very much and we are so very grateful for the last few weeks we had with him.
Jimmy's Story
I am sure many are wondering what happened to Jimmy and I feel I need to make sure everyone knows the facts.
Several years ago Jimmy was working at a Guest Ranch in Colorado and injured two vertebrea by lifting a very heavy rock, he was in severe pain so the doctor put him on Oxycontin (this was before we had ever heard of that drug and how terrible and powerful it is). This injury was really bad. Later Jimmy would be told he needed a risky surgery but refused because of the chance something might go wrong. Jimmy needed the medicine for his pain and eventually his body just needed the drug. He tried several times to go off the drug but just couldn't, the withdrawal symptoms were so bad. Sometime not long ago (I'm not sure when but within the last year) a doctor put him on Methadone to help him get off the Oxycontin. This past October, out of the blue Jimmy came to Rexburg for a visit, he was really sick the whole time he was here (I thought he had the flu) but after he left Glenn said Jimmy told him he was going cold turkey off the Methadone. Jimmy felt this drug was as bad or worse than the Oxycontin. He had to go back to Seattle (being away from his son was hard) so he went back. Thanksgiving he came to Utah and came home with us again. He was still trying not to take the Methadone and still had terrible symptoms (couldn't sleep, terrible anxiety and stomach problems) but seemed to get a little better. He wanted to go back to Seattle to have an early Christmas with Jayden and then come back to Rexburg. Something went terribly wrong, we would call to see when he was coming back and he just kept saying tomorrow. The last day, he didn't even sound like himself. Glenn tried to get a flight out on Saturday and couldn't, then they found him dead Sunday morning. We thought at first he had taken his own life but after the investigation they (the police) think (Cindi and Michael agree) his symptoms were still bothering him which made his depression worsen. He tried over the counter drugs but they did not help. He still had some Methadone which he took but after being off it for so long the dose was just too strong and his body had a violent reaction and he died in his sleep.
I believe that Jimmy never got a drug that he didn't have a legal prescription for. It really saddens me that doctors hand out powerful medicines just for the asking. We all feel we made some terrible mistakes, we should have encouraged Jimmy to work with a doctor and not go off the drug cold turkey, he should have never gone back to Seattle alone (he needed constant moral support to handle the withdrawal symptoms) and we should have gone immediately when we saw things starting to go wrong. We will forever wish we could go back and do thing differently. We do know Jimmy knew we loved him very much and we are so very grateful for the last few weeks we had with him.
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