Whitney Houston's death is forcing the topic of Benzo's into the spotlight.

[[Le...]]

 

Whitney Houston's death is bringing Benzo and it's drug pushing doctors into the spotlight.  I am glad because before I took my first Ativan- I had no idea what a benzodiazapine was!  Sure I had heard of valiums and sleeping pills but I had never heard of "Benzos".  When my doctor tried to prescribe me valium I looked at her like she was insane but when she gave me Ativan I did not blink because I had never heard of anyone becoming addicted to it or overdosing on it.  I'm glad now that it is being exposed. I almost died on this drug and I never drank with it nor did I take more than prescribed.  I know Ms. Houston was a drug addict and it was her responsibility to stay sober but it doesn't help when doctors are giving it to you as part of your treatment to get better.  I should note at this point they don't know the official cause of death but she had 3 bottles of prescribed benzos in her room.

 

[[La...]]

I have said on more than one post there but for the grace of God go I , I was taking two benzos and drinking heavily, omg there are many ordinary people dying of this everyday, more people die of benzos and alcohol than the harder drugs, look how many older rockers took cocaine, heroin and have stayed alive, this is the new death drug, all the stars that have died in the last 10yrs died from benzos not crack. they have so many Drs willing to be in the stars enterage that they wont say no, it needs to be stopped, maybe just maybe these deaths will help in some way. My own Dr never questioned my use of two benzos, just kept filling the rx, it is utimateley our own responsibility for our own lives though and by being here we are taking the responsibility Ladygrace

[[ha...]]

I am with you Ladygrace12. I believe I am responsible for my actions, but I still think we are right if we think that our actions and decisions - but one of my decisions was to trust my doctor was going to help me and the benzo was going to help me.

I saw one interview tonight on the news. The person being interviewed was an addict - self-proclaimed drug seeker and he was very good at explaining how he got the drugs. I don't know any one here who "wants more benzos", especially right here when we are all going through withdrawal. But he was good at bringing out the ability to get drugs. Prescription drugs in the spotlight is really good. I can't agree more.

And it is just scary thinking about the drinking and benzos I was doing. Weird - I really don't feel like drinking at all, now. I wonder if that was a bizarre affect of the benzos on me - desire for alcohol...wow.

[[pi...]]

While on one hand I am deeply sorry that the world had to lose another person due to drugs, I also am very glad that it is forefront in the news.  The problem is that in our world today, the attention span is that of some of my 4 and 5 year old students. Soon this will be old news and people will return to their day to day existence and no one will talk about the awful effects of these drugs again until there is another death. There has to be a way to keep this topic alive and get the medical field to finally admit that there is a problem with these medications. We are the face of iatrogenic drug dependency, why won't anyone listen?

 

pianogirl 

[[ha...]]

There is some news here in Canada about oxycontin: not a benzo, but at least another iatrogenic drug.

 

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2012/02/17/ottawa-oxycontin-change-addiction.html

 

Basically: they are changing the way oxycontin is made, so it is hard to break up and abuse.

Also, doctors are going to have to jump through some hoops to prescribe it.

Also, they are worried about how to deal with all the people coming off it!!!! But still a sense that it is the person who is taking the drug who is at fault. As my world spins slightly today, in a physical, w/d sense, I am glad they are dealing with it, but wondering, like Pianogirl, when they will ever get it.

 

[[La...]]

Yes, I was reading about the change coming for the oxy drugs here in canada and to my dismay I read that over 60% of the population on one native reserve was addicted to this drug, some as young as 10, omg, can you imagine how this is going to affect so many people, but like you are said they are changing the composition of it somehow to make it hard to crush and inject or snort, but hard core addicts will find a way or just change their drug and on it goes. is there  any answer, its all so horrible these drugs. My own D,r who of course knew I took two beznos , last year wanted to write an Rx for me for oxycodone for some debilitating pain and I refused, thank god I was able to do that or I would now be in withdrawal from that too!!!!! what the hell is wrong with Drs trying to push these addicting drugs on us ? I didnt ask for it, he was offering it, are they just to busy to connect the dots or even think it through, oh pain, well lets just medicate without looking at the whole picture, I get soooooo angry at it all.  Ladygrace

[[ha...]]

Hi Ladygrace,

Yes, I read about the kids on reserves, too. Our culture continues to do them a disservice - it was one of the nurses who works in the north who was talking about the w/d. If they really can't get those drugs, does it mean that they will be going back to glue sniffing - it is all horrifying. The number of people addictive is amazing. I was talking about this with my sister who is a pharmacy tech and she said the same thing that you just did - there are other drugs.

How many people will die in all this mess. I think many of us are lucky to be here. I was never abusing this drug, but I was drinking alcohol while on it, so I wonder if I was ever in a position where I was close to not waking up.

Unbelievable that a dr would have you on more than one benzo - as I was when I was starting tolerance w/d on clonozepam. And then to suggest oxycontin on top - can't agree with you more - shear laziness or they really have nothing more to offer you for pain - pain is really hard to manage, isn't it. You were so smart not to take it. One drug to come off is enough, thanks.

[[Le...]]

Does anyone know if doctors make a commission off of the drugs they prescribe?  And why do drug companies have to list the possible side-effects of consuming a drug but not the definite side-effects of withdrawing?  I mean really think about it.  If benzo's are not suppose to be prescribed for longer than a couple of weeks or months isn't it inevitable that you will have to at some point go through withdrawal.  Should not they have to mention that on the pill bottle?  And everyone is always talking about suing the doctor what about the pharmaceutical industry itself-those are the  source.