Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription drug addiction is a growing problem in the United States with admissions to emergency rooms due to overdose on prescription drugs outpacing illegal drugs. Prescription drug addiction is often a result of chronic pain or a prescription after surgery or an accident. The person continues to take the opiate pain medication long after the initial event and builds tolerance. As the demand for more drug continues they often resort to doctor shopping, forging prescriptions, or buying drugs on the black market.
Posted under Celebrity Addiction
Prescription Drug Abuse in Hollywood
Have you ever noticed that everything seems to be more exaggerated and more glamorous when it’s connected to celebrities. Unfortunately, when it comes to prescription drug abuse and addiction, the negative effects on Hollywood’s biggest and brightest are hard to gloss over. As more celebrities are making the headlines because of their use and abuse of some specific types of drugs, even the most successful celebrities are not immune to the allure. Continue Reading
Posted under Celebrity Addiction
Actor Colin Farrell Says Drugs Nearly Destroyed His Life
It’s sharp honesty that may be part of Irish actor Colin Farrell’s ability to hang on to his recovery from prescription painkillers. n 2005, the actor admitted to having an addiction to unnamed prescription pain medications, which he received after injuring his back. He has said in interviews that he managed to perform on the set of the movie he was filming at the time, “Miami Vice,” but did miss days due to the drug abuse. He also claims parts of the work are completely lost in his memory while he was engaged with prescription drug abuse.
Posted under Celebrity Addiction
Actor Jeremy London on Prescription Drug Addiction
Jeremy London, who played Griffin Holbrook on the hit television series “Party of Five” and Chandler Hampton on “7th Heaven,” opened up to PEOPLE magazine about the prescription pill addiction that jeopardized his career and his family.
Posted under Celebrity Addiction
Corey Haim’s Death Linked to Illegal Prescription Drug Ring
Corey Haim’s death is linked to an "illegal and massive prescription-drug ring," California Attorney General Jerry Brown said Friday. Alan Duke of CNN.com reports that Brown’s office is investigating "an unauthorized prescription under the former child star’s name that was found during an ongoing investigation of fraudulent prescription-drug pads ordered from a vendor in San Diego."
Posted under Celebrity Addiction
Corey Haim Spoke About Drug Addiction in 2007
Corey Haim made no secret of his past battles with drug addiction and his multiple stays in rehabilitation centers over the years. Now that the ’80s star has died of an apparent drug overdose at the age of 38, MTV News went back into their archives to an August 2007 interview during which Haim spoke honestly and insightfully about his struggles with substance abuse and the day he finally got clean. "They built rehabs because of me," he said during the interview in MTV’s New York newsroom.
Posted under Prescription Drug Addiction
Jackson’s Doctor Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter
Dr. Conrad Murray, personal physician to Michael Jackson, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the pop star’s death last summer.
Posted under Prescription Drug Addiction
Journalist Writes about Painkiller Addiction in “Pill Head”
Journalist Joshua Lyon, who was once addicted to prescription medications, tells his story and investigates the phenomenon of online pharmacies in his book, Pill Head: The Secret Life of a Painkiller Addict. Featured on NPR, Lyon’s book chronicles his struggles with prescription painkiller addiction.
Posted under Prescription Drug Addiction
Doctor Shopping
By Colin Gilbert
After surviving a severe car accident two years ago, Sharon underwent a series of surgeries to repair broken bones in her arms and torso. To reduce pain during her long recovery process, her doctor prescribed a moderate dose of the opioid painkiller oxycodone.
The medicine helped Sharon tremendously, but after the prescription expired, she noticed the pain returning. Medical tests showed no further need for surgery, and, because of oxycodone’s notoriety for being addictive, her doctor was hesitant to renew her prescription at the same dose. Instead, he wrote her a prescription for a reduced dose, planning on gradually weaning her off. Unfortunately, the pain did not subside. It seemed to Sharon like only the original dose would end her misery.
Posted under Prescription Drug Addiction
Throw Out Those Expired Medications – They Can Kill You
Medications have expiration dates – just like food. And, just like food, when the medication is past the expiration date, it’s not supposed to be used. To do so may prove not only bad for you, it just might kill you.
About Expiration Dates
The expiration date on medication means that it is safe to use (by the person for whom it was prescribed, and then only taken as prescribed) until the expiration date. This assumes, however, that the medicine is stored under the proper conditions of light, temperature and moisture. If it isn’t stored correctly, in direct sunlight, left in the glove compartment of your car, out in the freezing cold, etc., it will likely be ineffective before the expiration date. Continue Reading
Posted under Celebrity Addiction
Pill-Popping Celebs and Their Untimely Deaths
Michael Jackson’s death and rumors of prescription drug addiction remind of us many other celebrities who have become victims of prescription drug overdose.
Actor Heath Ledger, who gained notoriety for his roles in “Brokeback Mountain” and “The Dark Knight,” died at age 28 of an accidental overdose in January 2008. A New York City medical examiner said Ledger died from the abuse of prescription medications, which included six kinds of painkillers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety drugs. Xanax, Valium, and Ambien were found in his apartment.
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Everything you need to know to help a loved one struggling with addiction, from the writers and editors of Everything Addiction.
