Pubdate: Sun, 11 Aug 2002
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
Copyright: 2002 Asheville Citizen-Times
Contact:  http://www.citizen-times.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863
Author: Don Boone

PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROBLEMS FAR EXCEED THE ILLEGAL ONES

Our country does have problems with illegal drugs, and our attempts to fix 
the problems have been totally unsuccessful. These problems, however, pale 
in the face of the much greater prescription drug fiasco which is only 
separated by different cartels, pushers and a more accepting society. The 
consumers are the same and vulnerable for the same reasons.

It is obvious that our legislative groups are relatively impotent in 
dealing with either the prescription or the illegal drug problems and for 
essentially the same reasons. All are afraid to confront the issues. We use 
the war on illegal drugs to support the addicted and protect sick political 
countries. We attempt to relate to prescription drug overuse without proper 
controls for the drug companies, the over-prescribing physicians or the 
drug dependent patients.

The United States is a very drug-dependent country and the situation will 
not likely change until it is illegal to be dependent upon an illegal drug. 
Drug manufacturers are unable to advertise prescription drugs directly to 
the public and physicians have a very strict review board for the use of 
prescription medications. I have little faith that our governing bodies 
will do more than posture on these issues.

Don Boone,

Asheville
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom