I’ve been hearing about a program designed to help doctors learn more about addiction—and I am so very glad and relieved to know that this is finally happening. As both an Addictions Therapist and someone with 25 years clean from prescription drug abuse, I am quite aware of the damage that is caused by physicians writing script after script for addictive narcotic medications such as Percoset and Oxycontin, as well as for benzodiazepines like Valium and Ativan. MY STORY I myself became … [Read more...] about Doctors and Addiction: How Much Does YOUR Physician Really Know?
Archives for 2012
Carole James’ Private Struggle: The Loved One of an Addict Shares Her Story
THE STORY I was recently interviewed on NEWS 1130 radio here in Vancouver about the very touching story that has surfaced regarding Carole James and her son’s addiction. When I initially became aware of this, my first thought was about the harrowing ordeal this family has gone through—with virtually nowhere to turn for help. Ms. James’ son Evan—now 28, clean, and sober—first began using drugs and alcohol when he was 16. At this time, Ms. James was in the process of getting her professional … [Read more...] about Carole James’ Private Struggle: The Loved One of an Addict Shares Her Story
Terror in Colorado: The Dark Knight of No-Soul
I must admit—I am stymied. How could such a thing happen? How could somebody be so completely insane to have committed such a treacherous, deliberate, premeditated, totally horrendous act against innocent people? And what does this mean for our world as we’ve known it? First we have those two terrible, very recent shooting sprees in Toronto—one in the mall and the other at a community barbeque—and now this inexplicably crazy act in Colorado. It’s mind-boggling. As a very experienced … [Read more...] about Terror in Colorado: The Dark Knight of No-Soul
Sir Elton: A Man of Courageous Moxie
This morning I listened to Elton John’s interview with Matt Lauer on the Today Show. This amazingly brave man spoke candidly about how he “squandered” (his word) many years of his life by giving in to his enormous appetite for alcohol, drugs, and food. He also openly discussed the great shame he carried around for a very long time, after watching many of his friends die all around him—from addiction as well as from AIDS—while he spent his time running away from his feelings by using a variety of … [Read more...] about Sir Elton: A Man of Courageous Moxie
Prescription Addiction–in BABIES??
Lately, we have been seeing articles and videos in the news about the astounding increase of babies who are born addicted to prescription drugs. In each of them, there seems to be this underlying question: “How can this be happening?” In my mind, however, the answer is simple—it’s happening because doctors are continuing to prescribe very addictive medications as if they were candy. And more and more, unfortunately, their patients appear to be pregnant women. That was then… In 1973, I was … [Read more...] about Prescription Addiction–in BABIES??
