IN YOUR DAILY DOSE: you’ll discover the epidemic of opioid addiction in the U.S. is not fueled by street drugs, but rather prescription painkillers.

MAKING CHANGES: Pain control is most appropriately addressed by discovering the cause and treating it - instead of treating the symptoms. There are more natural ways of reducing chronic pain and discomfort that don’t lead to addiction.

FACT OR FICTION: You might think that all mammals can jump, but this one can’t. It purrs like a cat and lives 70 years.  Do you know what it is? 

In The News

While select circumstances do warrant the short-term use of opioid based medications to control severe pain - such as cancer, post-surgery or post catastrophic injury - many opioid medications are being prescribed for long-term use, leading to an epidemic of heroin addiction and opioid prescription addiction.

Tooth extraction, back pain and most musculoskeletal pain are the current diagnosis most often the reason for prescriptions. Prescription opioids include Vicodin, Percocet, hydrocodone and oxycontin are some of the more popular medications that include opioids.

Heroin was first introduced to the market by Bayer drug company as a pain medication and originally considered a wonder drug. As the effects of heroin addiction became well understood, drug companies began producing opioid-like medications which they told doctors would not trigger addiction the way that heroin did.

In pursuit of financial gain, the truth was misrepresented and physicians began prescribing drugs by the truckload. This has directly led to the opioid epidemic now in full swing in the U.S. You can read more about the history of opioid use on CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/12/health/opioid-addiction-history/

SOURCE: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170419130503.htm

Daily Health Tip

Addiction to any drug or food product is unhealthy - both mentally and physically. But, addiction to pain medications can lead to significant medical consequences, including overdose, unintentional death, physical and mental dependence, withdrawal, paranoia, respiratory depression, liver damage, brain damage, and an increased tolerance of the drug, which means you require more and more to get the same effect.

Making Changes

There are other options to pain control to consider if you have chronic pain - the most important of which is to determine the cause of the pain and treat it. If back pain is your issue, then it’s important to understand and treat the underlying musculoskeletal condition through physical therapy and proper body position. Using drugs to mask the pain only causes greater injury to the area, increasing your pain and increasing your need for more pain control.

Pain control and withdrawal from pain medication is not a simple procedure. If you suffer from chronic pain or are currently addicted to opioid drugs, it is essential you get help from a professional before the drug takes over your life.

Daily Affirmation

I am courageous in asking for the opportunities I want.
I realize that my ability to attain anything lies in my courage to go out and get it.

Fact or Fiction?

In all the earth there is just one mammal that can’t jump.  They can grow to over 13 feet tall at the shoulder, weigh over 24,000 pounds, have skin an inch thick, live over 70 years and purr like a cat . . . but they can’t jump. Did you guess?  It’s the elephant!

Have a wonderful day!

Your Healthy Life America Team