The Canyon

The problem of prescription drug addiction is one that affects every class and group of people across the country. Diversion of drugs for illegal uses, fraudulent prescriptions and doctor shopping are a big part of the reason why there are strict regulations in place, the high cost of prescription medications and the difficulty with which some patients who genuinely need pain medication have such a difficulty getting what they need.

The question is: who’s responsible? Is it solely the responsibility of the person addicted to prescription painkillers? Or is it also the responsibility of the prescribing doctor? What about the manufacturer? The distributer? When there’s a tragedy associated with prescription drug addiction like a painkiller overdose, people are looking for someone to blame.

The Tide is Turning for Prescribing Doctors

It used to be that if you were caught fraudulently procuring prescriptions for OxyContin, Vicodin, Percocet or another opiate painkiller, you were the one who would face charges. If you managed to get multiple doctors to prescribe you your drug of choice and, of course, if you were caught buying pills illegally, again, you would be the one paying fines and going to jail. But if you should overdose and die on your prescription medication, for some reason, authorities are deciding that someone needs to pay—that is, more than you already have.

The consequence of this blaming trend is that fewer and fewer doctors are willing to risk it and are not always prescribing pain medication when it is needed for fear of the repercussions. Now, of course, some doctors do take advantage of their authority and, for financial gain or some other purpose, take little to no issue with freely prescribing opiate medications. The difficulty for law enforcement is to determine the difference between the doctor who is knowingly or uncaringly prescribing painkillers to addicts and the doctor who is simply providing a legal service that he or she is trained to offer to a patient who, inadvertently or not, abuses that service.

A Recent Case of Prescription Painkiller Fraud

Recently in Florida, Dr. Barnie Vanzant was restricted from prescribing controlled substances for “allegedly over-prescribing pain killers to two patients who later died,” according to Tony Britt at The Lake City Reporter.

So how do you determine how much is too much? Well, in Vanzant’s case, it was his failure to physically examine or assess the medical histories of the patients who ultimately overdosed on the drugs he prescribed. By not properly assessing and examining his patients, Vanzant did not put in the due diligence necessary to make sure that the prescriptions were correct and needed.

What Do You Think About Prescription Painkiller Overdose and Who’s To Blame?

Is it the prescribing doctor? Is it the patient who is drug seeking? And how can you tell whether the doctor is prescribing what he or she honestly believes to be the best medication at the lowest possible effective dose or if the patient is drug seeking rather than honestly in pain?

A fictitious diary entry for Mike, someone who’s life has been made better by drug rehab and second chances.

Family Problems and Drug Addiction 

I’m thankful for drug rehab, I mean what can I say?  I was goin’ nowhere, doin’ nothing good, wasting my life.  I couldn’t even spend more than five minutes with my family without jumping all over them - like they were attacking me about the drugs.  I was doing my thing, and they were coming all over me.

I couldn’t do anything for my dad - no matter what.  Even when I was a kid.  Never felt good enough for him, like maybe he thought he wished I wasn’t ever born or something.  He never really said that, but you know, I always felt like I was a disappointment.  One time, even when I did go to drug rehab, I came back and he said I’d probably never make it last.  Like I’d just go back to my old ways and get messed up again. 

Sticking By Someone Through Drug Addiction Ups and Downs

My mom is better about that - she tells me she thinks I can get better.  I need that, you know.  I can’t even come to my family, most of them, but if I can just come to my mom I guess that’s enough for now.  She’s the one who told me the last time after drug rehab that I would do OK, and she’d try to help me.  I didn’t keep it, though, my promise to her about staying away from drugs.  I just messed up, you know, got back in with the crowd and did that scene all over again.

But this time when I was having trouble, my mom, she stuck with me again.  She told me she knew what I needed to do.  Even though I messed up after drug rehab, she said I was really better after it.  She saw that I was making some change, I wasn’t so mad, I was feeling better and looking at a different life. 

I remember people at drug rehab talked about staying away from old friends who don’t really care about you staying sober, but I kind of still thought I could do better, you know?  Have my friends and still stay clean?  Yeah, right.  That was my big mess up right there.  My mom’s saying I should go back to drug rehab because it was the best thing for me, and if I could stay away from those old friends doin’ nothin’ good, I might make a big change, and keep it this time. 

Mom Is Right About Drug Rehab

I know some things better this time, and I know she’s right - my mom.  She just wants me better, and I know she’s right.  I’m not mad at her.  I’m scared, that’s for sure, but I’m not mad at her wanting me to go.  I know she’ll be there for me when I’m done.  I’m really just glad those drug rehab places are out there, you know.  It seems like it would be too hard to do, but I went and I know it’s a good thing for me. 

I’m thankful for what I did in drug rehab because even though it hasn’t helped me and my dad, it’s really been good for me and my mom.  I know she’s not getting all over me because she thinks I’m a screw up - it’s tough love.  She loves me and just wants to get it through my thick head, you know?  Drug rehab is what I need.  I know it - and I’m thankful I can go there again and maybe get it right this time. 

Researchers, thankfully, are paying more and more attention to dual diagnosis, or those who suffer from co-occurring disorders like drug addiction and PTSD. Often, one issue influences and worsens the other in a vicious cycle, and it’s a huge step in the development of treatment that medical facilities like The Canyon are learning the links between psychological disorders and addiction and treating them simultaneously.

PTSD and Drug Addiction

It is estimated that about 33 percent to 50 percent of those who seek treatment for drug addiction and abuse are also suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. In fact, more often than not, those who suffer from both PTSD and addiction are addicted to an illegal substance as opposed to alcohol. Additionally, those who suffer from both were more likely to have a higher level of addiction and a more serious physical issue with the disease than those who suffered from addiction but not PTSD.

What the Experts Say About PTSD and Drug Addiction

Martin Driessen is a professor of psychiatry at Ev. Hospital Bielefeld in Germany, and a corresponding author for a recent study on the subject of PTSD and drug addiction. He says:

“We already knew that there is a quite relevant association between PTSD and SUDs. More specifically, PTSD is a risk factor for the development of an SUD, particularly a drug dependence. However, it was unclear whether this is true for both abusers and dependent subjects, or only one of these groups, which is why we studied clearly dependent subjects.”

Andreas Heinz, the director and chair of the department of psychiatry at Charité — University Medical Center Berlin added:

“Drug dependence has frequently been observed in war veterans who also suffer from PTSD. Both men and women often increase drug abuse and develop dependence following war and other trauma.”

What It Means for Those Who Suffer From PTSD and Drug Addiction

Unfortunately, because drug addiction issues are usually far worse for those who suffer from PTSD than those who do not, the dual issues generally manifest in even more problems with family and friends, lost careers and more severe psychological issues exacerbated by drug use. Heinz says:

“The subjects suffering from PTSD had higher hospitalization rates, shorter periods of abstinence, and higher drug craving. However, the study did not show whether PTSD was a cause or consequence of drug dependence in individual subjects.”

An interesting question that is always at play when you suffer from two co-occurring disorders: did the PTSD instigate drug addiction or did drug addiction inflame the PTSD? What we do know for sure is that one always makes the other worse and that to effectively treat either disorder, you must treat both simultaneously.

Women, PTSD and Drug Addiction

The issues for women in this area of dual diagnosis is significant, according to Heinz. She says:

“Women in this study showed higher PTSD rates, which is in accordance with the literature. Women also more often show clinical depression, which often precedes alcohol dependence, while in men, depression seems to follow alcohol dependence in most cases. Further research on psychotrauma and its sequelae such as PTSD, anxiety and depression may point to gender differences in the course and consequences of drug and alcohol addiction.”

If you or someone you love is suffering from PTSD and drug addiction, finding help sooner rather than later can help mitigate the effects of the disorders. If you would like more information about our dual diagnosis program, contact us at The Canyon.