Mercola.com
Call Toll Free: 877-985-2695
Tweet
Email
Copy Link
Understanding the Opioid Epidemic
July 14, 2018 • 173,413 views Edition: English
Previous
Next
Visit the Mercola Video Library
Story at-a-glance
“Understanding the Opioid Epidemic” is an hourlong PBS documentary designed to highlight some of the issues surrounding the use and abuse of prescription opioid medications in the U.S.
The opioid crisis has become a social issue that transcends all geographic and socioeconomic boundaries — affecting people of every age, gender and ethnicity at alarming rates
Prescription opioids cost the U.S. at least $75 billion annually and more than 11 million Americans are believed to have abused these medications during 2016
According to the CDC, on average 115 Americans die of an opioid overdose every day
While you may not think opioid addiction can happen to you, these potent painkillers are routinely prescribed for the treatment of bodily pain related to accidents, car crashes, sports injuries and surgeries — experiences that are common to people everywhere
By Dr. Mercola
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 115 Americans, on average, die of an opioid overdose every day.1 The increasing use of opioid painkillers and the rampant rates of addiction to them have become a social issue that transcends all geographic and socioeconomic boundaries.
Drug overdoses now affect people of every age, gender and ethnicity. “Understanding the Opioid Epidemic” is a one-hour PBS documentary designed to highlight some of the issues surrounding the disturbing rates of use and abuse of prescription opioid medications in the U.S.
These potent painkillers are routinely prescribed for the treatment of bodily pain, most often relating to accidents, car crashes, sports injuries or surgery. If you or someone you love is taking opioids or is already addicted, you may find solace and validation by hearing from recovering addicts and their family members. Also featured are patient advocates, doctors and other experts who deal with this issue on a daily basis.
Painkillers Prescribed for Common Medical Conditions Can Be a Gateway to Opioid Addiction
Far from being an epidemic of nameless, faceless people from faraway lands, the U.S. opioid crisis makes front-page news week after week. The headlines include heartbreaking stories from people like Avi and Julie Israel of North Buffalo, New York, whose son Michael’s story is featured prominently in the documentary. Michael was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at the age of 12. Problems with drug addiction began when Michael transitioned from his pediatrician to a gastroenterologist when he was 18.
To address Michael’s pain, the new doctor prescribed hydrocodone (sold under the brand names Norco and Vicodin), a semisynthetic opioid derived from codeine. That one choice changed Michael forever.
After obtaining a court order to review Michael’s pharmacy records after his death, the Israels discovered their son had been prescribed 185 pain pills in little more than a 30-day period just a few months before he died.2 “I couldn’t believe the doctors did this to him,” declared Julie. “It’s indefensible. … It changed him chemically forever.”
Sadly, after his addiction to prescription opioids and other medications overtook his life, Michael committed suicide in June 2011. He was 20. In the film, Avi and Julie expressed their sadness over the reality that many who become addicted to opioids are treated like outcasts, especially by people whose lives have not been directly impacted by this crisis.
Said Julie, “The people who are not affected do not think it will happen to them, but that’s a naïve perspective. You are one car accident, one surgery, one wisdom tooth or one sports injury away from the disease of addiction. That’s how fast it can happen to your family.”
Sports Injuries Are Another Launching Point for Opioid Addiction
As mentioned, opioid addiction can easily begin with an injury or surgery. While you may not realize it, taking prescription opioids puts you just a few steps away from becoming a heroin addict or falling victim to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Dr. Andrew Kolodny, director, opioid policy research, Brandeis University, says “The effects of these drugs are indistinguishable from the effects produced by heroin.
When we talk about opioid prescription drugs, we are essentially talking about ‘heroin pills.’” Jennifer Weiss-Burke, executive director of Serenity Mesa Youth Recovery Center in Albuquerque and mother of student-athlete Cameron Weiss, who died of a heroin overdose in August 2011, knows that full well. Around age 16, Weiss had the misfortune of breaking his collarbone — twice — the first time while wrestling, which required surgery, and several months later while playing football.
On both occasions, Weiss was prescribed opioids to help him cope with the intense pain. Unfortunately, the prescribed medications served as gateway drugs for him, and he later moved on to heroin, which is regarded as a cheaper substitute for prescription opioids. About the effects of drugs on his life, Weiss-Burke writes:3
“Cameron became dependent and then addicted to opioids. He quickly progressed to a heroin addiction when he no longer had easy access to pills. Heroin was cheaper and easier to get. He smoked heroin for about a year before he began injecting the drug. He had always said he would never put a needle in his arm, but the drug beckoned, and he listened.
Drugs changed Cameron almost overnight. He went from being a compassionate young man who loved spending time with his family, to a young man who made heroin his primary focus. School, sports and family — everything took a backseat to his addiction. The drug became his world and it controlled him like a puppet on a string.
He was no longer using to get high, he was using to feel “well” and to not be sick. Becoming addicted to drugs and dying as a result of his addiction was the last thing Cameron (or our family) ever thought would happen to him. Cameron would want everyone to know that if it can happen to him, it can happen to anyone. No one is exempt from this terrible disease.”
What Are Opioids and How Are They Used?
If you’ve ever received a prescription for painkillers, you’ve likely taken an opioid. These powerful pharmaceutical medications are commonly used to treat moderate-to-severe pain despite the many serious risks and lack of evidence about their long-term effectiveness. They are often prescribed after an injury or surgery, or to relieve pain associated with chronic health conditions such as cancer, fibromyalgia and inflammatory bowel disease, among others.
A few of the most popularly prescribed drugs are oxycodone (sold under the brand name OxyContin), hydrocodone, morphine and methadone. Regardless of whether you have a history of legal or illegal drug use, anyone who takes prescription opioids for any length of time runs the risk of becoming addicted to them.
Once addicted, it can be hard to stop using these medications. “Patients and prescribers really need to understand that opioids are highly addictive,” states Dr. Richard Blondell, vice chair for addiction medicine at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo and first director of the National Center for Physicians Training in Addiction Medicine.
“It doesn’t mean they should never prescribe them or that a patient should never take them. It means we have to be very careful with these drugs.” On the other hand, when used properly, opioids can provide much-needed pain relief to get you through the early hours and days of an intense healing and recovery process.
Whenever the subject of pain medication is brought up, it’s important for you to ask questions about your pain-management options and also the potential risks of opioid addiction. Both you and your doctor should carefully consider risk factors such as your family history, genetics, history of substance abuse or addictions, mental health, psychological or social stressors and history of trauma. These factors may increase your risk of addiction.
Facts About the Opioid Epidemic
David Thomas, Ph.D., health scientist administrator with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), was a pain and opioid researcher for 12 years before joining the NIDA. Regarding the opioid epidemic, Thomas said, “The rate of death from prescription opiates has been exponentially growing. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg in terms of how many lives are wrecked because of prescription opiates. It’s a huge problem.” About the opioid epidemic that has taken the U.S. by storm since the mid-1990s, the CDC says:4,5
More than 11 million Americans abused prescription opioid medications during 2016
From 1999 to 2016, more than 630,000 people died as a result of a drug overdose
About two-thirds of the more than 64,000 drug overdose deaths in 2016 involved an opioid
The number of overdose deaths involving opioids was five times higher in 2016 than it was in 1999
Drug overdoses have become the leading cause of death among Americans under age 506
About the issues related to opioids, Kolodny asserts, “The reason the U.S. is in the midst of a severe epidemic of opioid addiction is because the medical community began to prescribe opioids very aggressively. And as the prescriptions went up, rates of addiction and overdose deaths went up right along with the increase in prescribing.”
Prior to the release of the documentary, Kolodny told The New York Times, “We have roughly two groups of Americans that are getting addicted … an older group that is overdosing on pain medicine, and … a younger group that is overdosing on black market opioids.”7
The Opioid Crisis Is Damaging Society and Costing Us Millions
While the issue is multifaceted, Kolodny suggests drug makers and physicians play a big role in the opioid crisis. After all, without pharmaceutical companies, the painkilling medications in question would not exist, and doctors are the ones responsible for putting prescriptions into the hands of their patients.
“The only way you can do well financially and have a blockbuster drug is to get the medical community to prescribe your medication for common conditions and long-term conditions,” says Kolodny. “And if it’s a drug that is very difficult for people to discontinue using, then you’ve got a pretty good recipe for a blockbuster.”
Over the years, several states have filed lawsuits against drug manufacturers related to misleading marketing campaigns and failure to disclose addiction risks for drugs such as OxyContin. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the economic cost of opioid abuse to average about $75 billion annually — with $55 billion attributed to health and social costs and $20 billion to emergency department and inpatient treatment associated with opioid poisonings.
The majority of these costs are borne by Medicare, Medicaid, the Veteran’s Administration and private insurance companies. In most cases, these organizations pay twice — once for the opioid medications themselves and a second time when the patient seeks treatment for an addiction or overdose. Notably, alternative pain-relieving treatments such as acupuncture, chiropractic, massage, physical therapy and others are not well understood and are even less often covered by insurance.
Better Solutions Exist Beyond the Prescription Pad
For some doctors, writing a prescription is simply a faster way to address a patient’s concern. For some patients, taking a pill or two a day seems more convenient than scheduling alternative therapy appointments or participating in weeks of physical rehab. Regardless, painkillers are not a long-term solution. Dr. Daniel Alfred, director of the Safe and Competent Opioid Prescribing Education (SCOPE of Pain) program at Boston University School of Medicine, claims he has a solution to make the opioid crisis go away. He states:
“… If the insurance industry would pay for comprehensive pain-management services under one roof where you can get massage therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, acupuncture, medication management and — you name it — things would change.
I want patients to start demanding multimodal, comprehensive pain-management treatment. I want them to say to their doctors, ‘I need something better.’ They should be calling their insurance companies asking, ‘Why do I not have access to these therapies?’”
Kolodny suggests the best approach to dealing with the opioid crisis is prevention. Similar to Alfred, as a secondary measure, Kolodny notes we need new and better treatment approaches to support those who have become addicted, especially with respect to preventing overdoses. In addition, and most assuredly, education is an important factor to stem the tide of opioid addiction.
Students, parents, doctors, educators, policy makers, public health officials and others need to better understand the risks associated with taking (and prescribing) opioid medications. Education was one of the premises for making the documentary. Concludes Blondell, “It doesn’t have to be like this. Our society doesn’t have to be riddled with addiction. We don’t have to read about all these people who overdosed. We can do better. We know what to do. It’s just getting the will to do it that is the hard part.”
What Can You Do to Avoid Painkillers and Overcome Opioid Addiction?
If you’re struggling with opioid addiction, please seek professional help immediately. At the same time, a major step toward health when dealing with chronic disease of any kind, including opioid addiction, is to make dramatic changes to your diet and lifestyle. Below are four areas to address as a primary strategy:
Eliminate or radically reduce your consumption of grains and sugars
Increase your intake of animal-based omega-3 fats
Optimize your production of vitamin D
Radically reduce your intake of processed foods
Beyond that, if you suffer from chronic pain of any kind, you need to know there are many natural, safe and effective alternatives to over-the-counter and prescription painkillers, including the following:
Astaxanthin: As an oil-soluble antioxidant, astaxanthin has very potent anti-inflammatory properties; you may need 8 milligrams or more per day for pain relief
Boswellia: Also known as "Indian frankincense," this herb contains powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which worked well for many of my former rheumatoid arthritis patients
Bromelain: This protein-digesting enzyme, found mainly in the core of pineapples, is a natural anti-inflammatory; it can be obtained from the fruit or taken in supplement form
Cayenne cream: This spice comes from dried hot peppers and alleviates pain by depleting your body's supply of substance P, a chemical component of nerve cells known to transmit pain signals to your brain
Cetyl myristoleate (CMO): This oil, found in dairy butter and fish, acts as a joint lubricant and anti-inflammatory; it has been useful to relieve ganglion cysts and mild cases of carpal tunnel syndrome
Curcumin: A therapeutic compound found in the spice turmeric, curcumin has been shown in more than 50 clinical studies to have potent anti-inflammatory activity; it is best taken in capsules and you can take two to three every hour as needed
Evening primrose, black currant and borage oils: These oils contain the fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid, which is useful for treating arthritic pain
Ginger: This herb is anti-inflammatory and offers pain relief and stomach-settling properties
Kratom: Mitragyna speciose, also known as kratom, is a plant remedy and psychoactive substance that has become a popular opioid substitute,8 but only when used carefully; it can also be addictive so use it only under the guidance of qualified medical personnel
Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN): An opiate antagonist originally developed in the early 1960s to treat opioid addiction, today’s prescription LDN triggers endorphin production, which can boost your immune function and ease pain
I highly recommend “Understanding the Opioid Epidemic.” It’s well worth your time to watch this engaging and informative documentary about one of the biggest social issues of our time. Now more than ever, you must become educated about opioids and the harmful effect they are having on the U.S. and Americans of all ages and from all walks of life.
+ Sources and References
Most Popular
Paprika
White Tea
Red Yeast Rice
Diseases
Post your comment
Show Comments (50)
Previous Article
Next Article
Health
Health Articles
Health Videos
Health Guides
Health Guides
Body Hacks
Common Health Questions
Diseases Directory
E-books
Fitness Plan
Food Facts
Health Blogs
Herbal Oils
Herbs and Spices
Infographics
Nutrition Plan
Recipes
Teas
Vitamins and Supplements
About Dr. Mercola
Shop for Health Products
Pets
Fitness
Shop
Contact Us
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on this content.
If you want to use an article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.
Terms & Conditions | Updated Privacy Policy | Sitemap
© Copyright 1997-2018 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.
Charities and Organizations
Charities and Organizations
Organic Consumers Association
NVIC
Consumers for Dental Choice
Regeneration International
GrassrootsHealth
Fluoride Action Network
Center for Nutrition Advocacy
Cornucopia Institute
Vitamin D Council
Alliance for Natural Health USA
IRT
Caminos de Agua
OCA
American Botanical Council
IFOAM - Organics International
CANWI
MRSA Survivors Network
Rabies Challenge Fund
AHVMF
Mercola.org
FAQ
Sign in
Join
Subscribe to Dr. Mercola's Natural Health Newsletter
Thank you! Your purchases help us support these charities and organizations.
Inside Mercola.com
About Dr. Mercola
Contact Us
Employment Opportunities
En Espanol
Health Articles
Health Videos
Media Inquiries
Mercola Community FAQ
Mercola Social Responsibility
Press Room
Special Reports
Terms & Conditions
Updated Privacy Policy
Special Info Sites
Aspartame
Cancer
Fitness
Fluoride
Fructose/Sugar
GMO
Mercury
Nutritional Typing
Pets
Vaccines
Vitamin D
Shopping
Autoship Program
California Supply Chains Act
FAQs
GMO-Free Products
Healthy Rewards Program
Low Price Guarantee
Online Product Guide
Online Shopping
Our Service Commitment
Premium Products
Product Badge Glossary
Return Policy
Shipping Policy (Domestic)
Shipping Policy (International)
Store Locator
Wholesale Program
Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your health care professional before using products based on this content.
If you want to use an article on your site please click here. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Dr. Mercola is required.
Terms & Conditions | Updated Privacy Policy | Sitemap
© Copyright 1997-2018 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.
Mercola Health Resources, LLC BBB Business Review
McAfee SECURE sites help keep you safe from identity theft, credit card fraud, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams
TRUSTe online privacy certification
Agencies
WPP CEO Martin Sorrell Steps Down Abruptly After 33 Years
Executive resigns amid an investigation by WPP's board
By Erik Oster,
Patrick Coffee
|
3 hours ago
Sorrell has led WPP since 1986.
Getty Images
Today marks the end of the Martin Sorrell era at WPP.
The world’s largest advertising company confirmed in a statement that Sorrell has resigned as CEO, effectively immediately, following 33 years in the role.
“Sir Martin Sorrell has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of WPP with immediate effect,” the holding company said in a statement. “Roberto Quarta, Chairman of WPP, becomes Executive Chairman until the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer.”
Wunderman CEO Mark Read and Andrew Scott, who is WPP’s corporate development director and chief operating officer for Europe, will share the chief operating officer role. Recent reports speculated that the two could become co-CEOs if Sorrell were to resign.
The move follows news of an investigation launched by the board of WPP earlier this month into allegations of “personal misconduct” and misuse of company assets by Sorrell.
According to WPP’s statement, this announcement concludes that investigation, which “did not involve amounts that are material.” The statement did not address whether those amounts and the allegations of misconduct were separate matters.
“In accordance with his at-will employment agreement, Sir Martin will be treated as having retired on leaving WPP, as detailed in the Directors’ Compensation Policy,” the note continued. “His share awards will be pro-rated in line with the plan rules and will vest over the next five years, to the extent Group performance targets are achieved.”
“Sir Martin has been the driving force behind the expansion of WPP to create the global leader in marketing services. During this time, the Company has been successful because it has valued and nurtured outstanding talent at every level—within and well beyond our leadership teams,” Quanta said in a statement of his own. “On behalf of the Board I would like to recognise these achievements and thank Sir Martin for his commitment to the business over more than three decades.”
Prior to the recent investigation, Sorrell took a significant pay cut in the wake of WPP’s steepest decline in stock value since 1999.
“Obviously I am sad to leave WPP after 33 years,” read a statement provided by Sorrell’s personal PR firm, Project Associated. “It has been a passion, focus and source of energy for so long. However, I believe it is in the best interests of the business if I step down now. I leave the Company in very good hands, as the Board knows.”
He continued, “Mark and Andrew and the management team at all levels have the knowledge and abilities to take WPP to even greater heights and capitalise on the geographic and functional opportunities. I will particularly miss the daily interactions with everyone across the world and want to thank them and their families for all they have done, and will do, for WPP.”
In addition to the statements above, Sorrell also issued a lengthy note to WPP’s estimated 200,000 employees worldwide.
“For the past 33 years, I have spent every single day thinking about the future of WPP. Over those decades, our family has grown and prospered,” he wrote. “We welcomed J. Walter Thompson, Ogilvy, Young & Rubicam, Grey, 24/7 Real Media, Taylor Nelson Sofres, among so many others. We created GroupM, including Xaxis and Essence.”
“We put the focus on Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East and Central Eastern Europe, the home of the next billion consumers. We embarked on the early development of digital capabilities; and the evolution of a firm-wide integrated client and country-centered approach. Our holding company was recognized as the world’s best and most effective through the Cannes Lions and Effie Awards year after year after year.”
Sorrell continued to summarize his company’s achievements, writing, “We pioneered Atticus Awards for original written thinking…. the WPP Fellowship Awards to recognize promising talent…. the Partnership and Practice Awards for client endorsed integrated market and case studies. Our Stream digital conferences have attracted the best in the digital business for more than a decade. Our Annual Sustainability and Pro Bono Reports highlight the unique social, environmental and public policy work that we do day in, day out across the globe.”
“As I look ahead, I see that the current disruption we are experiencing is simply putting too much unnecessary pressure on the business, our over 200,000 people and their 500,000 or so dependents, and the clients we serve in 112 countries,” the note continued. “That is why I have decided that in your interest, in the interest of our clients, in the interest of all shareowners, both big and small, and in the interest of all our other stakeholders, it is best for me to step aside.”
Regarding leadership moving forward, he wrote, “We have had a succession plan in place for some time. A new generation of management, led by Mark Read and Andrew Scott (who have each been at WPP for approximately 20 years), are well qualified and experienced in the Board’s opinion, to deal with the geographic and technological opportunities and challenges our industry faces. We have weathered difficult storms in the past. And our highly talented people have always won through, always. Nobody, either direct competitors or newly-minted ones can beat the WPP team, as long as you work closely together, whether by client and/or country or digitally.”
Sorrell will remain with the company for an unspecified time “to assist with the transition” pending the confirmation of his successor or successors.
“In the coming period, I will be available to the Board and any of you, should you want help with anything, anywhere,” he wrote, adding, “I shall miss all of you greatly. You have given me such excitement and energy and I wanted to thank you for everything you have done and will do for WPP and me. As some of you know, my family has expanded recently, WPP will always be my baby too.”
“As a Founder, I can say that WPP is not just a matter of life or death, it was, is and will be more important than that. Good fortune and Godspeed to all of you … now Back to the Future,” Sorrell wrote.
The note concluded with a “thank you.”
Erik Oster
@ErikDOster
Erik Oster is a staff writer for Adweek.
Patrick Coffee
Patrick Coffee
@PatrickCoffee
Patrick Coffee is a senior editor for Adweek.
Adweek Awards, Honors, & Events
TEST
TEST
Popular Now
1
WPP CEO Martin Sorrell Steps Down Abruptly After 33 Years
2
Bless This Designer for Remaking Famous Logos to Teach Us Which Fonts They Use
3
Red Bull Hands North American Media Account to Starcom USA
4
10 Royalty-Free Music Sites Every Online Video Creator Should Know
5
Why Brands Need to Stop Relying on Expert Opinions
Featured Jobs
Paid Social Media Buyer
The Tombras Group
Knoxville, Tennessee
Director of Engineering and Technology
AdAction Interactive
Austin, Texas
Administrative Assistant
ADWEEK
New York, New York
Planner, Paid Social
DigitasLBi
New York, New York
Audience Development Analyst
ADWEEK
New York, New York
See More Jobs
Get Adweek's Advertising & Agency Daily Newsletter in your Inbox
Your overview of the agency world
About
Contact Us
Media Kit
Editorial Calendar
Sponsor Content
Jobs
Subscriptions
Subscription Options
Digital App
Newsletters
Customer Service
Awards / Honors / Events
Awards and Honors
Adweek Events
Webinars
On-Demand Webinars
Trophies / Awards / Seals
Publications
Adweek Network
RSS
Backissues
Reprints / E-Prints
© 2018 Adweek - All Rights ReservedTerms of UsePrivacy PolicyAbout AdweekContact Us
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment