Officials in the United States say deadly abuse of painkillers and other prescription drugs has reached epidemic levels. More than thirty – six thousand people died from drug overdoses in two thousand eight, the latest year available. That was almost as many as from road crashes. More than half of the overdoses involved drugs that need a doctor’s approval. And three-fourths of those deaths involved what are called opioid pain relievers.
These include drugs like methadone; morphine; hydrocodone, also known as Vicodin; and oxycodone, or OxyContin. Death rates from prescription drugs were highest among people forty-five to fifty-four years old.A recent government report said painkiller deaths more than tripled in the past decade. They now top the number of heroin and cocaine deaths combined.
The Obama administration released a plan last year to try to deal with the problem. Some abusers seek help at places like the Malibu Beach Recovery Center near Los Angeles. They learn yoga and other ways to deal with anxiety, stress and pain. Joan Borsten heads the center. She says stopping is difficult because “in the case of pain pills, the body has stopped producing its natural defenses to pain,” and users have to have more and more.
Around the country, special drug courts work with addicts to get them counseling and treatment. Mary Ann Gunn is a retired drug-court judge. She now appears on “Last Shot With Judge Gunn,” a TV program that shows the effect of drugs on users and their families. She says in nineteen ninety-nine, the big problem was methamphetamine. “And we have addressed that and are continuing to address it. And more and more over the years we began to see people being addicted to prescription drugs.” James Adams is a pharmacologist at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He says millions of people live with pain, much of it from arthritis caused by obesity and aging. “And it’s a real tough problem for a doctor because here you’ve got a patient with chronic pain, and these patients know exactly how to get what they want. And if that doctor doesn’t give it to them, they just go to the next doctor.”
He says many patients may be able to manage their pain if they lose weight and get exercise and physical therapy. Another solution: California and many other states have registries. These tell doctors and pharmacists what potentially dangerous drugs their patients are already taking. For VOA Special English, I’m Carolyn Presutti.
Words in This Story
painkiller – n. a drug that is used to reduce or remove physical pain
epidemic – n. the appearance of a particular disease in a large number of people at the same time
overdose – n. too much of a drug taken or given at one time, either intentionally or by accident
approval – n. the feeling of having a positive opinion of someone or something
reliever – n. a drug used to treat acute (= sudden and bad) asthma (= a condition that makes breathing difficult)
prescription drug – n. a drug that can only be bought if a doctor orders it for you
triple – v. to increase to three times the size or amount, or to make something do this
decade – n. a period of ten years, especially a period such as 2010 to 2019
administration – n. the arrangements and tasks needed to control the operation of a plan or organization
abuser – n. someone who treats another person in a cruel, violent, or unfair way
defense – n. the ability to protect against attack or harm, or something used to protect against attack or harm
court – n. a place where trials and other legal cases happen, or the people present in such a place, especially the officials and those deciding if someone is guilty
addict – n. a person who cannot stop doing or using something, especially something harmful
counsel – v. to give advice, especially on social or personal problems
effect – n. the result of a particular influence
pharmacologist – n. a person who has studied pharmacology
pharmacology – n. the study of medicines and drugs, including their action, their use, and their effects on the body
arthritis – n. a serious condition in which a person’s joints (= the places where two bones are connected) become painful, swollen, and stiff
obesity – n. the fact of being extremely fat, in a way that is dangerous for health
chronic – adj. (especially of a disease or something bad) continuing for a long time
physical – adj. relating to the body
therapy – n. a treatment that helps someone feel better, grow stronger, etc., especially after an illness
registry – n. a place where official records are kept
official – adj. relating to a position of responsibility
pharmacist – n. a person who is trained to prepare and give out medicines in a hospital or shop
potential – adj. able to develop into something in the future when the necessary conditions exist
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