Soccer Mom's are Getting High

Last year a young twenty four year old mother of two died of an accidental overdose mixing prescription drugs with alcohol- She wasn't someone famous, and therefore didn't make national news, for her two little boys, her mother, her sister, her friends, and her husband, she was someone really special. She did not get the chance to finish her life. Some would say that she made her choice, it’s not like she died in a car accident that wasn't her fault, or some freak accident of sorts. We, as a society are always looking to blame someone, attempting to find reason, to justify why tragedy happens to the people we love.

In this case I believe that blame is justified and should land squarely on the shoulders of the people who prescribed a benzodiazepine to an addict. She died from mixing a deadly cocktail, but it was still an accident. She was an addict, and a alcoholic. A women that had been a survivor of child sexual abuse, and never told anyone until it was too late.

When she sought help for an anxiety disorder, the medical personnel at her family health clinic, well aware that she was alcoholic, prescribed a highly addictive drug that cannot be mixed with alcohol. There isn’t a why in this case or in many others. How many people famous or ordinary have to die, before medical facilities, and their personnel are held responsible? This particular family practice clinic thought that it was wise to prescribe Xanax and Seroquel to a twenty-four year old recovering alcoholic and addict.

“Xanax is a commonly prescribed medication used to treat anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia. Although it's effective at reducing anxiety and promoting sleep, it's not without side effects, some of which are serious” (Leong, M.D., 2009, p. 1).

Xanax is said to be one of the most abused drug’s in the US. Xanax is highly addictive, because it is a sedative when mixed with alcohol the affects are uncontrollable, and often unforeseeable. Both Xanax and alcohol do the same thing to one’s body, when taken together the affects are magnified. The user will typically black out, in a body of water like a bath tub the result can lead the user to drowning. “The most serious side effects of Xanax to be aware of include: extreme drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, loss of balance and coordination, fainting, and loss of consciousness” (Rosenberger, M.D., 2008, p. 1). I would also add death to that list of side effects, as it is the most serious side affect associated with the drug. The dangerous cocktail of Xanax-Alcohol slows down the central nervous and respiratory system which can lead to one’s demise, all in the name of escaping a fear, chasing a high, or trying to forget a painful memory. “The combination of Xanax and alcohol can be fatal; if you take any other sedative in combination with Xanax, the reaction can be fatal"(Rosenberger, M.D., 2008, p. 1). There is not enough awareness of the dangers of prescription medication. Prescribing drugs for anyone comes with a risk of that person becoming addicted, and when a doctor or PA (physician's assistant) prescribes a drug like Xanax to an addict, you might as well sign their death certificate.

“Once the body is used to Xanax relieving the stresses of everyday life, coming off it can cause serious mood issues, even physical symptoms as severe as seizures. There is even a syndrome called benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome which outlines the symptoms of withdrawal” (Eric, 2009, p. 1)

Lock Up Your Meds is a campaign for people to lock up their prescription drugs. This is not going to end prescription drug abuse, if someone wants to find medication, they will find it. If they want to abuse prescription medication, they will abuse it, but we can try to take an active approach of not making it easy to find potentially harmful medication. Do not leave your medications in your medicine cabinets free for anyone, our children, our children’s friends, or our friends and loved ones that are battling with an addiction to find. Addiction is sad, and it sometimes ends in loss, how can your community make a difference? Spread the word: Xanax is a dangerous anti anxiety medication, if you are not currently addicted to drugs or alcohol you will probably end up that way if you risk Xanax, do not take this medication, especially if you are an alcoholic or are recovering from alcoholism.

Xanax and alcohol are potent sedatives~

Side effects on the circulatory & respiratory systems.

Combination slows the heart rate and reduces the rate of breath, and an lead to respiratory failure.

Livestrong.com

Mixing with alcohol can be deadly~

Drowsiness, low blood pressure:

When sitting or standing up

MedTv