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Opioid addiction is a growing concern for many people given its prevalence and risks. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), approximately 2.1 million Americans were addicted to prescription pain relievers in 2012, and there were nearly 207 million prescriptions written for opioids in 2013. While these drugs can be safe and effective…
The 6th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of these medications. We’ve blogged in the past about…
Though Maine is one of the safest places to live in the US, its crime rate rose by more than 5% in 2011, the largest increase in 36 years. This jump, which also occurred the year before, is in contrast to the rest of the nation. According to the FBI, violent crime dropped 4% and…
A new report from Medco Health Solutions, a pharmacy benefit manager, illustrates the gender differences that exist when it comes to prescribing medications for mental health conditions. The report compares the utilization of antidepressants, antipsychotics, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drugs and anti-anxiety treatments from 2001 to 2010 amongst 2.5 million insured Americans. The analysis showed…
USA Today is reporting that the number of babies born addicted to prescription drug painkillers is on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified America’s fast-growing problem of prescription drug abuse an epidemic. This problem is also affecting our newborn babies, as women abuse powerful narcotics, such as OxyContin and…
Mainers turned in more than 7 tons of unwanted prescriptions drugs during National Drug Take Back Day on October 29th. 14,140 pounds to be exact. According to the Bangor Police Department, that is more unwanted drugs per capita than any other state during the Drug Enforcement Administration-sponsored national event. Good news considering all the talk…
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has organized a National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, October 29, 2011 from 10:00am – 2:00pm. The day provides a place for people to safely dispose of unwanted and unused prescription drugs. The DEA has held other take back days in the past with local law enforcement agencies…
Painkiller addiction has hit the state of Maine hard. Ten years ago, the issue was deemed “the greatest criminal problem and possibly the greatest social problem facing Maine.” Today, Maine doesn’t seem to be in any better place when it comes to the addiction and abuse of prescription painkiller medication. The cost of this addiction…
A recent article found on CNN.com talked about how living with chronic pain can hurt personal relationships. Michael E. Geisser, a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Michigan, states in the article, “It has been shown that relationships in which one partner has chronic pain tend to be more strained, have…
Polly Haight Frawley, Crossroads for Women’s chief of operations, wrote an article for the Portland Press Herald’s Maine Voices editorial section in response to a quote in a past article about the Diane Schuler tragedy. As the title suggests, it addresses the differences between men and women when it comes to addiction. It was published…