Steve Rummler popped his back when he was 28. At 37, he was prescribed a range of drug medicine to relieve the pain and injury-related anxiety. It was the first time in almost a decade that Rummler felt really well. But that effect was short-lived. 

As it usually happens, a person who genuinely needs opioids becomes dependent on the relief they provide. And it’s very difficult to refuse from this type of medicine. By 2009, Rummler had become dependent, and, eventually, addicted. Despite all efforts to combat the addiction, he died at 43.

CNN published his story in 2012. But similar scenarios continue to happen. For millions of Americans, legal drugs are a way of life. Expenditure on prescription medicine in 2019 reached $345.7 billion. 

And what is the result? About 100,000 people die of legal drugs taken as directed every year in the U.S. Only a small percent of addicts get help in free detox centres.

The legal drugs are also known as “legal intoxicants” and “legal highs”. When the word “legal” is adjoined to some product, it is automatically linked to certain governmental laws and principles. They are allowed to be sold by various stores and through various suppliers and be prescribed by doctors. Legal drugs are divided into 4 main categories: stimulants, psychoactive drugs (or hallucinogens), antidepressants, and pain killers.

Such medicine is regarded as legal as long as it is taken in proper doses. If a person has no prescription, the use is illegal. When they exceed the recommended dosage (it is called abuse), they put themselves at the risk of developing an addiction. 

By the way, tobacco and alcohol are the two most popular legal drugs. And it’s not a secret that alcohol and nicotine addiction can be severe and lead to lethal outcomes. 

A lot of people cannot pay for medical treatment. They often keep living in dependence or attempt the highly dangerous “cold turkey” self-treatment. Finding “detox locations near me” is the smartest way out of this situation.

Choosing to detox at home can be a deadly decision. Quitting “cold turkey” or without medical supervision can lead to such serious issues as seizures and severe dehydration.

The process of drug detox can be painful. It involves the following side effects: 

• Nervousness
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Insomnia
• Body discomfort
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Poor sleep
• Difficulty concentrating.

So, the first stage of treatment – detoxification – should be done in a specialized facility. Most facilities require a patient to stay from 3 to 10 days, depending on the type of drug a patient is detoxing from. There, you get medicine to relieve withdrawal symptoms and professional around-the-clock supervision. 

If you or someone you know have problems with prescribed drugs, take action right now! Search for “free detox centers near me”. It’s mandatory to receive professional medical help in this situation. Otherwise, you or your close person may face even more serious problems.

Peter C. Gøtzsche, a Danish physician and medical researcher, claimed that prescription drugs are the 3rd leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. Primarily, it’s due to antidepressants causing the deaths of elderly people through falls. 

Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are linked to a huge number of deaths, as they cause bleeding in stomach ulcers and myocardial infarction.

Moreover, Dr. Gøtzsche stated that the positive effect of this so-called medicine is questionable. Placebo-controlled studies have disproven the statement that NSAIDs reduce inflammation. Antidepressants, another “major killer”, also have a highly debatable effect on people with depression.

So, prescription drugs can have dangerous side-effect and be addictive, and they are not as helpful as they are claimed to be. Then why are they so popular? There’re two reasons for that.

Misconceptions.

Often, people think that if it’s legal, it’s not harmful. But think of nicotine. Anybody older than 18 can buy cigarettes, though everyone knows that smoking kills.  

The problem is legal status is not based on risk or harm. In a 2010 study, experts ranked 20 legal and illegal drugs on 16 measures of harm to the user and society. Alcohol topped the list. Heroin and crack cocaine took the second and third places.

So, before taking a medicinal drug that is prescribed to you, make a research to discover the negative side effects associated with it. You may change your mind. 

Marketing Deception.

The pharmaceutical industry and the health authorities do little to warn us of the dangers. One report in the nineties found out that all of 56 studies conducted by drug companies into painkillers were favourable to the company that sponsored the trial. 

The conclusion is self-evident. We are fooled by an extensive and deliberate cover-up by manufacturers who try to hide the negative side of their products. They buy consumers’ loyalty by paying those we trust, including our GPs.

Addiction is a disease. That means that a person needs to see a doctor who will assess their condition and develop a treatment plan. Fortunately, there are places where you can get free help all over the country. 

Everyone can go to local detox centres that provide help for those who can’t afford treatment in a traditional profit centre. These are specialized facilities, usually state-funded or faith-based, meant for drug abusers who need medical treatment to overcome withdrawal symptoms and physical addiction.

How to find free detox programs? There’re a few ways:

• Ask a doctor for a reference
• Make inquiries in the local government office
• Make an online research
• Ask your family members, friends, and acquaintance
• Check-in with community outreach programs.

Prescription drug abuse is a silent epidemic. It doesn’t attract as much attention as the rates of illegal drugs spreading, use, and overdose deaths. And it seems that America’s “war on drugs” is directed at the wrong enemy. So, it’s best to stay away from dangerous treatment. And if you have problems with legal drugs, try to solve it as soon as possible.