Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
Tonight's Dr.Drew Show will be about prescribed meds and addiction- surprise, surprise! It's about Whitney, even though they don't yet know if meds had anything to do with her death. They just announced on HLN that "despite how Whitney died, Dr. Drew will focus on prescription medications and doctors who overprescribe and cater to celebs." Didn't we JUST do this with Michael Jackson?
Well, you know Dr. Drew- if anyone takes even one painkiller, it's too much. I honestly think he should recuse himself b/c he is SO biased from years of working with drug addicts. But that's what passes for a "talk show" these days.
So we have Jane Velez Mitchell at 7pm, a recovering alcoholic who mentions her "sobriety" in every show at least twice, who will be looking to blame it on meds, or the glass of champagne Whitney had that night. And Nancy Grace at 8pm will look at Whitney's last days and the case (and you KNOW they'll compare it to MJ's) and then Dr. Drew's probable one-sided report. Not that there aren't drug addicts and doctors who supply them, we're not completely naive, but it's as if Dr. Drew NEEDS all of us to be addicts. I just don't like that man. He should stick to Celebrity Rehab- he's good at that.
I just knew this was going to happen. Poor Whitney. She's being prosecuted in the media w/o being able to explain or defend herself. So MANY people fall in tubs, might it be that easy? Either way, drugs or no, abuse or no, this isn't going to go well for CP patients.
Well, you know Dr. Drew- if anyone takes even one painkiller, it's too much. I honestly think he should recuse himself b/c he is SO biased from years of working with drug addicts. But that's what passes for a "talk show" these days.
So we have Jane Velez Mitchell at 7pm, a recovering alcoholic who mentions her "sobriety" in every show at least twice, who will be looking to blame it on meds, or the glass of champagne Whitney had that night. And Nancy Grace at 8pm will look at Whitney's last days and the case (and you KNOW they'll compare it to MJ's) and then Dr. Drew's probable one-sided report. Not that there aren't drug addicts and doctors who supply them, we're not completely naive, but it's as if Dr. Drew NEEDS all of us to be addicts. I just don't like that man. He should stick to Celebrity Rehab- he's good at that.
I just knew this was going to happen. Poor Whitney. She's being prosecuted in the media w/o being able to explain or defend herself. So MANY people fall in tubs, might it be that easy? Either way, drugs or no, abuse or no, this isn't going to go well for CP patients.
From his CNN page:
Whitney Houston was not doctor shopping according to the Los Angeles coroners office, and the prescription pills found in her room were under her name.
Subpoenas have been issued for her medical records and prescriptions. So what does this mean as the investigation into her death moves forward?
Dr. Drew is an addiction expert who has strong opinions about the use, and abuse of prescription medication. This is an issue that affects millions of you. He is taking your questions and comments tonight, hoping to inform and educate us all about the dangers of painkillers, and who is likely to become addicted.
This is not a condemnation of legitimately used medication. Rather, a forum about an often misunderstood problem.
For what it's worth, there is interview footage where Whitney sort of admits to someone (maybe Oprah) that she had abused prescription meds and other substances.
As for the Dr. Drew topics-
Dr. Drew doesn't have enough info on Whitney (no one does yet) to know if she was doctor shopping or not. And if he is having a forum, I bet I can guess what he'll say! B/c his background is in addiction medicine, he goes to that conclusion with so many subjects.
If he is informing people how to avoid getting addicted, good for him. But IMO he needs to learn the difference between use and abuse.
I think many of us saw the interview with Whitney and Oprah. She admitted to using cocaine. She even explained HOW she used it. With Diane Sawyer she wanted people to know she was "too rich" to use crack, saying the infamous, "Crack is Wack" comment. She was a coke abuser for years but many say she was clean of that crap. I hope so. She abused her own voice by smoking marijuana with cocaine for many years.
Xanax is used by people with anxiety, and it's been said (tv last night) that she (as many other performers do) took one before she performed. It's also been said that she had champagne that night. I hope not. I'd love to know she had gotten beyond drugs. But to have people accuse her of Dr. shopping when we don't KNOW for sure, THAT bugs me. If she had a throat doc, an allergist and a family doc, then she had multiple doctors. Whether or not they knew of each other would intimate Dr. Shopping more than knowing she had more than 1 doctor.
It'll be weeks till we know, and until then, we can mourn the person she was, all she gave to us, and to the world. I just pray she isn't remembered more from drugs than as a performer, as happened with so many talented people.
RIP Whitney!
I think the speculation on how Whitney Houston died is a tragedy in itself as even she admitted to be addicted on pain killers in an interview with Oprah regarding the death of Michael Jackson & how it made her afraid for him & her but we don't know where her life was the days before she died but the doctors & pundits on TV will have a field day with "just another drug addict" death story.
Until there can be a fair conversation with a public news figure about responsible pain patients & how they take their meds correctly & like me are even afraid of them after many years having to take them only to go on less; not more, we will continue to see only one sided stories of how EVERYBODY that has to take pain meds become addicts which is NOT true.
Studies have shown that only 2% of people in CP ever become addicts from the need of continuing opiate use so we are only seeing the famous 2%; not the real world at all.
on "the talk" today they had a very good segment discussing the events of whitney houston's last nights of which they are showing the most horrible photos to put their spin on it to sell papers and get ratings. i think she was trying to get her life together, but the big tragedy is what they are doing to her daughter.
i don't think dr. drew actually helps many people. he's just after ratings.
I was so open-mouthed by that point I'm sure I was in shock. I may have missed the part where she admitted to abusing prescription drugs, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen! I'm DVRing it so I can re-watch, and see the new info they have. It's supposed to be a Memorial but you never know what they'll end up doing.
For the moment I am giving her the benefit of the doubt and thinking that she did give up illegal drugs and did NOT abuse prescriptions. We're supposed to be innocent in this country until proven guilty. As CP patients we're often treated as guilty before we even speak our names! So let's wait and see, and even then, remember that she was a human being with a daughter, a mom, and a family. She may have been out to hurt herself by doing drugs in the 1st place, but she wasn't out to hurt us.
I hope I have enough time to watch it- I'm leaving tomorrow and will be in Vegas for a few days. I'm actually not upset by this assignment as the warmer weather will feel nice! My RSD doesn't know what's going to hit it, LOL! ;)
Im not surprised by the "no" answer either...