LDS Drug Abuse 1 (Truth Exposed)

Prescription drug abuse is spreading across the county, state, and nation. As the highest-ranking state in the matter, Utah has a responsibility to take action. The LDS community has been greatly affected and their views have been distorted as to what is considered medically and morally acceptable in terms of the consumption of prescription drugs.

Utah County, one of the most conservative counties in the nation, leads the state with a record number of prescription drug abuse problems. In a recent survey, almost half of the residents admitted they knew someone personally who was abusing prescription pain medications. These individuals range in age from teenagers to the elderly, and the majority seem to have one thing in common: their religion. According to the Deseret News, 88% of Utah county residents are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For these residents, religion is not just a part of life, but a way of life. A lifestyle that promotes abstinence, healthy eating, and avoidance of harmful substances, specifically tobacco, alcohol, drugs, tea and illicit drugs. For practicing members, it may be surprising to find that Utah County is ranked the highest in prescription drug abuse despite its conservative reputation. The current social norms with regards to prescription drugs within the LDS community are distorted and must be re-evaluated to ensure that appropriate changes take place.

As a society, Latter-day Saints are taught principles of obedience. This leads individuals to adhere to directions given by qualified physicians. Generally members hold themselves to high standards, striving often for perfection. This quest can lead to unintentional abuse in the beginning stages of addiction. Consequently, there is greater tolerance within the community because patients are not necessarily ill intentioned.

To read about a local story visit: The Pull of the Pills (Deseret News)

LDS Drug Abuse 2 (Quest for Perfection)

As a result of the pressures to succeed in every endeavor, and to do so effortlessly, members may at times succumb to depression, feeling that they are not as competent as others within their social circle or congregation. This feeling of inadequacy translates into frequent medical visits and unnecessary prescriptions. A dependence on medication is the eventual outcome for many adults. This unintentional dependency accounts for a large percentage of non-illicit drug users, who strive to keep a particular image and status. Currently, that mean age is 41.9 years.

However, all fault cannot be put on the residents. Some responsibility lies in the hands of those who prescribe. Community leaders have issued reports stating that if prescription medications are not available, abuse rates will decrease. Though most doctors prescribe pills for the betterment of the individuals’ health, there remains a problem of over prescribing. Physicians and dentists are prescribing well above the necessary amount to patients. When a patient visits a doctor for a certain problem, they expect to leave knowing exactly what is wrong and how the condition should be treated. The effortless indicator of healing is an orange bottle full of pills. It is convenient for the physician and patient alike; however, this remedy upon treating the patient’s problem will also start a process of refilling and addiction.

For more information: SMART Pamphlet

LDS Drug Abuse 3 (Addiction)

Refilling and addiction is considered normal in today’s society. It is not uncommon to see individuals of all ages possessing prescription drugs. On any given day, schools, nursing homes, hospitals and workplaces across Utah County are full of thousands of pills that can easily be consumed, sold or stored for later purposes. If consumed, the side effects are generally mild, when compared to illicit drugs. This appeals to teenagers, soccer moms and struggling workaholics who believe there is no visible harm from abusing.

Many residents in the community oppose the argument that religious social norms play a part in the increasing problem of prescription drug abuse in Utah. They believe that the LDS teachings and lifestyle do not add or contribute to the predicament, but rather prevent new addictions by teaching commandments that will ensure healthy lifestyles and happiness. Practicing Latter-day Saints proclaim these teachings to be true; even those struggling with drug addiction.

For more information visit: Prescription Drug Abuse (Men/Women/Teens)

To read more about LDS teachings: Keeping Youth Away from Drugs

LDS Drug Abuse 4 (Solutions)

To improve the current circumstances, action must be taken. The means by which intervention must be initiated are three-fold. First, action must be taken within the LDS community. Members have the opportunity to write general authorities of the church, expressing concern in regards to the issue. Changes can be made within the curriculum of seminary, church meetings, and missionary discussions to more accurately define drug abuse within the teachings of the Word of Wisdom. These changes would call attention to the issue, better educate both youth and adults alike, and bring the community together to fight the societal apathy in regards to prescription drug abuse.

The second part of the solution to this problem is better education. Classes and workshops should be offered within the schools and community to inform the public of this problem. Stress management should be addressed to better aid individuals in working through problems. Individuals will learn coping skills, as well as the importance of exercise and good communication, to avoid the unnecessary masking of emotions with prescriptions.

Finally, physicians and pharmacies must be more aware of the implications of over prescribing and doctor shopping. More articles should be published on this topic to bring the current statistics to the attention of medical professionals. In their continuing education courses, physicians should be informed of the growth of prescription drug abuse and reminded of their accountability.

Commercial

This commercial highlights the possibilities of drug abuse that could be happening within many of the homes in Utah County.  Whether the family is LDS or not, this video proves how easy it is to access, sell and take prescription drugs.

Drug Drop Off Boxes

One factor that leads to this type of abuse in Utah County is the result of many residents holding onto their leftover prescription drugs. Residents of Utah County hold onto their leftover drugs for many reasons, but one of the largest factors that lead them to keep their prescription drugs is they don’t know where to dispose of these leftover drugs.

In Utah County alone, 36% of residents did not know how to properly dispose of their leftover prescription drugs. Utah County residents can take their drugs to prescription drug drop off boxes located at local police departments.

The Utah County Health Department stated that there is “no uniform take-back system for clinics, hospitals, care centers or even doctor’s offices.” For many residents this comes at an inconvenience. Local enforcement agencies are not always near the resident’s homes or located in areas that are convenient for residents to stop and drop off their drugs

Drop boxes should become more readily available at places like pharmacies, clinics, and doctors offices. It is important that everyone get involved to reduce the amount of drugs in the home that are easily accessible.  The addition of drug drop off boxes for non-narcotic prescriptions is just one step than can be taken to address prescription drug abuse in Utah County.

Overprescribing

People are being over prescribed for drugs. Physicians and doctors are prescribing well above the necessary amount to patients. We need to have regulation that prohibits doctors from over prescribing. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reported in 2004 that 14 million patients misuse their medications. More than 20,000 cases a year result in an unintentional death.

Thinking about this issue logically we can assume that stopping prescription drug abuse at the choke point would be best. The choke point is in the physician’s pen as he writes that prescription. If a prescription does not last long enough, then the patient can call the doctor and see if receiving more prescription drugs is an option. By under prescribing a drug to a patient, a doctor is merely inconvenienced and may have to examine the situation and give more drugs as needed. By over prescribing a drug, a doctor may have effectively created a junky, someone who will need years of recovery from drug addiction. Doctors aren’t completely at fault; people have a personal responsibility to use drugs as prescribed. Ultimately it is in the hands of patients and citizens to be responsible. However, with tighter regulated drug prescriptions people don’t even have to make the choice whether or not they will abuse the drug or not. While this obviously wouldn’t end prescription drug abuse it would dramatically reduce it like no other intervention.

This issue is one that requires the government to take action. Communities must come together so that kids are not exposed to excess drugs and to remove this temptation from society.   Legislation is the best intervention to stop abuse at its very root.

For more information on overprescribing visit: Addiction Info

Teenage Drug Abuse

Teenage drug abuse in Utah County is at an all-time high.  Teens as young as twelve are finding themselves battling with addiction in their own homes.  This may be due to bad influences from friends, peer pressure at school, curiosity or failure to succeed at every endeavor.  LDS youth are especially at risk because of the high demand and emphasis that is placed upon them to succeed.  School, sports, mutual activities, extracurricular activities, music lessons, clubs, etc. all take an emotional and physical toll on the youth.

When these demands begin to influence the body and mind, the teens often look for an outlet to escape.  For teens living in Utah County, that outlet ioften the misuse of drugs, which is very common.  Every home in every neighborhood is full of pills that are either sitting because of an over prescription or lack of knowledge of how to dispose of expired and excess pills.

KSL News in Salt Lake reports that many teens from Utah County are heading north to Salt Lake County to purchase their drugs.  Due to high demand with increased prices and lack of supply, teenagers often travel the short thirty minutes north to purchase painkillers, meth, cocaine, heroine and even firearms.

To read the full article visit: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9067169

Clean Out the Cabinet

A “Clean Out the Cabinet” program has been adopted in hopes of making prescription drugs less available. Studies indicate that 34% of Utah County residents claimed to have leftover prescription medications. Merely having leftover pain relievers in the home places families and individuals at greater risk of abusing prescription drugs.

Advocates are asking resident to get rid of old medications at designated drop-off sites to prevent drug addiction and to dispose of drugs in an environmentally friendly way.

“With Clean Out the Cabinet, we’re looking to bring awareness to the community,” said Pat Bird, Utah County Division of Substance Abuse prevention manager. “Some people don’t understand it’s an issue now. Clean Out the Cabinet is about reducing the ability to access drugs that are used and abused — lock it up or get rid of it.”

Currently in Utah, there are two types of formal collection options: at law enforcement agencies, or at household hazardous waste collection events. Law enforcement agency “Drug collection for Proper Disposal Programs” exist in several Utah counties. Law enforcement officers, because of strict laws governing prescription medications, oversee household hazardous waste collection events that happen a few times per year. After being collected, each agency collects and processes the medications using their evidence department and protocols, which includes destruction of the drugs through incineration.

If the local police department does not have a household hazardous waste program or if no drug collection option exist, simple steps can be made to ensure proper disposal. It is advised that all personal identification is removed from the bottles, and the unused drugs are mixed with coffee grounds, kitty liter, or another undesirable substance. Then the mixture is to be placed in a sealed container and put it into the trash.  Drugs that are flushed cannot be removed by seqage treatment plants or septic systems.  These substances are released into waterways which can lead to contamination of surface or ground water and fish.   Proper disposal reduces drug abuse, protects you and your family and protects the environment.

For more information visit: cleanoutthecabinet.org

LDS Addiction

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has set in place twelve steps to aid in addiction recovery.  For those members who do find themselves struggling with addictive behaviors, such as substance abuse, gambling, eating disorders, sex and pornography, the church has implemented a set of standards that will help addicts learn how to apply the teachings of Jesus Christ to gradually change their lives.  The twelve steps address essential principles of recovery that are accompanied with scriptures and a study section to ponder and apply.

“If we will turn to the Lord and believe on His name, we can change. He will give us the power to change our lives, the power to put away bad thoughts and feelings from our hearts. We can be taken from ‘the darkest abyss’ to ‘behold the marvelous light of God’ (Mosiah 27:29). We can be forgiven. We can find peace.”  James E. Faust

1. Admit that you, of yourself, are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable.

2. Come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health.

3. Decide to turn your will and your life over to the care of God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

4. Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself.

5. Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.

6. Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses.

7. Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove your shortcomings.

8. Make a written list of persons you have harmed and become willing to make restitution to them.

9. Wherever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed.

10. Continue to take personal inventory, and when you are wrong, promptly admit it.

11. Seek through prayer and meditation to know the Lord’s will and to have the power to carry it out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, share this message with others and practice these principles in all that you do.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints invites all those who struggle with addiction to look to Jesus Christ as their strength.  Because of His sacrifice and His atonement, they can find hope, strength and comfort in knowing that He can heal their hearts and that they can experience a might change.

For more information visit: lds.org