October 2013 was National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. For thirty-one consecutive days I Tweeted on the subject of substance abuse prevention. Various topics were explored. By doing this I not only learned a great deal about the issues, but also learned there are many people passionate about changing the tide of this epidemic. I am more hopeful than ever.
Here is a recap of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month 2013:
Tuesday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 1
Since October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month I am going to message every day this month on TWITTER (@jamespmurphymd). I am inviting you to “follow” me on TWITTER and pass it on to friends and anyone whose life is touched by the plague of substance abuse (i.e. pretty much all of us). Together we can be the change.
http://www.ncadd.org/index.php/programs-a-services/overview
Wednesday
Here’s a goal for DAY 2 of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month…
Check your VITAL SIGNS. Below is a link to our GLMS publications (all are worthy) but Vital Signs Issue 3 – 2012 “Pain Treatment and Prescription Drug Abuse in Kentucky” is particularly timely this month.
https://www.glms.org/Default.aspx?PageID=139
Thursday
It’s DAY 3 of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.
Surprised to learn that more than 70 percent of people who abuse pain meds get them from friends or family? YOU can make a difference by LOCKING your meds and DISPOSING of the leftovers properly. Here’s how…
Friday
It’s day FOUR of National Substance Abuse Awareness Month.
THE HEALING PLACE benefit concert with jazzy Sarah Stivers is TONIGHT at Kentucky Country Day’s Performing Arts Center. Chill out and support Louisville’s Healing Place – the most successful addiction recovery program in the USA. Help restore lives!
http://www.thehealingplace.org
Saturday
It’s National Substance Abuse Prevention Month DAY 5.
Teens & young adults are most vulnerable to addiction. It’s a brain thing. Learn why. Take action. Is there someone in your life who needs to hear from you?
Sunday
Day 6 of National Substance Abuse Awareness Month
“Requiem For A Dream,” is possibly THE most powerful movie EVER about the downward spiral of drug addiction. The trailer alone will give you chills.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzk-lmU4KZ4
Monday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 7
An Open Letter to the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana:
https://jamespmurphymd.wordpress.com/
Tuesday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 8
“The mission is definitely not accomplished” (see last paragraph). But there is progress. Together we can overcome this foe. Thanks to Laura Ungar and the Courier-Journal for shining a light on the tragedy and the hope:
Wednesday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 9
Prescription drugs are now the most commonly abused drugs among 12 to 13 year olds! Parents, today is a great day to take action. Safeguard your medications & TAKE THE PLEDGE at:
http://medicineabuseproject.org
Thursday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 10
How can your doctor help you avoid being addicted to your pain medications? It helps if your doctor knows how to juggle. I explain here:
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20120604/NEWS01/107100009
Friday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 11
Do you know what addiction really is? A brain disorder? Bad behavior? A disease? Nora Volkow, MD, our nation’s chief #addiction researcher explains. Thank you HBO for a great webpage:
http://www.hbo.com/addiction/understanding_addiction/18_what_is_addiction.html
Saturday
Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 12
It’s time for one of Marlyce’s cupcakes. Here’s a sweet story about turning tragedy into triumph!
http://kix.com/realizing-a-dream-and-honoring-two-lives/2012/10/
Sunday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 13
What can Gollum teach us about the disease of addiction and, more importantly, the treatment?
http://www.stratusemr.com/blog/?p=1070
Monday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 14
“Clean” by David Sheff is an important book that’s easy to read – hard to stomach – impossible to ignore. Hear the author’s moving NPR interview:
http://www.npr.org/2013/04/03/175939127/a-father-tells-the-story-of-his-sons-struggle-to-stay-clean
Tuesday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 15
Dr. Murphy talks pain and addiction with Dr. Wayne Tuckson on KET:
http://www.ket.org/cgibin/cheetah/watch_video.plnola=KKHEA%20000902&altdir=&template=
Wednesday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 16
Why does the pain doc make you pee in a cup? It may be random, but that’s how I roll…
Thursday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 17
Don’t let KASPER spook you! (Louisville Medicine, page 20). Read about Kentucky’s powerful weapon in the battle to prevent substance abuse.
Friday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 18
October also means Halloween. Is this poem a trick or a treat? You decide. (This could be my favorite post of all time!) “How the Ghost Stole Pain Care”.
Saturday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 19
Heroin is on the rise. Substance abuse will never stop unless we get serious about treating addiction as the disease that it is. Thanks to WDRB for spotlighting this issue.
http://www.wdrb.com/story/23721259/heroin-problem-getting-worse-in-louisville
Sunday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 20
Joe Elliott and I talked addiction, prevention, treatment and pain management on his radio show:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B2PLAYRyZSJjYVRVSGxUVHJxbkk/edit?usp=sharing
Monday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 21
Get rid of prescription drugs and heroin use skyrockets. Stop heroin use and what takes its place? In Russia it was Krokodil. This drug is cheaper, more potent, and more deadly than heroin and is coming to a town near you! Unless… Please do something to prevent substance abuse today. A drug has never killed anyone. The disease of ADDICTION kills. Warning, viewing this link is not for the meek:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/09/krokodil-drug_n_4073417.html
Tuesday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 22
With only two pain specialists per 100,000 veterans & with the majority of new VA patients needing pain care, the system is going to be even more overloaded. There are too many overdoses already! Our veterans deserve better.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57603767/veterans-dying-from-overmedication/
Wednesday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 23
In the majority of states drug overdoses kill more people than auto accidents, but this legendary NASCAR driver may have died as a result of not having enough pain medication.
http://espn.go.com/racing/nascar/cup/story/_/id/9286940
Thursday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 24
“Molly,” the adulterated-hit-or-miss-knock-off “Ecstasy” (MDMA), is dangerous, causes seizures and deaths – your body and brain burn from the inside out! Antidepressants, migraine meds, pain meds, seizure meds – and numerous other drugs that increase SEROTONIN – DON’T MIX WITH MOLLY. Halloween is coming & parties are happening. Please don’t invite Molly. It’s better to dress up like a ghost than to become one.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/27/health/27brody.html?_r=0
Friday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 25
Tomorrow you can turn in your leftover meds. It’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. This is a great way to do something positive for your community, your loved ones and yourself. Most abused prescription drugs don’t come from doctors, pharmacies, or “the street.” They come from family, friends and acquaintances. Just go to the link below and put in your zip code to find a take-back location near you. What’s in your cabinet?
Saturday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 26
Lots of #Halloween parties tonight! Have fun and be safe. NO drinking & driving. These #zombies know what I mean…
http://zombiesagainstdrunkdriving.com
Sunday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 27 Buprenorphine can effectively treat opioid addiction. Learn about it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHAj4ibyUkI#t=41
Find a doctor here:
http://buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/bwns_locator
Monday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 28
One-fourth of U.S. students have intentionally abused a common household product to get high by the time they reach the eighth grade http://www.inhalant.org. “Huffing” and can kill your child instantly. Every parent needs to watch this:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/student-14-dies-huffing-incident-article-1.1295298
Tuesday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 29
The most dangerous drugs? The answer may surprise you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlUS0RlFC4k.
So if availability = danger, then do we really want to legalize recreational marijuana?
http://www.hbo.com/addiction/adolescent_addiction/221_marijuana.html
Wednesday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 30
Do we have to worry about our kids’ Halloween candy being tainted? Apparently not too much, but there are still some things parents should do before the little ones take a bite:
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/candy-tampering.htm
Thursday
National Substance Abuse Prevention Month Day 31
Overdose is now the leading cause of injury death in the USA. Read that statement again… and resolve to save lives. Call your legislators: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml & support “Good Samaritan 911” laws:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPANxkNwHM8
Confluential Truth 