An education on drugs and addiction is without a doubt badly needed. With truthful information. I recently read an article telling about a three star general prescribed powerfully addictive prescription pain killers, becoming addicted and almost ruining his life. He had no idea how the drugs worked or how he could possible become addicted. Another story I read in the Huffington Post telling of a young mother suffering addiction to methamphetamine killing her newborn baby by breastfeeding and passing on the powerful toxins to the baby.
What can we do? We have to take the fundamental approach to educating people from the top down about what physiological changes happen in the body causing one to become addicted and how it works. Prescription drugs are as dangerous, if not more so than street drugs. You should be aware however, many prescriptions that are illegal are still prescribed in various forms and even given to kids. Dexedrine for instance is methamphetamine and prescribed to kids for ADHD.
What do we do about it? People that profit from sale of drugs need to take responsiblity to the negative consequences. I am speaking of pharmaceutical companies. Methamphetamine would not exist if not invented by BIG PHARMA and exploited by those that profit in Western medicine. Billions of dollars are made each year and what's even more astonishing is that many inpatient drug rehabs prescribe even more addictive drugs in the rehabilitation program.
We have to take a stance. Many addicts desperately needing addiction treatment never suspect the addictive qualities of the drugs given and are not fully informed at the time the drugs are given. Yes we have a responsibility for our own well being, but so do the manufacturers of those same drugs, if they truly cared about our well being full disclosure would occur.
None of us are immune to drug addiction or alcoholism, although cureable the devastation and death that result could be avoided if truthful information was provided to the public about these dangerous toxins. Due yourself a huge favor and get educated about all of effects of any drugs you are taking both legal and illegal.