When Painkillers Become Dangerous: What Everyone Needs to Know About OxyContin and other Prescription Drugs

by Drew Pinsky, Marvin D. Seppala, Robert J. Meyers

A timely guide to the misuse and abuse of prescription painkillers that sorts the facts from the fiction for legitimate users and their loved ones.

If you are concerned about a loved one's use of pain medications, you need to read this book, When Painkillers Become Dangerous Whether prescribed by a physician as OxyContin or purchased on the street as "hillbilly heroin," painkilling drugs are extremely effective in eliminating physical, emotional, and psychological distress. The problem is that these drugs are also incredibly addictive. Misuse of and addiction to prescription pain medications has become America's latest, complex, and alarming drug abuse trend. In fact, an estimated 2.6 million people currently use prescription pain relievers non-medically-a dangerous practice that could quickly reach epidemic proportions. Best-selling author Drew Pinsky, M.D., and five other leading experts offer practical, plainspoken, and much-needed information about addiction to painkilling drugs. They will help you addiction to painkilling medication developsWhat to do if a family member is addictedWhat happens in addiction treatmentWhy addiction is a family disease

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Addiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

David Drew Pinsky, M.D., better known as Dr. Drew, is an American radio and television personality and board-certified internist and addiction medicine specialist. He is the host of the nationally syndicated radio talk show, Loveline, which he has hosted since 1984. On television he produces and hosts the VH1 show Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, its sibling shows Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew and Sober House, and the MTV show Sex...With Mom and Dad.

As a medical doctor, Pinsky is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Medical Director for the Department of Chemical Dependency Services at Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, California, staff member at Huntington Memorial Hospital, and a private practitioner.

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Drew Pinsky gives the basics of prescription drug abuse and recovery, focusing particularly on opiates. "Dr Drew" is a hero in the addiction medicine providing valuble insight into the addiction process from start to finish. He does an excellent job of informing his readers that pain killers, even if legally prescribed by a physician have the potential to turn lives upside down. The book points out that NO ONE is immuned to opiate addiction and describes various guidelines for proper use, warning signs, treatment options, etc. The main premise of the book is that addiction and substance abuse is a medical condition and not a personal weakness or form of devious behavior (in most cases). Dr Drew provides great insight into addiction and how common it really is in today's society.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book. I enjoyed the various example treatment plans for getting relative into treatment as well as the history of drug abuse and addiction. Very interested why some doctors in the past thought to mix in frog sperm and bone of the heart of a stag into pain mixtures. Maybe they were high themselves.....

[Glenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected more from this book because I loved Dr. Drew's other book 'cracked'. I found that this one had alot of technical and historical information but i was more concerned with the personal aspect.

[Sissy Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Informative!!!!!

[Amanda]

dont get the wrong idea... I am reading some interesting books right now to help me hopefully understand a few people in my life a little better :)