America Has A New Number One Killer And It Isn't Cars

How can this be "Breaking News?" 100% of the people popping quick fix drugs know the moment the pharmacist asks you to sign that digital screen or overcrowded sheet of paper...the next step is a practical game called "Release versus Relief." For the first time in 100 years car crashes no longer sit on top of the accidental killer in America list. As big of a pain it is to whip out a state ID for some over the counter meds...those mastering the mixes of Smack and Chrystal Meth don't get credit for accidently overdosing our methods of madness. The National Center For Health Statistics reports shiny pills prescribed by doctors, approved by the government, manufactured by pharmaceutical companies and sold to the consumer as “medicine” are releasing a lot of people from their daily duties. Yet of the billions of legit pills Americans pop every year for medical conditions serious and otherwise, the vast majority of lives are claimed by only a select few classes—painkillers, sedatives and stimulants—that all share a common characteristic: they promote abuse, dependence and addiction. In 2010 enough prescription medicines were sold to keep every person in this country completely medicated for a month. One year earlier I planted a Blog on the web that smacked reality in the face; while nearly blowing my veins clean out of the body...an innocent decision to keep putting Over-the-Counter remedies into the system lit my blood pressure to extremely dangerous levels causing a total reboot. I was lucky. My decision was to dig. Research created worry. The experience reminded me of a conversation with a Native American Medicine Man where he softly explained, "I cannot heal another human. I only provide the materials required for the body to rest. The body heals itself." Our addiction doesn't start at the drugs. It begins with fulfilling a hearty well established need to be 150% ready for all things any time of the day or night. No cold, flu or food poisoning can keep us down! We have a 24 Hr CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid on every block! Let's play a game! I'll list The Top 10 Most Dangerous Rx Drugs in America and you tell me which one's you've innocently slipped next to your tongue and with one large gulp of water, milk, orange juice or flavored Vodka...woosh! Down it went!!! This list of brand name and generic drugs was compiled from the Drug Abuse Warning Network's (DAWN's) database of emergency room visits in 2009, including drug poisonings that lead to both deaths and survivals. 1. Xanax (alprazolam) 112,552 (benzodiazepine class) 2. OxyContin (and other oxycodone drugs) 105,214 (opiate class) 3. Vicodin (and other hydrocodone drugs) 86,258 (opiate class) 4. Methadone 63,031 (opiate class) 5. Klonopin (clonazepam) 57,633 (benzodiazepine class) 6. Ativan (lorazepam) 36,582 (benzodiazepine class) 7. Morphine drugs 31,731 (opiate class) 8. Seroquel (quetiapine) 29,436 (antipsychotic class) 9. Ambien (zolpidem) 29,127 (sedative class) 10. Valium (diazepam) 25,150 (benzodiazepine) Enough said. I've pissed off 92.8% of my readers. Nothing ruins a Monday worse than a Rock Jock bitching about digesting pills that push you through spills. Time for me to swig down another heaping 64 ounces of really strong black coffee. Which my heart doctor says, "It will kill you!" But do I listen?