I agree to a point. The “recreational” nature is of the most concern. I definitely believe in better living through chemistry, but the human body is not a precisely calibrated instrument where you take gradations of milligrams to achieve the “perfect” effect. I wonder if they are trying to remove all pain, anxiety, and discomfort from their lives. You don’t take a benzodiazepene merely because you feel tense.

I definitely don’t condone/agree with those who actively deceive their doctors to get a certain RX. Likewise, I disagree strongly with those who actively suggest that a friend to whom they give drugs not have to see a doctor if it’s something that concerns them–if it’s worth taking a prescription drug, it’s worth getting it checked by a doctor (assuming it isn’t a chronic, known problem, and even then, there are masking factors that can fool unwary physicians, much less laypeople)

I liken these people to jailhouse lawyers (woohoo! medicine and legal in one comment!): they know everything about their one case, every trivial loophole/detail in the law(s) that apply to them, etc. but couldn’t BE a lawyer of any kind. You can read a drug monograph, memorize it, and rattle off Cmax’s, 2nd/3rd level metabolites, half-lives, clearances, indications and dosages, etc. but that doesn’t mean that you really know (say it’s an antibiotic) _in the real world_ what advantages that abx has over another abx in which circumstances, in which patient populations, given which specific bugs, becuse it’s partly subjective but mostly synthesis of more than just the raw data of a disease vs. the drug.

I write about the above like I know what I’m talking about, but I don’t. It’s just how I see it at this point, because I’m sure I’m missing something. I look forward to the time when I do actively start developing these skills in a real clinical setting.

Not a promising trend

DB’s Medical Rants: 20 somethings play around with prescriptions. One word: yikes. Fascinating article quoted though, and worth the read.

Being a 20-something myself, I find it horrible that so many of my generation are attempting to medicate themselves without the advice of a doctor. I don’t think most people realize that most drugs can have an effect on other aspects of your body and other drugs you take. Yes, there are plenty of websites out there that can tell you if certain drugs will interact with other drugs, but I’ll bet you any amount of money that those who self-medicate don’t check such an important thing. There are just tooooooo many things that can go wrong and permanent damage that can be done. I think these people are stupid to do this. You won’t see me taking any drugs without a Dr’s rx (for me and not anyone else)!!!

But I do understand why people do it, even if I don’t agree with their actions. There are so many reasons why Dr’s don’t or can’t listen to a patient. Time is obviously an issue, but so it the lack of doctor-patient relationship. Too many people have been forced to take their health into their own hands. Thank god there is the internet to do research.

And then there are those who think that they need help concentrating, so they take some ADHD drug because my generation has grown up being told that drugs like Ritalin will help you focus. Way too dangerous! I think I’ll stick with my 6-pack of Mountain Dew to get things done!

Basically, I’m choosing the health of my liver, kidneys, heart, and other major organs over self-medicating. I guess these people are just going to have to learn the hard way.

And to joanne…there are ways to get prescriptions free or at low cost without doing something illegal. For many drugs, the drug companies have programs for people who can’t afford the drugs. And doctors often have samples of drugs that they can give out. That’s how I’m able to keep taking one of the drugs I’m on. My doctor knows I can’t afford it, so he keeps giving me samples. Lack of money is no reason to do something illegal. There are plenty of programs out there for people to see doctors no matter if they have insurance or money. Using drugs illegally is just wrong and dangerous.