Too many Americans abuse prescription drugs

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Despite the fact that Jesus of Nazareth himself turned water into wine, many contemporary Christians are wary about alcohol. Were Jesus challenged to justify his miracle, he might simply respond that in his time it was safer to drink wine than water. Contaminated water no longer explains the popularity of alcohol. The New York Times 2008 Almanac reveals that the "consumption of alcohol constitutes the nation's most common drug abuse problem." Drunk driving kills over 17,000 Americans every year, and alcohol is implicated in the top three causes of teen death: accidents, homicide, and suicide. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reveals that close to one-fourth of all Americans age 12 and older have become binge drinkers. But many more Americans are addicted to other legal substances, notably prescription drugs. Last year prescription drugs were responsible for more American deaths than cancer or road accidents. The United Nations reports that the misuse of legal prescriptions surpasses the worldwide trade in illegal drugs. Historically, people resorted to drugs to numb their hunger and relieve bodily pain. Today, by contrast, we Americans rely on drugs to improve our spirits and alleviate mental suffering. The newer drugs have proved to be a godsend for men and women who suffer from true clinical depression, but those who simply want a chemical pick-me-up spoil it for responsible users. Prescription tranquilizers such as Valium are now taken illicitly in high doses by 90 percent of drug abusers, who crush the pills and sniff or inject them in the same way celebrities take cocaine and heroin. The older generation of antidepressants such as Prozac has been around for 20-odd years and persists as the drug of choice for people who do not necessarily suffer from clinical depression. The drugs work by increasing perotonin in the brain, making the user feel more relaxed and sociable. But the newer generation of antidepressants also boosts adrenalin, making the user feel more energetic. Just one year after Cymbalta was approved by the Food & Drug Administration, its sales soared to $1 billion. Merrill Lynch predicts its sales will reach $3 billion next year. Efexor, an older drug on which Cymbalta was modeled, has drawn complaints from over 15,000 users, who claim it causes raging headaches, panic attacks, night sweats, and vomiting, as well as withdrawal symptoms. Prescription Vicotin, which is chemically related to heroin, is now the fourth most widely abused drug in America, after marijuana, cocaine, and heroin.Oxycontin, developed to relieve cancer pain, now enjoys sales of $1 billion a year, mostly to those who are not cancer victims.In the gospel account, Jesus miraculously saved the bridegroom the embarrassment of running out of wine at the couple's wedding reception. My guess is that no one attended that happy event just for a few free drinks. Today, we increasingly insist on feeling better, even when it leads to addiction and death. Which may explain why the suicide rate of middle-aged Americans has soared by 20 percent in just five years.(David Yount's "Growing in Faith: A Guide for the Reluctant Christian" is available in a new edition from Seabury. He answers readers at P.O.Box 2758, Woodbridge, VA 22195 and dyount(at)erols.com)??