This is a topic that is quite near and dear to me as most of us can relate. It's deep and quite personal with me. You see, I lost family members due to over use of prescription and street drugs. We have a lot of both scientifically created and naturally based options to help us with anything from a mere sniffle or allergic reaction to brain trauma or a genetically pre-dispositioned disease. The sources for comfort, cure, and solutions are wide ranging. Our country offers the best in the world for medical treatment, a wide range of insurances, and the option to select the type of doctor or specialist to help us. In addition to standard medicine, we have alternative medicine such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and Chinese or Oriental medicine. Ancient cures like your typical aloe houseplant. Or, vinegar. Standard medicine is widely used and accepted and is scientifically based. Most people use some form of alternative medicine in conjunction with standard medicine.
My purpose for writing a bit on this topic is just to provide some of my thoughts of the most recent past and get it out there for consideration. THIS is a tough topic in that I realize people have strong opinions and can provide a compelling justification-even fearful in nature-to get others to buy into their theory or line of reasoning. The most recent conflict of prescription use was COVID. I stand my ground on the biology of the human immune system. Our system to recognize the intruding illness and build an internal army to protect from future attacks. I also understand the use of various vaccines and boosters, the economic impact, the ones who benefited, as well as the unfortunate who passed from the virus. God rest their souls.
We saw an insurgence of alcohol and drug use from COVID and isolation. Alcohol sales increased. We self-medicated and had more time to indulge in our favorite libations since we were working from home. If I recall correctly, the sale of alcohol was not shuttered during COVID's voracious outbreak. Our country experienced over 100,000 deaths from opioid use from April of 2020 to the same time in 2021. The FBI seized records and office equipment of 'pill mills'. One local practice I knew of. The low-cost and availability of drugs, alcohol, and even street sales of pharmaceuticals surged. Help was limited. Counseling programs shut down. Hospital visits for psychological treatment rose. Suicide rates soared. Rage and anger destroyed our cities. People were hurt. Businesses burned to the ground. Tragic.
My brother's death was way before the surge of substance abuse during COVID. He died on November 9th of 2004 from a lethal cocktail of Xanax and Oxycodone. I tried to tell him he would get into trouble. His response; 'if the doctor prescribes it to me, it must be okay. You don't know what you are talking about.' He became extremely anxious when he drove into road construction on his way to meet me. He said he got so upset from having to wait his turn on the single-lane road he had to pop a Xanax. That was in September-just before his untimely death. His wife was well aware of his usage. She was on anti-depressants and received disability due to her insistence of her inability to drive the highway to get to work-it caused her extreme anxiety. After her third application for disability, she received it. She slept on the sofa most days-her mother came to the house to help with their two sons.
Homeopathic methods emerged with more people looking for alternative solutions using natural herbs as they feared the repercussion of addiction and physical harm to their body. CBD oil usage has climbed. Legal Marijuana sales are doing well. Acupuncture is covered by medical insurance and even Medicare now. Burning white sage has become popular to cleanse the house of negativity. Crystals are used during Reiki-a Japanese method to restore positive energy. Yoga and meditation books and practice has also risen. In-home gyms have become quite popular.
People are looking for relief in just about any way possible for any reason and try and sample what is available to them. What makes sense to them. What is affordable to them. AND, what justifies their needs. As I listen to my podcasts, read a book, or search for self-help remedies I feel I know what is best for me. I listen to my doctors. I question their recommendation when appropriate. I research information from multiple sources to determine what is best for ME. And, consult with friends to hear what they are doing for help. I listen and learn. Live in good health and know: you have options.
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