Last week, your aunt was released from the hospital after undergoing routine back surgery. She was sent home with some prescriptions - a couple of painkillers and some medication to kill the infection. It has been a week and the painkillers are finished. Your aunt is begging for more, saying that the pain is stronger than ever. In fact, she doesn’t understand why her doctor didn’t send her home with a larger prescription. The rest of the family is skeptical, after hearing about stories of a neighbor’s recent addiction to painkillers. You just want your aunt’s pain to be gone. What should you and your family do?
Individuals with disabilities who live on Indian reservations are at higher risk of substance abuse, for a number of reasons.
1. People with disabilities are more likely to have drugs prescribed. Painkillers are intended to relieve pain caused from injury or medical treatments. Obviously, people with chronic illnesses or disabilities that require multiple surgeries are more likely to be prescribed painkillers than the average member of the public. Painkillers, depressants used to treat anxiety and depression, as well as stimulants used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can all become addictive.
2. An overuse of medication is a problem on many reservations. There are several theories why this may be so. One argument is that there is not a lot to do on the reservation so people will go to the clinic for every little ailment. They will bring in their child, or go to the clinic with a relative as a social event. A second reason for overuse of medical care on reservations as opposed to non-Indian communities is that care is free. Other things being equal, the theory goes, people will ask for and use more prescription drugs when they have to pay for them than when they don't.
Painkillers: A growing addiction in Indian country