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Drugs

Drugs According to the July 26 issue of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the third leading cause of death in the US is medical error, behind heart disease and cancer. Each year, 225,000 people are killed due to preventable mistakes in the following categories:

* 12,000 deaths/year from unnecessary surgery
* 7,000 deaths/year from medication errors in hospitals
* 20,000 deaths/year from other errors in hospitals
* 80,000 deaths/year from hospital-acquired infections
* 106,000 deaths/year from nonerror, adverse effects of medications
** Other reports suggest that these figures underestimate the problem, as an earlier Institute of Medicine study reported the numbers range from 230,000 to 284,000.

It is shocking to realize the extent of this problem but even worse when we realize that a great percentage of the population does not see this as problematic. The number is so great; it is difficult to put into context. If one person dies as a result of improper signs at a Ski Area we all feel that the problem should have been prevented. Indeed the Ski area might be sued over the incident.

When the Concord crashed in Paris an outraged public demanded to know why. Why don’t we ask about the third leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., medical error.

This is why we advocate a healthy lifestyle. The more responsibility that we all take for our own health, the less likely that we will become statistics. You know how adamantly opposed we are to drug use of any kind. If 106,000 people are dying from drug reactions alone, it begs the question: If you give a healthy person drugs, what would happen? They'd get sick.

Therefore, why give drugs to sick people when the drugs could kill them with high probability? Drugs as common as over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen and aspirin are dangerous. There is one death for every 1,200 patients taking this class of medications for at least two months. Does your friend or loved one taking aspirin daily to "prevent" heart attacks know this? I hope so! We are thankful for the opportunity to help you increase your health and well being with Chiropractic care, but we're also thankful that you learn as much as you can to arm yourself with information to make better decisions for you and your family.

Remember, Chiropractors have always said no to drugs. I was amazed to see a sign in Palo Alto, California that very clearly made the statement "Say No To Drugs." It hung on a pharmacy right next to a sign that said "Drugs." Americans teach our children that you can take a drug when you feel bad. An Aspirin or Tylenol will do the trick. Then we send them into their teen years when the probability of feeling bad is high. It’s tough to be a teen and the feelings of pain may not be physical. Are we surprised when they take drugs to make themselves feel better? Think about it.

All is Well,

Dr. Tim, Chiropractor

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Last modified: February 18, 2008