Dr. William Lynch's Presentation on Prescription Drug Abuse

William Lynch Jr., clinical pharmacist at Jefferson Health hospital and Rutgers alum, spent his Thursday night educating us on America’s growing drug problems. America’s drug addiction has increased at alarming rates and deaths have risen exponentially too. In fact, in 2016, 175 people died from drug abuse every day. That is the equivalent of one person dying every 8.25 minutes. The life expectancy for an American has decreased by 2 months because how many people are dying from drugs.

Drug addiction is the result of tolerance. Drug users need more and more of the drug to receive the same feeling. This is known as “chasing the dragon” because they want to achieve the same rush they received when they first took the drug. However, this results in a deadly spiral that causes people to require larger and larger doses of the drugs. Now, America’s drug problem is becoming a polysubstance abuse problem. This is even more dangerous because mixing different drugs can cause conflicting reactions. It’s very popular for people to mix depressants and stimulants. However, if those people overdose, it can be hard to treat those patients because treating one drug causes the other drug’s effects to push through.

Another problem is the public’s perception of certain drugs. For instance, recently, marijuana has been legalized in several states. This has shifted the public’s opinions on marijuana, and increasing numbers of Americans believe the drug to be harmless. However, that is far from the case. In fact, marijuana can have some serious brain effects, sometimes even leading to psychosis. Increased use of marijuana means that in the future, there will be an influx of people who have mental diseases such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Furthermore, even though marijuana is legal, products containing marijuana usually have higher concentrations of THC than what is natural. This all leads back to tolerance. Everyone’s tolerance differs and their reactions to the different concentrations of drugs differ as well. While one person may have no adverse reaction, to another person, that drug can be deadly.

In the face of all these new problems, Lynch proved that there are still actions and preventative measures that can be taken. Firstly, it is important to remain vigilant. Addiction can happen to anyone. It is a disease, but it is also treatable. Common signs of drug use include neglecting responsibilities, isolation from others, and financial troubles. Additionally, Mr. Lynch advised all doctors who prescribe controlled substances to also prescribe Naloxone. Naloxone is just a precaution, but it can potentially save many lives. Another big step Mr. Lynch talked about was the role law enforcement had in America’s drug problem. Police officers have played a key role in saving lives by administering Naloxone. Recently, New Jersey has also placed a 5 day limit on controlled substances with the purpose of limiting the number of addictive drugs one patient can have, reducing their chances of becoming addicted. America’s drug problem can no longer be ignored. However, with the right resources and forward-thinking, it can be combated.