This past Saturday, October 12, 2019, I was on the Campus
of Florida A&M University celebrating the homegoing of one of the
greatest Professors of Pharmacy known throughout the world Leonard Inge.
A simple poor kid, youngest of 13 siblings, from Pritchard
Al., who served as President of The National Pharmacist Association, 12 years
Florida Board of Pharmacy, 34 years Florida A&M University College of
Pharmacy (and I could go on and on an never complete this e-mail) where
his specialty was teaching Pharmacy Law and Compounding.
I
was trained by one of the greatest Professors and Iv’e been practicing
pharmacy the same way, using the same concepts, methodology, the same
procedures and techniques in Pharmaceutical Compounding as taught to me at
Florida A&M University for over 45 years. Our continuing
education on Compounding Pharmaceuticals (from various sources) mirrors
that which was taught to me at Florida A&M by Leonard Inge and other
Professors.
So
I asked my self what has changed?? The answer points to one very questionable
and dangerous practice LAW ENFORCEMENT has intruded into defining medical
procedures and protocols. We see this in the so-called Opioid
Crisis, the idea OPIOID medications. are cannot be use for chronic pain are
simply not true and is misleading. Further the idea these medications are not
to be used in combination with other medications such those use to relieve
anxiety (benzodiazopines) , mood disorders or sleep are further in error.
Opioid
medications when prescribed and used for long term chronic pain will result in
dependency, therefore it becomes the role of the Pharmacist to ensure the
patient who is being treated for chronic pain on how to use of this class
medications correctly to ensure their safety.
For
example, Oxycodone is a very effective medication for treating chronic
pain when used and taken at a therapeutic dose. Oxycodone, is effective against
most chronic pain generated from the central nervous system. However as
with any medication used to treat a chronic condition in order to sustain life
the patient may become permanently dependent on theses classes of drug for the
rest of their life.
These
medications are safe when used correctly and like any medications control or
non control when taken beyond their therapeutic doses are dangerous
and may result in death. The literature more than clearly show
death due to drug toxicity will likely occur when prescription opioid are taken
beyond its therapeutic amounts or commitant use with
alcohol, other, substances meds. Most importantly, to this date unless in the
case of extreme anaphylaxis, there is no case in the literature when any
individual has succumbed to death when given a therapeutic dose of a medically
prescribed Opioid.
However,
Law Enforcement (DEA, United States Attorney DOJ) in order to seek greater
power or authority "stigmatized the disease and traumatizes the
afflicted" (e.g. Sangu Delle) they have used heavy handed techniques
to target Physicians, Pharmacists, Nurses, Drug wholesalers particular African
America and other minorities in this manufactured medical Opioid
Crisis Epidemic to promote their funding. In fact DEA is the single
most government agency who tactics have the increase cost of medication and
healthcare all across America by mis-interpreting purpose and roles of
medications needed to treat acute, chronic, neuropathic and psychological,
pain. Law Enforcement (DEA, United States Attorney DOJ) have
engaged campaign of disinformation to sway the public to a point of that
these medications are in deed drugs, dangerous drugs who dosages are red flags
indicating abuse and trafficking contributing to the Opiod crisis around
America.
When,
I was on my way back to the United States leaving Johannesburg on
Air France flying to Paris, and I came across TED.com lectures
and became fascinated, enthralled specifically with the lecture of a
Nigerian Professor Sangu Delle concerning Mental health in-which he
says “…when it comes to mental illness our ignorance
eviscerates our empathy,” Professor Delle
elaborated, Dans Une etude realisee par Arbole Flores ( in a study done by
Arboleda-Flores), when directly asking people about the causes of
mental illness the result were staggeringly sad;
1. 34% Cited drug misuse
2. 19% Cited divine raft of will of God
3. 12% Cited witchcraft and spiritual possession
Professor
Delle summarizes, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and our
social well being most people simply ignore or fail to understand causes
of Mental illness which include, genetics, Social economics status, Wars
and conflicts, or the loss of a loved one. Professor
Delle emphasizes, “we must stop stigmatizing the disease and
traumatize the afflicted.”
