The entertainment industry is no stranger to death due to drug overdose. Some have been classified as accidental while others have been considered an attempt of suicide, but regardless of their function, it is clear that the presence of heavy prescription medications and pricey illicit drugs are absurdly popular in the celebrity sphere. Famous actors and musicians alike have fallen to the overwhelming presence of drugs in their fast lifestyles, letting addiction take over their privileged lives.
Heath Ledger. Judy Garland. Marilyn Monroe. Whitney Houston. Michael Jackson. Elvis Presley. Jimi Hendrix. Prince. All of these stars, and countless more, have died from addictions, however, one other major factor has an active role in all of their deaths: prescription drugs.
Unsurprisingly, the United States has been massively impacted by the overprescription of painkillers (opioids analgesic like morphine and codeine) and antidepressants (long-term selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and fast-acting drugs like Xanax). In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of all Americans have used at least one prescribed drug in the past month, and about 10 percent have used five or more. On top of that, painkillers and antidepressants are two of the most popularly prescribed drugs by physicians in office settings.
Pain and depression are tricky, doctors admit and agree, however, what many doctors practicing conventional medicine don’t realize is that in the case of chronic illness, simply sending a patient off with a prescription is not the best option. Mental and physical pain alike are extremely subjective, so pushing pills onto the masses is not only ineffective, but it can also be very dangerous. Once starting a regimen of antidepressants or narcotics, it is extremely difficult to get off of them. Not only does an emotional dependence make quitting these medications difficult, but there is a severe element of physical dependence that contribute to the dependence. It can take months to wean off of some of these overprescribed medications, which can cause severe withdrawal pains and can be extremely dangerous in some cases.
One reason that this issue has risen is because many high-end, exclusive clinics take on a implicit motto: “The customer is always right,” a motif that should only be present in restaurant settings. Patients see commercials coming from every direction that prompt them to ask their doctor about some form of life-altering medication. They then get their doctors to prescribe them stimulants to help them during the day and sedatives to aid in calming them at the end of the day from being so hyped up by the stimulants, yoyo-ing between two overprescribed, extremely addictive substances. Even if it isn’t severe, doctors will quickly and freely hand out SSRIs, Xanax and even narcotic prescriptions just to appease the pressure of their clients.
It is understandable that high-profile celebrities, like those listed above who ended their lives by overdosing, wouldn’t have issues getting ahold of their prescription drug of choice. While half of the country is drugged out on prescription medications, it makes one wonder why substance abuse is so frequent in the arts and entertainment world.
An interestingly relevant side effect of these types of medications is the way in which the chemicals alter the body and mind they are inhibiting. Popular painkillers like morphine work by not only dulling pain, but also by making the mind care less about the pain it’s experiencing. They make you feel numbed out, stoned and simply dopey, thus exhibiting their appeal. However, in effect, they also strip users of much of their creative ability while it feels as though they are filling a void the user didn’t know existed.
Some doctors believe functional medicine is the answer. This style of treatment is that the physician takes in account the whole person, and they aren’t treating just one problem. This method is certainly more natural, and it doesn’t come in conflict with conventional medicine. If it were more widely integrated into our country’s medical system, we would be looking at a world where people would know what drugs they are being prescribed, and would better understand why they are using them. Narcotics would be harder to get ahold of and only prescribed when absolutely necessary. That being said, the most meaningful aspect of functional medicine in regards to the sudden deaths of so many beloved celebrities, is the recognition that every single body is different; each person metabolizes drugs differently, creating completely subjective experiences. An expanded understanding of functional medicine would vastly transform the way we view medication.
