By: attagirl on 2/21/10
Why don't we place a little blame on the doctors who initially prescribe these meds. The patients who start with legitimate injuries and who are treated with pain meds are not monitored closely enough to prevent addition, or when they are addicted, the doctor just dumps them and says "no more."

By: Oompa on 2/22/10
I will tell ya my opinion on this problem! It is the same opinion as William Buckley the Founder of National Review had for 30 years, (God Rest his Soul!). Legalize FIRST Marijuana!
I have serious chronic back pain, serious and along with that now increasing rage and nervous anxiety that affects my heart!
It is OK, It is acceptable to take a pill or a Valium,----anyone who does NOT know a female in their circle who has a 5 mg Valium in their purse? Why; because in the South it is OK to take a "Pill" for the "VAPORS". My word I am getting a touch of the vapors, I need to take a little ole pill.
A pill that addicts most weak willed people. 12 freaking states where I can get the drug I really need but NOT in the South, just take a prescription worse addictive pill for the "Vapors" and that is OK with everyone. Idiot culture! I have a track record of 3 years of NOT abusing those drugs and I do NOT want them! I want what is best for my body, but not around here in my lifetime because of the EXACT reason it was made illegal! Look it up, It is History! Marijuana was going to make white women have sex with black men. Well a little late to stop that now Huh?

By: Farmall on 2/22/10
Have you noticed that there is a drug store and sometimes two on every corner. Surprise, people are taking the stuff. Walgreens, Cvs, etc. they are there because people are buying this stuff right and left. Every time I go to a doctor I walk out with 1 to 3 prescriptions.

By: johncash on 2/22/10
oompa, if you hate the south so bad i have a little peice of advice for you. MOVE. take your hippy pot smoking rear end somewhere else. we dont need you done here. i remember when murfreesboro was a great place to live . now were just over run with all these junkies.....

By: attagirl on 2/22/10
johncash, you obviously know nothing about marijuana. There is no such thing as "reefer madness" but apparently you still buy into it. I know many, many professionals who smoke pot occasionally. Hemp has many valuable uses. Marijuana also has many valuable medicinal uses.

Stop being so closed-minded. Research and learn a little and you might be surprised.

Btw, unless your name is really John Cash, it's not cool to use that screenname.

By: johncash on 2/22/10
profesionals useing marijuana? that doesnt sound to profesional to me. and believe me in my line of work i deal with marijuana everyday. i agree it doesnt make you all strung out like all of the comercials dictate. but in alot of cases it tends to be a gateway drug. if its so good for you then why is it unlawful?

By: attagirl on 2/22/10
It's unlawful because it's a weed that the government can't control. The hysteria over pot in the 50's and 60's started it all, then Nancy Reagan sealed it with her "just say no" crap. There are many many societal benefits to be had from hemp and marijuana, but since it can't be mass produced and controled by the government, they will never make it legal. There's too much profit in keeping it illegal.

By: attagirl on 2/22/10
Yes, jc, professionals using pot. And it doesn't affect their ability to do their job one bit. It's not addictive. I've known lawyers, teachers, accountants, and even doctors who smoke pot. My money says if you surround yourself with 10 of your closest friends, at least 3-4 of them are pot users.

By: attagirl on 2/22/10
Here's an article from CNN today talking about the increased use of pot by older people.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100222/ap_on_re_us/us_seniors_marijuana

See, it's not just "hippies" as you called it.

By: johncash on 2/22/10
whatever im done here. cant talk since into a pot head.....

By: Oompa on 2/23/10
Since-----you meant sense correct? What are you drinking since you are not smoking. Two sentences, one with 4 words and one with 7 and you can't use a capital to start the sentence, you can't utilize an apostrophe at all and multiple periods after all that.
How long have you been out of Folsum Prison John? Excuse me but I have met Johnny Cash many times in my life and you are no John Cash!
Sorry, I am getting a touch of the "Vapors" now, I better take my legal acceptable drug instead of what is better for many people.
Oh yeah, I am NOT going anywhere. My great grandfather fought in the Civil war for the North from Tennessee. You might recall that Tennessee had MORE people fight for the North than any other Southern State FACT! I was 11b Recondo in Vietnam. I have earned my right to have an opinion in this state! I am not going anywhere!

By: MboroBlueEyes on 2/24/10
I think this problem has gotten really bad in Murfreesboro, and more out in the open. I have several chronic conditions and I have a monthly prescription of very strong narcotics that I pick up. The last time I picked up my prescription someone offered to buy it off of me as I was leaving the store.

From looking at the person that offered to buy it off of me I would have NEVER pegged that person as someone addicted to drugs or someone selling drugs. I guess it just goes to show don't judge a book by its cover.

But the sad thing is I can relate and I understand these people who have been prescribed a strong narcotic who develop an addiction to it. I have to be very careful about making sure I don't take too many even if I am in horrible pain, and when I feel like my tolerance level is building up I will go off of them completely for a few days (if possible) so that I can get pain relief with them again without having to increase my dosage! They are very addicting and in my opinion very easy to get.

I think doctors who prescribe these medications should be very careful about it, and should be required to follow up with the patients who are taking them. I'd imagine many of these narcotic addicts did at one time have a valid prescription to the medication (or still do)...

On another note though, when I go pick up my prescription I'm sometimes confronted with very rude or almost accusatory comments from the pharmacy tech that is getting my prescription. There are people just like me who really do need these medications in order to function during the day, and are careful about not abusing them and only taking what is necessary to get by.

By: Oompa on 2/24/10
MboroBlueEyes, I concur with your description of the everyday situation. After all, most people who get these drugs do abuse them, but my doctor would boot me out the door if I came close to abusing them and I too hurt much of the time to manage them properly. Once I saw a patient around 40 storm out of his office and scream, "shoot I will just get them on the street I don't need you etc!"
I am just upset that drug that stops my need for all of those addictive drugs is available in many states but will only be legal here the day after I die? I could sell my bottle of one drug for $900 each month, ya know a ton of ibruprofen and I could make almost $12,000 a year but I NEED THEM! I just want what I know works and so do many other states and please don't anyone start with the "gateway" thingy again. Maryjane is NOT addictive except psychologically and for that matter what isn't? Its simple, if you ever knew anyone who actually used the drug for pain etc, then you know it works and otherwise, you are just stuck stating the same old reefer madness lies! I wish I could drink alcohol, but alas my DNA rejects it or I would stay blitzed all day long and no one would care as long as I did not drive!
It is not just the Boro, it is America