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Ivy Tech Community College
Pain Medication, Addiction and Treatment
Pamela Genender
English 111
December 16, 2010
M. Bauman(1996), writes that on May 14, 1996, Brett Favre, hailed as the NFL’s most valuable player, appeared in Lambeau Field to make an announcement. This time, he wasn’t there to talk about his victories, this time , Brett Favre came with information that was shocking and sad. Favre came to announce that he was entering the NFL’s substance abuse program. He had developed an addiction to Vicodin, a narcotic pain medication prescribed by the team’s physician for an ankle injury months ago. Unfortunately, he wasn’t joining an exclusive club. He joins a growing list of Americans becoming addicted to prescription pain medications.
M. Jensen(2009), reports that former Eagles defensive tackle, Sam Rayburn acknowledged he had become addicted to prescription pain medication as well as others that include hip-hop artist Eminem, talk show host Rush Limbaugh and American Idol judge Paula Abdul to name a few.
Unfortunately, they are not the only ones. Although a growing list of average Americans are being prescribed opioid pain medications for legitimate reasons, an alarming percentage become addicted.
K.S. Stolley(2003), reports that opioid pain medications are a derivative of opium, the parent of heroin. It is a naturally occurring narcotic derived from the annual plant Papaver somniferous, also known as the opium poppy plant, or the “joy plant”. Opium has a long history dating back to 4000 B.C. or even earlier. It has been used for medicinal, religious and recreational purposes. It has also been the focus...