The surprising and sudden death of musical superstar Prince bears to light the increasing problems and challenges our society faces with the onslaught of opioid-based pain medications. Prince, long considered a genius for his ground-breaking musical creativity that crossed so many boundaries, was found unconscious in his Paisley Park compound recently. Although many close to the icon suspect that sleep deprivation played a role in his death, the legendary performer, who was just 57, was found with a prescription opioid medication, leading to initial conclusions that these powerful pain killers also contributed to his untimely death. Prince had been treated a few days prior to his death for a potential overdose of pain medication, which had forced his plane to make an emergency landing, where he was then taken to a nearby hospital and released a few hours later.
According to Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s chief medical correspondent, opioid medications are widely used, and their use can oftentimes cause addiction problems. “There are plenty of people out there who get legitimate pain pills for legitimate pain concerns and they do well,” Gupta said. “They come off of them with no problem, but there’s a certain percentage of people who do become addicted to these, meaning they have to keep taking them.” Although Prince had undergone hip surgery, it is unclear if his opioid prescription was being taken for this particular health issue, or if perhaps he had developed an addiction to the medication after his recovery from surgery.
Whether a person suffers from alcohol addiction or from drug addiction, such as opioids, the first step to taking control of one’s life is seeking effective treatment. Locating and sourcing a qualified drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation center will enable you or a family member who suffers from addiction the professional, patient-centered recovery plan necessary to regain control of one’s life. Don’t wait until addiction takes over and becomes destructive. Move forward, recognize there is a serious problem, and begin the journey to a full recovery today.
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