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Think about it!
Society gets all worked up about illegal drugs. Those who use them are ostracized as criminals. Millions are spent to enforce strict laws. Hefty prison terms are imposed. And yet, more people by far, die from abusing legal prescription medications than from overdosing on illegal drugs.
In 2006, for example, of 476 drug-related deaths investigated by Utah's Medical Examiner, 307 were caused by legal prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Fewer than a fourth of the deaths - 96 of them - were caused by illegal drugs.
For comparison, car wrecks took fewer lives that year.
The information has prompted the Utah Department of Health to launch an education campaign intended to stop this alarming trend. In the words of the Health Department's Director, "Too many Utahns feel they can self-medicate . . . so they aren't following the directions given by their healthcare providers."
Beyond the failure to follow instructions, KSL wonders what this information says about our contemporary drug-obsessed culture, where pills are promoted for virtually every malady, real or imagined.
Certainly, medications should be used "only as directed." We encourage Utahns to heed the warning. In our view, though, there should be an addendum to the health department's campaign: "Use only as legitimately needed."
