But they're legal?!?!?

[Gob]

A total of 176 Victorians died of drug overdoses in the first half of this year - and the overwhelming majority of the deaths involved prescription drugs.

Figures released by the Coroners Court on Tuesday show the contribution of prescription drugs - 82 per cent of overdose deaths - far outweighed those of illicit drugs (44 per cent) and alcohol (30 per cent), with some deaths caused by a combination of drug types.

The figures put Victoria on track to exceed last year's total of 367 drug overdose deaths - higher than the road toll - and have prompted calls for increased drug treatment services.

Victoria's drug toll.
They show minor tranquillisers called benzodiazepines have overtaken opioids as the prescription drug type most commonly associated with drug deaths.

The tranquillisers - including alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax - contributed to 102 deaths in the first half of this year.

Prescription opioids, such as oxycodone and fentanyl, contributed to 94 deaths. Heroin was involved in 67 deaths.

A Coroner's Court analysis of overdose deaths in 2010, 2011 and 2012 revealed that the City of Yarra had the highest rate of drug deaths in Victoria. The municipality, which includes Richmond, Collingwood and Fitzroy, was followed by the cities of Port Phillip (which includes St Kilda) and Melbourne.

The analysis also looked at drug deaths within Melbourne-based Medicare Locals, which are organisations that co-ordinate primary care in different areas. By Medicare Local areas, Frankston/Mornington Peninsula and inner north-west Melbourne had the highest rate of deaths involving prescription drugs.

Inner north-west Melbourne also had the highest rates of deaths involving illegal drugs and alcohol as well as the the highest rate of deaths involving prescription tranquillisers and opioids.

Frankston/Mornington Peninsula had the highest rates of deaths involving antidepressants and antipsychotics.

The figures also showed a higher rate of drug deaths in regional Victoria compared with Melbourne, when measured against population.

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association executive officer Sam Biondo said the figures were cause for concern.

The higher death rates in regional Victoria could be blamed partly on difficulties in access to treatment due to ''a scarcity of resources and overburdened health and welfare services'', he said.

Mr Biondo said the data provided insight into drug harms by region and allowed for tailored responses that should include a supervised injecting room in the City of Yarra.

He said increased access to pharmacotherapy such as methadone was vital to driving down drug deaths, as were needle and syringe and pain management programs. Mr Biondo renewed calls for a ''real-time prescription monitoring system'' to alert doctors and pharmacists to individuals obtaining multiple prescriptions from various doctors to feed addictions. Federal and state governments say they are working to develop such a system.

Australia's drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, will also place more stringent restrictions on access to Xanax from next February. A licence will be required to prescribe the drug for longer than eight weeks or to a drug-dependent person.



Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/presc ... z2fsCv3xcv

[MajGenl.Meade]

Victoria's drug toll.
They show minor tranquillisers called benzodiazepines

Be fair! What would you have taken if you had to marry Albert?

[Rick]

So that was the Victorians Secret

[oldr_n_wsr]

Australia's drug regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, will also place more stringent restrictions on access to Xanax from next February. A licence will be required to prescribe the drug for longer than eight weeks or to a drug-dependent person.

So who can prescribe Xanax now?

I took a Xanax once (prescribed to me by my doctor for anxiety). Crazy stuff. I flushed the rest of the pills.

[rubato]

Benzodiazepines were a common drug of abuse in the late 60s-ish before the potential for abuse was as well known. These are all by Rx here. The amount needed to OD is quite a lot unless combined with opiates or alcohol.

A lot of anxious people in Australia?



yrs,
rubato

[dales]

Hey, rube.....................................................................got any 'ludes?

[kristina]

Had three Xanax last week; one the night before gum surgery (including some bone grafts), and two the morning of the procedure. Wow. Them things is strong. I don't think I could ever take them and function in the world...

[Joe Guy]

Figures released by the Coroners Court on Tuesday show the contribution of prescription drugs - 82 per cent of overdose deaths - far outweighed those of illicit drugs (44 per cent) and alcohol (30 per cent), with some deaths caused by a combination of drug types.

Coincidence Alert!!!

Most people legally own guns who accidentally or on purpose kill themselves with their guns.

Far outweighing self inflicted death by an illegal gun...

[oldr_n_wsr]

Figures released by the Coroners Court on Tuesday show the contribution of prescription drugs - 82 per cent of overdose deaths - far outweighed those of illicit drugs (44 per cent) and alcohol (30 per cent), with some deaths caused by a combination of drug types.

How many of those "prescriptions" were obtained by doctor shoppers and/or were overprescribed the drugs? And the "combination" deaths, how many of those were taken when they were told not to take the drugs in combo?

Tell an addict "don't take these two drugs together" and you know they are both down the hatch.

[Guinevere]

Had three Xanax last week; one the night before gum surgery (including some bone grafts), and two the morning of the procedure. Wow. Them things is strong. I don't think I could ever take them and function in the world...

Who wrote that scrip for you? I never take more than half at a time, and no more than one half every 24 hours. They send me to lalala land even then.

[Guinevere]

And for the record, taking any medication for an off-label use, or using it not in accord with the instructions/labeling *is* illegal.

[rubato]

Had three Xanax last week; one the night before gum surgery (including some bone grafts), and two the morning of the procedure. Wow. Them things is strong. I don't think I could ever take them and function in the world...

Who wrote that scrip for you? I never take more than half at a time, and no more than one half every 24 hours. They send me to lalala land even then.

.25mg .5mg or 1mg doses are available.


yrs,
rubato

[Guinevere]

Had three Xanax last week; one the night before gum surgery (including some bone grafts), and two the morning of the procedure. Wow. Them things is strong. I don't think I could ever take them and function in the world...

Who wrote that scrip for you? I never take more than half at a time, and no more than one half every 24 hours. They send me to lalala land even then.

.25mg .5mg or 1mg doses are available.


yrs,
rubato

Good point.

[TPFKA@W]

It was gum surgery and I am sure the point was to send her to far off lalaland, a fine destination when one is facing oral surgery.

[kristina]

It was gum surgery and I am sure the point was to send her to far off lalaland, a fine destination when one is facing oral surgery.

Exactly! Lalaland was the best destination. But not one I think I'd like to inhabit daily...

[dgs49]

So Mr. Gobster, here's my question: Did anybody try to ascertain what percentage of the deaths from these prescription medications was VOLUNTARY? Surely, some of them were suicides.