Comments for Grumpy Old Chemist http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:05:47 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Not yet available by flats http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/not-yet-available/#comment-466 flats Sun, 16 Mar 2008 10:05:47 +0000 http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/?p=55#comment-466 I must take a dozen of tablets mate! I love automedicate, and I think you could be a great doc! cheers I must take a dozen of tablets mate! I love automedicate, and I think you could be a great doc! cheers

]]> Comment on I am really sweet and cuddly… by The *Angriest* Pharmacist » Blog Archive » I have a new admirer… http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/04/11/i-am-really-sweet-and-cuddly/#comment-463 The *Angriest* Pharmacist » Blog Archive » I have a new admirer… Mon, 18 Feb 2008 04:51:38 +0000 http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/04/11/i-am-really-sweet-and-cuddly/#comment-463 [...] http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/04/11/i-am-really-sweet-and-cuddly/ [...] [...] http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/04/11/i-am-really-sweet-and-cuddly/ [...]

]]> Comment on Treating addicts by Fenella Lemonsky http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/treating-addicts/#comment-390 Fenella Lemonsky Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:00:53 +0000 http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/treating-addicts/#comment-390 I have no idea which clinic you rang but there is very cleardirective now by the Drug Treatment agency about the management of methadone reduction. All substance misuse service services offer support and clear guidance on reduction as well as motivation. Many many people recuce their methadone intake considerably through the SM services. A smaller propertion with dual diagnosis remain on methadone for many years. reasons are not because they cannot go cold turkey. They have complex reasons and it would be wrong to lump everyone in the same box. Many can go through good detaox and develop a very good drug free life. However there is a smaller group of people who because oftheir prefrontal cortex being deficient in highly arousal states which makes impulsion very difficult find despite very actietreatment they remain on drugs for years. This is not a failing of the system or of the addicts themselves. UNtil a decent dual diagnosis service is offerred locally with real resources the difficulties will remain. There is substantial clinical evidence into addiction and neurobiologcical factors and it is the same difficulties that people with anorexisa for example have where they have problems with hyperarousal. It is far too complex to go into here-but saying cold turkey is all well and good but if someone lacks the capacity to take treatment on board you need to consider this . I am not condoning methadone intake merely pointing out that you only see the ones addicted and not the whole picture-you don't see the ones who have been treated successfully through the hard work of the drug and alcohol service and shared care scheme. There is now very clear guidance based on evidence based practice on withdrawal and cold turkey is outdated practice and dangerous. I have no idea which clinic you rang but there is very cleardirective now by the Drug Treatment agency about the management of methadone reduction. All substance misuse service services offer support and clear guidance on reduction as well as motivation. Many many people recuce their methadone intake considerably through the SM services. A smaller propertion with dual diagnosis remain on methadone for many years. reasons are not because they cannot go cold turkey. They have complex reasons and it would be wrong to lump everyone in the same box. Many can go through good detaox and develop a very good drug free life. However there is a smaller group of people who because oftheir prefrontal cortex being deficient in highly arousal states which makes impulsion very difficult find despite very actietreatment they remain on drugs for years. This is not a failing of the system or of the addicts themselves.
UNtil a decent dual diagnosis service is offerred locally with real resources the difficulties will remain.
There is substantial clinical evidence into addiction and neurobiologcical factors and it is the same difficulties that people with anorexisa for example have where they have problems with hyperarousal. It is far too complex to go into here-but saying cold turkey is all well and good but if someone lacks the capacity to take treatment on board you need to consider this .
I am not condoning methadone intake merely pointing out that you only see the ones addicted and not the whole picture-you don’t see the ones who have been treated successfully through the hard work of the drug and alcohol service and shared care scheme.

There is now very clear guidance based on evidence based practice on withdrawal and cold turkey is outdated practice and dangerous.

]]> Comment on Treating addicts by grumpyoldchemist http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/treating-addicts/#comment-389 grumpyoldchemist Tue, 30 Oct 2007 12:09:24 +0000 http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/treating-addicts/#comment-389 I read this today, "Drug addicts in general are people who abuse the social system to their own gain; they find it easy to be victims of social injustice yet unwilling to help themselves." - Terry Maguire, Pharmaceutical Journal, 6 Oct. 2007 I know that sometimes addicts find it hard to get treatment but when they do it seems to be from people who will not just say no. There is no encouragement to get off drugs completely unless the addicts ask for it. The supposed treatment consists of maintaining them on as much methadone as is thought to be needed. That level is not reduced unless the addict wants it. Who encourages them to reduce? Not their prescribers it seems. I once rang up a leading N.H.S. clinic having seen that an addict had received no reduction in dose over a period of years. I was told the policy was for no reduction unless requested. They call this treatment? I think not. It is addiction maintenance not treatment. Turkeys do not vote for Christmas, Cold turkey is a banned meat. We have a dependency culture maintained by our government for the benefit of public sector employees . Less dependency means fewer public sector jobs. It is all about turkeys not voting for Christmas. This tax payer has had enough. As I said. I have to buy my own comforts. They are not prescribed free of charge and I am not asking for them to be either. I treat addicts and alcoholics without discrimination. I think I should give them love. That means giving them what I think is best for them. Alcoholics are not given alcohol. Why should addicts be given methadone? They need tough love not the kind at present on offer. The system is not working and never will. Intensive support during planned reduction is what is needed when cold turkey is too unpalatable. I read this today, “Drug addicts in general are people who abuse the social system to their own gain; they find it easy to be victims of social injustice yet unwilling to help themselves.” – Terry Maguire, Pharmaceutical Journal, 6 Oct. 2007

I know that sometimes addicts find it hard to get treatment but when they do it seems to be from people who will not just say no. There is no encouragement to get off drugs completely unless the addicts ask for it. The supposed treatment consists of maintaining them on as much methadone as is thought to be needed. That level is not reduced unless the addict wants it. Who encourages them to reduce? Not their prescribers it seems. I once rang up a leading N.H.S. clinic having seen that an addict had received no reduction in dose over a period of years. I was told the policy was for no reduction unless requested. They call this treatment? I think not. It is addiction maintenance not treatment. Turkeys do not vote for Christmas, Cold turkey is a banned meat. We have a dependency culture maintained by our government for the benefit of public sector employees . Less dependency means fewer public sector jobs. It is all about turkeys not voting for Christmas. This tax payer has had enough. As I said. I have to buy my own comforts. They are not prescribed free of charge and I am not asking for them to be either.

I treat addicts and alcoholics without discrimination. I think I should give them love. That means giving them what I think is best for them. Alcoholics are not given alcohol. Why should addicts be given methadone? They need tough love not the kind at present on offer. The system is not working and never will. Intensive support during planned reduction is what is needed when cold turkey is too unpalatable.

]]> Comment on Treating addicts by Fenella Lemonsky http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/treating-addicts/#comment-388 Fenella Lemonsky Sun, 28 Oct 2007 10:52:06 +0000 http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/treating-addicts/#comment-388 Substance misuse like personality disorder is treated with contempt and judgement by non mental health professionals. I work jolly hard with Barnet Drug and Alcohol Service, Dr Neil Margerison the consultant psychiatrist for substance misuse and the shared care scheme to help both service user and professionals including pharmacists involved to understand that they should not place any stigma or discrimation than someone picking up heart medicine (because they drank too much!) .We run a conferece every year to which pharmacists come and participate. Substance misuse is very complex and many have a personality disrder which is a severe and enduring mental illness and have had extremely troubled broken lives where they were sexually, physically or emotionally abused from an early age and have not the loving nurturing family support that many others have to help them feel loved, safe and secure and grow up stable. Instead of passing judgement why not offer them friendship and support which many of them so crave after a lifetime of abuse and deprivation. If you have any concerns about any addict BDAS is always available for advice. Substance misuse like personality disorder is treated with contempt and judgement by non mental health professionals.
I work jolly hard with Barnet Drug and Alcohol Service, Dr Neil Margerison the consultant psychiatrist for substance misuse and the shared care scheme to help both service user and professionals including pharmacists involved to understand that they should not place any stigma or discrimation than someone picking up heart medicine (because they drank too much!) .We run a conferece every year to which pharmacists come and participate.
Substance misuse is very complex and many have a personality disrder which is a severe and enduring mental illness and have had extremely troubled broken lives where they were sexually, physically or emotionally abused from an early age and have not the loving nurturing family support that many others have
to help them feel loved, safe and secure and grow up stable.
Instead of passing judgement why not offer them friendship and support which many of them so crave after a lifetime of abuse and deprivation.
If you have any concerns about any addict BDAS is always available for advice.

]]> Comment on Treating addicts by Joe http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/treating-addicts/#comment-386 Joe Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:25:00 +0000 http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/treating-addicts/#comment-386 Hmmm, seems cool. Joe joestain13@yahoo.com Hmmm, seems cool.

Joe joestain13@yahoo.com

]]> Comment on Treating addicts by Micah Tillman http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/treating-addicts/#comment-385 Micah Tillman Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:12:44 +0000 http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/10/18/treating-addicts/#comment-385 *laugh* Excellent parallels, I think. *laugh* Excellent parallels, I think.

]]> Comment on Tea leaves by sarah http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/tea-leaves/#comment-372 sarah Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:01:01 +0000 http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/tea-leaves/#comment-372 the reps are mean with pens these days need more pens we got a pile the size of italy of damn post its MORE PENS!! the reps are mean with pens these days need more pens we got a pile the size of italy of damn post its MORE PENS!!

]]> Comment on More of the nanny state by Steph http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/03/09/more-of-the-nanny-state/#comment-356 Steph Tue, 18 Sep 2007 05:23:37 +0000 http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/03/09/more-of-the-nanny-state/#comment-356 Also if we could do away with dirty attorneys who would sue us for refusing to sell pseudoephedrine to greasy, dirty-nailed, toothless scumbags who need dozens of tablets per week. That would go a long ways, but we're not allowed to exercise common sense in the USA any more. Thank you, law "profession" for ruining my great country. (Also not allowed to run at school recess anymore, for the same reason, but I digress.) Also if we could do away with dirty attorneys who would sue us for refusing to sell pseudoephedrine to greasy, dirty-nailed, toothless scumbags who need dozens of tablets per week. That would go a long ways, but we’re not allowed to exercise common sense in the USA any more. Thank you, law “profession” for ruining my great country. (Also not allowed to run at school recess anymore, for the same reason, but I digress.)

]]> Comment on Mental health and medication by Panic Away News http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/02/24/mental-health-and-medication/#comment-251 Panic Away News Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:08:44 +0000 http://grumpyoldchemist.wordpress.com/2007/02/24/mental-health-and-medication/#comment-251 <strong>Panic Away</strong> This helped me out of those DARK PLACES. Panic Away

This helped me out of those DARK PLACES.

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