The numbers are staggering when it comes to the epidemic of prescription pain pill abuse in America. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and drug companies propagate a problem that just keeps growing. You can help, but you don't.
It seems to me as licensed pill pushers, complacency has overtaken our resolve to overlook the degradation of humanity for the sake of "pain control".
Before you react to what I write, read a bit more. I understand analgesia. Analgesia revolutionized the medical world by making it possible to perform procedures that saved lives. Analgesia still has its place in medicine. It always will. At what cost? At what sacrifice? At whose benefit? Pharmaceuticals are a multibillion dollar industry. The almighty dollar RULES. I can accept the reality that I cannot beat big business.
I don't have to support it either. The status quo is meant to be challenged. If it wasn't, the United Kingdom flag would be flying and waving over America today.
Now, I ask you, fellow health care providers of America, are you prepared to question the status quo?
It is so much easier to acquiesce, it seems to do so will lessen the pressure on our already weakened backbone.
What has become of free will? Has absolutism replaced common sense to the point that quality of life can be sacrificed? I would like to believe this is not the case.
There exist a partial solution to the current epidemic of which I have been writing about. It's cost effective, easily learned, and will benefit everyone! Except pharmaceutical companies. That's the gut wrencher. The poor drug companies will lose revenue. Is this an outcome America can survive? I think we can. I think we should. I thonk there is still time to have an impact on this epidemic. An impact we can be proud of and look back on and say, "We did it"!
In 1958 the American Medical Association approved a paper on the medical uses of hypnosis. Two years later the American Psychological Association included hypnosis as a branch of psychology. During the civil war hypnosurgery was widely used due to the lack of anesthesia product availability. Today, hypnobirthing as been widely accepted as beneficial not only for the mother but fir the newborn as well. Faster delivery, less stress on the neonate, less bleeding, and less discomfort. Winners all the way around.
Are you feeling me colleagues? Will you join the cause? For your patients, for your community, for humanity? Contributing to the epidemic is not humane. It is in fact counterproductive.
Where do we start? I think the answer is clear. We start with US.
As health care providers, licenced professionals, we learn about the dangerous side effects of medications. Hypnosis is a completely normal and natural tool available to us for use on rhose we care for. Those we look out for. Those we advocate for.
Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAMs), or Integrative Medicine had has made itself known in the medical community, tet resistance persists by the old guard that must have scientific proof of the efficacy of something new. Budget restrictions, training facilities, and other factors must be addressed. Progress is slow. CAMs are making such an impact, the need for Certified Hypnotists is expected to rise every year in the next decade.
So I present this idea. Learn to utilize this complementary medicine in your practice. I have, and the results have been phenomenal. Hypnosis works. It's not a magic wand and it's not for everyone. It is an option worth investigating.
Just imagine your patients being less stressed during recovery. Less opiod analgesics means more alert patients. Increased active participation in rehabilitation. OIC (opiod induced constipation ) reduced. Paralytic ileus problems eliminated. Central nervous system, cardiovascular, and respiratory failures avoided.
Drug abuse and addiction potential reduced.
That's my partial solution. I think it's a start. I think it's a viable option. I think we all win.
I leave it to you for consideration and discussion in your forums. Change is never simple, acceptance even more difficult. We have to start somewhere or we'll have no ending.
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
I understand and respect what you're saying.
If you look at my post earlier, and some of the other posters, most of us do give credence to hypnosis, guided imagery, mindfulness, and HELL yea, I will always take a foot rub, as at least to be used in conjunction with pain meds!
joe a. is making some pretty bold claims in his OP, and then dodging our requests for info. Any other nurse here would be expected to put up the links.