State of the Union 2016: Be Aware, Don't Share

Tuesday January 12, 2016.

What does this date mean? It could mean absolutely anything but in the world of prescription drugs, January 12 is a whole new beginning.

President Obama in his State of the Union address promised to provide assistance and focus on prescription drug abuse. President Obama stated prescription drug abuse would be a bipartisan first concern.

"Tonight marks the eighth year I've come here to report on the State of the Union. And for this final one, I'm going to try to make it shorter. I know some of you are antsy to get back to Iowa. I also understand that because it's an election season, expectations for what we'll achieve this year are low. Still, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the constructive approach you and the other leaders took at the end of last year to pass
a budget and make tax cuts permanent for working families. So I hope we can work together this year on bipartisan priorities like criminal justice reform, and helping people who are battling prescription drug abuse. We just might surprise the cynics again."

 President Obama issued a Memorandum to Federal Departments and Agencies back in October with two important steps to help and combat prescription drug abuse:

1. Prescriber Training.

1. Improving Access to Treatment

The release from the White House stated, "More Americans now die every year from drug overdoses than they do in motor vehicle crashes and the majority of those overdoses involve prescription medications. Health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for opioid pain medications in 2012 – enough for every American adult to have a bottle of pills.  Opioids are a class of prescription pain medications that includes hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, and methadone.  Heroin belongs to the same class of drugs, and four in five heroin users started out by misusing prescription opioid pain medications.

In 2010, the President released his first National Drug Control Strategy, which emphasized the need for action to address opioid use disorders and overdose, while ensuring that individuals with pain receive safe, effective treatment.  Since then, the Administration has supported and expanded community-based efforts to prevent drug use, pursue ‘smart on crime’ approaches to drug enforcement, improve prescribing practices for pain medication, increase access to treatment, work to reduce overdose deaths, and support the millions of Americans in recovery."

This is a major issue in our country. Today's news headlines are filled with stories about "pill mills" and "doc shopping," and while they are real problems, they are not the primary suppliers.  Neither are typical drug dealers on the street. 

So where do they get it, and what exactly is “it?”  It is the typical pharmacy drug found in average household medicine cabinets across the United States.  That means that the person who is subscribed the medication has become the supplier and does not even realize it. That means, it’s you and me, parents and grandparents, friends and family.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2013) that 67 percent of the abused drugs come from friends and families.  Naturally, adults keep their prescription medications accessible so they have it when they need it – in the bathroom, on the nightstand, on the kitchen counter, in her purse.  But what adults don’t realize is these medications are now handy for teens to take.  Parents and grandparents, the "unwitting suppliers," must be made aware and not share their medications. What’s the solution?  What can we do to help combat this problem?  

The solution is Awareness.  Simply put, if we make people aware, they won’t share.

The President's announcement in October gives new efforts at the federal, state, local, and private sector aimed at addressing the prescription drug and heroin epidemic. In addition, CBS, ABC, the New York Times, Google, the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and other companies will donate media space for Public Service Announcements about the risks of prescription drug misuse.

I hope in 2016 we can make this a reality. 

To see more facts visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/10/21/fact-sheet-obama-administration-announces-public-and-private-sector.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Again! It has been a whirlwind of a month! From traveling to the Big 10 Championship, taking finals, Christmas, New Years, and the Rose Bowl I have been on the go! Like Always! :)

I began December with an outstanding trip to Indianapolis, Indiana for the Big 10 Championship. I was proud and honored to have been able to watch my Hawkeyes. The atmosphere surrounding the game was unreal. Hawkeye fans out numbered Spartan fans 4 to 1 which was evident in the stadium. Even though we did not win the game, the support and Hawkeye pride could not have been out matched.

As soon as I returned from Indianapolis, it was time to cram for finals. Though this is generally the most stressful time of the semester, I have taught myself many ways to relax and not have a panic attack during studying. My favorite way to relax is to color! That's right! I buy myself a coloring book and engage my imagination. I find coloring is a fabulous way to calm and center my mind during the strenuous time. So the next time you feel stressed, grab some colors and take an adventure into your childhood.

Christmas was a family affair. My family stuck with tradition this year. We attended mass Christmas Eve and waited for Santa to tell us if we were naughty or nice. Christmas day was full of the typical hustle and bustle. My Aunt Susie, Uncle Chris, cousin Will, Alex, and Andrea as well as my brother JT, sister-in-law Michelle, niece Charlotte, and nephew Camden arrived at our house. We opened gifts, feasted, and enjoyed each others company for a day and a half. Overall, It gives light and a reminder as to why this is the most joyous time of year.

My parents and I spent our New Years in California for the Rose Bowl. Once again cheering on our Iowa Hawkeyes. There is just something about Hawkeye football that makes the Lange gang travel. We arrived on Tuesday where we traveled to Long Beach to see the USS Iowa, a very eye-opening experience. We even made the KWWL news! We finished our first day at California Adventure where my mother and I went on the BEST rolla coster ever, California Screamin'.

Wednesday we went to the President's Tailgate in downtown Los Angeles. Afterward, we traveled to Hollywood Boulevard and saw the walk of stars. On our way back to the hotel, we were stuck in traffic for two hours!! Talk about a nightmare.

On Thursday, we woke up bright and early to travel to Catalina Island. Catalina is absolutely gorgeous. The sights were breath taking which were enhanced further when my mother and I zip lined through the canon. We drove a golf cart around the island in order to take in all of the views and ate a little seafood bistro right on the ocean. All in all, a fabulous and long day. 

Finally, New Years Day arrived and it was time for the football game. We started our morning at the Rose Bowl Parade. The floats were extraordinary with thousands upon thousands of flowers used to decorate them. After the parade, we made our way down to the Rose Bowl stadium for a pre-game alumni tailgate and the game. Although the game did not turn out how everyone wanted, the day surrounding the Rose Bowl was an experience in itself. 

December has treated me well. I look forward to the next month and the opportunities that it brings. Tonight I want to talk about motivation. Motivation is what drives us all. It gives us the courage to do things we may not have thought we could. Where does motivation come from? Where do we find it? Motivation comes from everything that surrounds us and what makes us happy. Whether that be your favorite team winning or your family, motivation is all around us. We find our motivation in the "little" victories each day. Even if that victory is choosing an apple instead of a cookie. Celebrate those. They give you the motivation to continue to push toward your goals whether they be long term or short term. Have a fabulous January!