Now we know how Michael Jackson may have died, but do you know how his death may affect you personally? Drug abusers' defrauding the system provokes reaction, and usually new controls. Feel sorry for everyone involved in this tragedy, but don't leave yourself out.
Don't like having to wait in line and show identification to get allergy medications containing pseudoephederine? Blame the "Bevis and Buthead" types who bought as much of the cold medicine as they could get their hands on so they could cook up batches of methamphetamine.
Don't like the hassle of actually having to run out of your medicines before insurance companies will permit a refill? Blame painkiller abusers who swallow, snort or shoot up about a month's supply of drugs like Oxycontin in just a few days.
And you won't like your state's government inquiring about what may be a legitimate reason for you seeing more than one doctor or your filling prescriptions at more than one pharmacy. Yet, these are the types of actions which can trigger suspicions of prescription drug monitoring programs designed to prevent abusers' doctor shopping and to catch corrupt physicians.
Coddling drug abusers helps no one. The truth is that people like Michael Jackson who abuse or misuse medications make it hard for everyone. If only we could appropriately impugn those responsible for the aggravation. When I think of stepped up enforcement of prescription monitoring programs I won't "blame it on the boogie" - I'll blame smooth criminals.
