LETTERS TO THE EDITORS: DRUG ABUSE ONLY CREATES PROBLEMS

To the Editor;

This letter is in response to John Cook's editorial which appeared in the March 3rd edition of the Southeast Missourian.

Although I feel John Cook is an excellent criminal attorney and a smooth litigator, I feel he needs to be educated in the areas of Pharmacology, drug abuse and crime.

First, Mr. Cook claimed Mary Polk had stolen nothing correct, stealing is a crime and she did not steal. However, fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance is a felony according to the Missouri State Board of Pharmacy Law. I am not a lawyer, but I think a felony is considered a crime.

Second, Mr. Cook claimed that she has hurt no one but herself. That is not true. True, she did hurt herself, but being impaired on the job does hurt patients. Example: when she worked at a local hospital she obtained drugs that were to be given to patients. Omitting pain medications is hurting patients. Also, the duties of a nurse in a doctors office require alert and careful thinking. Accurate documentation of doctors orders, test results, and care plans are imperative to provide quality patient care.

Mr. Cook stated, "none of the drugs Mary ever used ould impair her ability to be a nurse." He also stated, "The drugs that were abused do not affect the ability to nurse." As a Pharmacist, please allou me to educate Mr. Cook on the side effects of the drugs she was taking. Fastin is a drug which is used as an appetite suppressor and has a chemical structure similar to amphetamines. This drug stimulates the central nervous system and can cause nervousness, tension, irritability, insomnia, dizziness, depression, and headaches. This drug can cause dependence, both physical and psychological and also has difficult ithdraal symptoms which may include depression, tremors, and stomach disturbances. Lorcet Plus is a combination drug containing Tylenol and hydrocodone. Hydrocodone is a narcotic analgesic and is chemically similar to codeine. Some of its side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, lightheadedness, and anxiety. It too may cause physical and psychological dependence, especially if used over a long period of time or at high doses.

Yes, I agree Mary is a good nurse---but only when she is drug free. She is kind, caring, and is wonderful with patients. But she has an addiction to drugs that has re-occurred. Drug abuse is difficult enough to stop, but placing a person back into the same environment which easily lures them to repeat the past is hurtful and wrong. Mary Polk is not a "bad" person. Mary Polk is a person with an addiction. Much like the recovering alcoholic, a reformed drug abuser is one pill away from being an addict again. I don't believe it would be easy for an alcoholic to work as a bartender or be a clerk in a liquor store.

I feel that Mary could still practice nursing and do a fine job. However, I do not think she should practice where she has access to addicting medications. Nurses have many options. She could be a school nurseJ teach prenatal care to the poor through state agencies or sell medical equipment. I am sure there are many other possibilities.

All medications have side effects. Some side effects are more obvious, while others may not be detected by others. All scheduled controlled substances such as Fastin and Lorcet Plus are addicting in varying degrees. The Drug Enforcement Agency very strict laws on these drugs due to their addicting properties. Doctors, Nurses, and Pharmacistsmust adhere to these laws or face the consequences. The fear of losing ones license, throwing away years of specialized medical education, and losing ones livelihood is enough to deter most health professiona from breaking the law. Unfortunately, Mary is not the first nor will she be the last to fall victim to drug addiction. Perhaps this will be a lesson for all that drugs, when abused, never solve any problems---they seem only to create them.

Sandi Essner

Cape Girardeau