Carolyn
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 2197
Location: Abertillery
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 Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject: Blaenau Gwent MP leads prescription drugs probe |
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| Quote: | A GWENT MP whose mother died after battling an addiction to prescription drugs is heading up a group of MPs to look at the issue.
Blaenau Gwent MP Dai Davies was appointed chairman of an all-party group which will look into addictions to prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Mr Davies was chosen to lead the group by MPs from the three major parties after a debate on addiction to medicine on June 16.
Mr Davies’ mother Eleanor was hooked on seven prescription drugs, including Valium, between 1987 and 1992.
She was also buying medicine such as Gaviscon over the counter and was admitted to Maindiff Court, Abergavenny, a clinic for people with drug problems, for six weeks.
The cocktail of drugs caused her blood to reach a high toxic level which Mr Davies believes caused her death in 1992 when she was 64.
She was found dead by Mr Davies at her home after taking an overdose.
Mr Davies, who worked at the Ebbw Vale steelworks for 26 years, said there were three main issues he wanted to address during his time as chairman.
These are the ease with which drugs should be prescribed were available over the counter and the understanding of mental health and how to treat it without immediately medicating people.
Mr Davies said he would like to see options of care and cognitive behaviour therapy explored instead of turning to medicine.
He also said people should know the differences between illness, such as cold or flu, a condition, including diabetes, and an addiction.
He said: “If you mis-prescribe an illness, it can become a condition or an addiction.
“My mother had a mental health condition which was treated like an illness, she was prescribed drugs which became an addiction and ultimately, I think, caused her death.”
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http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/...P_leads_prescription_drugs_probe/
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My life is no rehearsal There'll be no curtain call encore, so I've thrown my screwed up script away to ad lib my life once more! |
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