Media Stupidness

I am not a regular consumer of news or just about anything published by the large main stream media companies. I have however seen some coverage the past few weeks about the overdose of Demi Lovato and I have to say I’m angry at the stupidness (probably not a real word)

First let me say that I am hopeful that this young lady will recover and get the help that she needs to get and stay sober. As you all know if you follow me, I have a child in recovery. What infuriates me is the fact that there are millions and I mean millions of people addicted to some type of substance in this country but it is not important or news worthy until it impacts a celebrity. 

I wonder if the media actually did some journalistic research and continued to run the facts about addiction as a regular reoccurring conversation if perhaps society might learn something.

Such as: 

1. Misuse of prescription opioids is increasingly recognized as one of the nation’s most significant public health problems because it can lead to physical and mental impairment and even death (NIDA Research Reports, 2005; Simoni-Wastila and Strickler, 2004; Zacny et al., 2003; Denisco et al., 2008; Compton and Volkow, 2006; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2009; Okie, 2010). 
2. Though there is no standard definition of misuse, common definitions range from “taking a medication in a manner other than prescribed or for a different condition than that for which it was prescribed,” to “intentional self-administration for non-medical purposes, such as getting high” (Compton and Volkow, 2006; Denisco et al., 2008). 
3. Data from the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) indicate that 12.7% of the general population aged 26 and older report lifetime misuse of prescription pain relievers and that 1.6% report past 30 day misuse, with higher rates among some subgroups (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2009).

It saddens me that the media continues to state how Demi is going through withdrawals and that she is still being treated for whatever her symptom is that day. 

• Fact, when you use drugs and then stop (forced or otherwise) you go through withdrawal, duh. 
• If you are given Nar can, you go into withdrawal shortly after. 

So my plight is to leave this girl alone and let her get healthy and switch the focus to publicizing the problem in this country with drug addiction instead of a person.