Are the drugs you’re taking doing you more harm than good?
By LOIS KINDLE
As people age, they often develop chronic conditions, sometimes several, and doctors generally turn to prescription medications to manage them.
That’s the way of the world in Western medicine.
Experts warn, however, that overmedication has become an epidemic, and many folks are worsening their health or, in some cases, losing their lives because of it. There are other alternatives, and the South Shore Coalition for Mental Health and Aging wants you to know about them.
On Oct. 10, the coalition’s annual fundraising banquet will be themed “Healthy Alternatives to Prescription Drugs,” and the public is invited to attend. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Florida Room at the Sun City Center Atrium building, 945-D N. Course Lane. It will include a catered, sit-down dinner.
Keynote speaker Kameroon Boykins, prevention coalition coordinator for Drug Free Sarasota, will present “Addressing the Opioid Crisis.”
Other topics for the evening will include: “Compassionate Senior Care,” Michael Fitzgerald, RN; “Safe Alternatives for Chronic Conditions,” Cameron Vance, Pharm.D.; “Are Your Meds Right for You,” Aime Lopez Aguilar, PhD; and “Cannabinoids and Mental Health,” Tina Patch, president of the CATE Foundation.
Gary White, MPH, will emcee the event, which will include a live Q&A with the audience.
A highlight of the evening will be Aguilar’s discussion about GeneSight genetic testing, a highly accurate tool for physicians that pinpoints the medications that work well for a patient and those that don’t.
“This test lets you and your doctor know if the medications you’re taking are being metabolized properly,” said Debbie Caneen, president of the South Shore Coalition for Mental Health and Aging. “Many people are taking drugs they can’t metabolize, ones that interact poorly with medications that do work. This can often lead to serious side effects and addictions, and people are needlessly suffering.
“If you or a loved one are on medications of any kind, you need to come to this event,” she continued. “Why guess when you can know?”
Christina Vollant, molecular sales consultant for Assurex Health, the company providing GeneSight testing for neuropsychiatric drugs and medications for pain, anxiety and ADHD, agrees.
“Pharmacogenomic testing looks at how a patient’s DNA responds to specific medications and tells the doctor which medications work best and which ones to avoid,” she said. “The goal is to get people on the right drugs faster and shorten their roads to recovery.
“This test significantly reduces the trial and error involved in both prescribing and taking drugs,” she added. “It’s covered by Medicare and commercial insurance plans.”
Another hot topic for many is the efficacy of medical marijuana, which will be covered by Vance.
“This is an opportunity for people to learn about its science and history,” said Bridget Robison, communications director for Medical Marijuana Treatment Clinics of Florida. “He will discuss how it’s been shown to help with sleep, pain, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure and most autoimmune disorders.
“As we age, many of us are on pain or sleep meds, which over time affect the liver and gastrointestinal system and produce numerous side effects. (Ingesting) medical marijuana is like taking a vitamin; the only side effects for some are dry mouth and slight dizziness. When used correctly, it doesn’t interfere with daily activities.”
Robison said it can also help with withdrawal from opiates.
Tickets for the South Shore Coalition for Mental Health and Aging fundraiser are $30 for one person and $50 for two. They’re available at the Sun City Center Area Chamber of Commerce, 1651 Sun City Center Plaza, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All proceeds will benefit the all-volunteer South Shore Coalition for Mental Health and Aging, a nonprofit group that provides area resources for people in need.
For more information or to RSVP for the banquet, call 813-419-4902.