After years of drug abuse, Vicki Lynn Marshall finally met her end with a deadly combination of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The jury’s still out on whether the cause of death was accidental or otherwise, but one thing is certain – had Vicki Lynn completed a successful drug rehab long ago, she would likely be alive today.
For Vickie Lynn, the spiral to the autopsy table started years ago. Drug and alcohol abuse, dependency, and perhaps addiction, were part of her lifestyle. But when a series of adverse personal events led her to combine several prescription drugs, she was physically pushed over the edge.
The long list on the pathologist’s report was shocking. At the time of her death, she had consumed not two or three, or even four drugs – the autopsy found nine different prescription drugs and one powerful over-the-counter medication, at least five or six of which cascaded into the next, adding to and increasing their effects:
1. Cipro, a powerful antibiotic used to handle bacterial and viral infections
2.Chloral hydrate, a sedative and hypnotic to help her sleep
3. Benadryl, an OTC antihistamine
4. Four powerful tranquilizers
5. Atropine
6. Topiramate, an anticonvulsant now prescribed for migraines
Although the antibiotic was obviously needed to handle an infection, the sedatives and tranquilizers were indicative of needing drug rehab to get down to the bottom of what was causing the drug abuse. And the sedatives and tranquilizers, along with the antihistamine, atropine and Topiramate, are what actually killed her - each of them depresses respiration and circulation and, in Vicki Lynn’s case, these systems became so depressed they simply shut down. “She didn't suffer," the pathologist said, “she went to sleep."
According to her autopsy records, Vickie Lynn Marshall died of an “acute combined drug intoxication" complicated by two minor infections, neither of which was dangerous if treated properly. Taken singly, none of the drugs was life-threatening, and none was an overdose.
Could Vicki Lynn’s life have been saved? Probably everything possible was done in the end but, factually, the problem started years ago – when she became dependant on drugs and alcohol. Had Vicki Lynn, or someone who cared about her, recognized the signs and made sure she got through a drug rehab program that addressed the issues behind her drug abuse, she may not have turned to drugs when events seemed to conspire against her and she may be alive today.
Vicki Lynn’s story is not unusual - millions of people depend on prescription drugs. But, as we can see from Vicki Lynn’s story, some of them can be dangerous. If someone you care about is dependant on or addicted to prescription drugs, find a successful drug rehab program. Don’t let them end up on the autopsy table like Vicki Lynn Marshall – who you may know as Anna Nicole Smith.
In the western Canadian province of Alberta, parents of kids with drug problems can ask a judge to order the kids into special, lock-up alcohol and drug detox centers for up to five days. The hope is that after they’ve sobered up for a few days, the kids will realize they need help and get into a proper drug rehab program.
Called the Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act, the new law is seen as an act of ‘tough love’ by desperate but still-caring parents who feel they’ve run out of options. It carries a pretty strong message, from both the parents and the state, that drug addiction is not trivial, and here’s your chance to do something about it.
Local officials term it a state-assisted intervention. The idea is simply to get teens away from their drugs and druggy environment long enough to flush some of the toxins out of their bodies, in the hope that they’ll see the light and voluntarily check into a long-term drug rehab program.
The good news is, it actually works. It may not be drug rehab, but as a first step in the process, it’s been a terrific success.
In the first 13 months of the program, from June ’06 through August ’07, 618 teenagers were ordered into the 5-day alcohol and drug detox and 49% of them admitted themselves into drug rehab when they were released. This works out to more than 300 drug-troubled young people who recognized that their lives were out of control and were willing to get into drug rehab to straighten out.
The Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) released some other interesting statistics about the new program:
* 55% of teenagers ordered into detox were girls
* 56% of those ordered into detox were only 12 to 15 years old
* 58% of those ordered into detox were still in school - not homeless street druggies
* Nearly all of the kids abused more than one substance at a time
* The most-used drugs were alcohol (98%), marijuana (96%), psychedelics like LSD and ecstasy (73%) and cocaine (57%)
And for parents who might have kids with drug troubles, you should know that the AADAC also found that the more actively supportive and involved parents are, the greater are the chances that their kids will successfully kick their drug habits through state-assisted intervention and a successful drug rehab program.
Rod Mactaggart has sinced written about articles on various topics from Addictions, Alcohol Treatment and Keyboard Synthesizer. Rod MacTaggart is a Florida-based freelance writer who contributes articles on health.Contact: . Rod Mactaggart's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.