Antibiotics: Something to sneeze at A few good men

Doctors should tell us no.

Let’s make it easier for them to do so.

We’re talking about our demand for pills to make what troubles us go away. Americans account for 99 percent of the world’s hydrocodone consumption, 80 percent of the world’s oxycodone consumption, and 65 percent of the world’s hydromorphone consumption, according to the New York Times.

Want to lose weight? Pills.

Want to be a big hit in bed? Pills.

And what about coughs and colds? Pills, please. Antibiotics.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, four out of five Americans are prescribed antibiotics every year. Clearly, these drugs are being overprescribed — perhaps on an enormous scale. The consequences of bacteria becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics can literally end up killing us someday.

Medical research shows that the more antibiotics people take, the more immune to their beneficial effects our bodies become. Also, when we don’t take the antibiotics as prescribed, that also weakens their effectiveness.

So what can be done?

Northwest Hospital Alliance is hitting the campaign trail — hard — to raise awareness about the dangers of antibiotic overuse. The alliance, a group of five independent North Idaho hospitals, has brought together infection prevention specialists, physicians, pharmacists and nurses from hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Their mission: To spread knowledge about dangers of overprescribing antibiotics and of not taking them properly.

Part of the message is that while antibiotics can be effective against bacterial infections, they can’t touch a common cold or flu, which are caused by viruses. So with cold and flu season sneaking up — in some cases it’s already here — patients, have patience. You’re going to have about a week of discomfort that can be mitigated by drinking plenty of water, taking your vitamins and keeping tissues close at hand.

The Press applauds Northwest Hospital Alliance for its educational efforts and encourages readers to check out a much more detailed story about antibiotics in the newspaper this Sunday. Here’s hoping we all can become resistant to taking antibiotics when they simply won’t do any good.

On Tuesday, The Press published a brief item about a disabled veteran who was asking for help with his garden. Like a little cavalry, people responded to the Hayden man’s request.

The Press salutes the individuals and groups led by Roy, Rex, Ron, Todd, Dave, Herb and Jason for either providing assistance or heartily offering to do so.