Palmwoods
District News

November
1998

Page 6

Teach kids how to look after their bodies

FOLLOWING news of Australia’s biggest illegal drug hauls in October, a local chiropractor says Australians are more likely to be affected by or even die from pharmaceutical drug-related problems.

And while Woombye Chiropractic’s Dr Bernard Love does not encourage parents to ignore the issue of illegal street drugs, he does urge them to take a closer look at their own attitudes towards drugs taken in the home.

Dr Love’s views on this issue emerged when he was approached by a representative of Drug Arm, seeking financial support for its magazine. The group and its magazine focus strongly on the dangers of street drugs for young people in our society.

"I questioned Max (Drug Arm representative) on whether or not his magazine addressed the issue of pharmaceutical drug abuse. Max replied that it did not, and that at least 50% of doctors he spoke to asked the same question,’’ Dr Love said.

"What message are we sending our children about how to deal with life’s challenges?’’ Dr Love said. "Television commercials tell us to seek symptom relief via ‘over the counter’ medication and ‘if pain persists, see your medical doctor’.

"This step often leads to a more powerful prescription drug. School children with ‘behavioural problems’ are diagnosed as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) sufferers, and placed on Ritalin, a drug which is in the same family of drugs as amphetamines like ‘speed’, a popular illicit street drug. People suffering from depression are placed on antidepressants. Alcohol is used widely as a social loosener and for relaxation.

"Is it any wonder that our children reach for a drug to help them cope with life’s challenges? Everybody else is doing it!’’ said Dr Love.

"I think we need to address this dependency that society has developed for instant gratification and a quick fix. Until we as adults start working with the real underlying causes of our problems rather than reaching for crutches and masking agents (alcohol, drugs, etc) our children will continue to mimic us.’’ Dr Love believes simple measures such as not immediately running to the GP when little Johnny has a cold and not instantly popping pain killers for a headache can help to gradually alter the ‘quick fix’ mentality we have for so long fostered.

Teach our kids that their bodies can heal themselves. Children learn by example and see how they turn out then.

·=============== ===============·

Sunshine Coast
Index