PR for People Monthly MARCH 2016 | Page 24

“Who needs drugs? Well, at any given stage in life, we all do,” says Darren Strain, a northwestern Pennsylvania pharmacist for a large drug-store chain. “I believe the quality and length of life have both been increased, because of drugs.”

As a pharmacist, Darren sees a wide range of customers who interact with drugs in dramatically different ways. There are those who agree with his assessment of the value of drugs and use them responsibly. There are those who prefer “natural” treatments rather than western medicine. Then, there are the people who misuse drugs for a variety of reasons, often recreational.

Regarding people who prefer “natural” remedies, Darren says, “Natural agents contain a statement on their packaging that they’re not intended to cure disease and haven’t been proven by the FDA. I prefer to have research and science behind what’s going into my body. Also, natural doesn’t equal safe. Arsenic and plutonium are natural.”

Regarding customers who abuse drugs, they can be difficult to reason with and sometimes be dangerous in their desperation. Darren says, “I don’t think anyone wakes up and thinks, ‘I think I’ll get addicted to opioids today.’ It happens insidiously, and over time.”

Darren says opioids are great for masking pain, but when the pain is long-term, there is a greater risk for dependence. Some personality and genetic types experience dependence shortly after first exposure. “When the prescription opioids are no longer available, some people turn to heroin to get the same relief, but there are no dosages or purity safeties on street drugs,” he says.

Deaths from heroin overdoses have been forefront in northwestern Pennsylvania over the past few years. Methamphetamines are also a problem in Erie county, which Darren calls the meth capital of the tri-state region. In February, a three-year-old Erie boy suffered third-degree burns from a fire caused by a home meth lab explosion.

Darren believes local drug task forces are understaffed and underfunded. “They must go store-to-store and collect paper printouts of the last month’s pseudoephedrine purchases, which must be compared to those of up to 10 other stores.” He believes that a unified data-collection system and nationwide use of a controlled-substance database would help track drug purchases and flag abuse.

Although his job can be stressful, Darren finds many activities outside of work for recreation. These include spending time with family, RVing, bicycling, and drone flying. Of his hobbies, he says “They bring me relaxation and balance, so I’m ready to focus and face another day.”

From Northwestern Pennsylvania:

A View from Behind the Pharmacy Counter

By Ann Silverthorn