Archive for October, 2011

Prescription Drugs: Healing and Harmful

Monday, October 24th, 2011

In today’s day and age, society as a whole is moving fast. Our daily schedules are fast, our technology is fast, and ultimately it has been seen that are lives are filled with the constant go. Today, our duties include not only that of what is required of us as individuals with certain jobs such as employee, spouse, and parent, but also those of others. With such advance technology, and people already being overwhelmed with their lives one can only assume that something is present to stand in the way.

Prescription drugs are the new “thing to do”. Amongst teenagers, college students, and adults alike, many are relying on prescription drugs for many different purposes. Some students take drugs to do “better” in school, or focus, while some adults take other peoples anti-depression medication, or painkillers to combat depression, or just “get out of the world”. However, prescription drugs are like all drugs, when in the wrong hands many possibilities can occur.

One thing that many people do not understand is that prescription drugs are given to individuals with a certain physiological issue. The reason that a drug is given to the individual is to compensate for something that the body is not producing, or providing to the individual. However, when an individual takes a drug and receives not only what their body is producing, but also an excess amount there can be many side effects that can affect an individual slightly, or greatly.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has recorded an all time high number of people selling and using prescription drugs in and out of a work place setting such as painkillers, and anti-anxiety medication. It has even been stated that drugs as stated, and others are potentially are substances that are harder to control than that of well known illegal drugs such as marijuana and cocaine.

However, prescription drugs have become a way of life for individuals as a “quick fix” to a problem. Most individuals actually need to take the drugs for a chemical imbalance they posses, but some cases can easily be dealt with by therapy, and other psychological methods. Inevitably, we as a society have to know what is out there and what it can do, which prescription drugs must be known about by anyone who is potentially being prescribed the drugs, or using them with the proper safety and health information.

We listen to our clients and follow through on our commitments. We will give you the quality service and personal attention that you deserve. From our offices in Kansas City, we help clients from throughout the region, including St. Joseph, Independence, Lees Summit, Columbia, Warrensburg, Overland Park, Olathe, Atchison, Lawrence, Topeka, and many more Kansas and Missouri communities. For primary startup and general information our offices are located at 1718 WALNUT, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64108, or we can be reached locally through phone at (816) 472-HOPE (4673), fax at (816) 472-5464, or our TOLL FREE number at (877) 535-1163.

Resistant Strain of Salmonella Found In Missouri

Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

Cargill is an international company that produces and markets meat and other agricultural products. Cargill is recalling large amounts of ground turkey because they have found that it is contaminated with a drug resistant strain of salmonella. Salmonella is an infectious bacterium that people usually contract by eating poultry, pork, cattle and eggs or egg products. It lasts anywhere from 4 to 7 days, and it can be fatal without proper medical treatment.

Because this particular strain does not respond to treatment drugs, it is something to be concerned about.  Due to this recall, the US Department of Agriculture has begun cracking down on rules about this particular strain of salmonella. This is a way to try to ensure that people consuming this meat will not get food poisoning.

This is not the first recall that Cargill has been involved with. They recalled over 36 million pounds of contaminated meat. Because of this food contamination, one person died and 107 people were sick from ingestion. The strain found in Cargill’s meat was named salmonella Heidelberg. After the first recall, Cargill made efforts to sanitize the equipment and instill better washing policies to try to eliminate these problems.

Despite their efforts, salmonella was found again. The newest recall of Cargill’s meat affected around 185,000 pounds of turkey. Doctors have had trouble treating this new strain of salmonella, and it concerns them. Salmonella Heidelberg is such a risk to consumers because it is resistant to normal antibiotics. The Center for Science in the Public Interest is trying to classify this type of salmonella in a category with three together strains to make food contaminated with them illegal. They call these strains adulterants.

To monitor this, there would need to be routine checks at manufacturing plants. Larger companies tend not to like increasing testing for bacteria because it also increases costs. The USDA classified six strains of E-coli into the category of adulterants, salmonella strains may soon follow suit. Food poisoning is something to be concerned about.

If you have eaten spoiled meat, it would be best to get medical attention. If you have fallen victim to salmonella due to recalled meat, you may need to consult a lawyer for restoration of damages. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with an experienced Kansas City civil rights attorney.

We listen to our clients and follow through on our commitments. We will give you the quality service and personal attention that you deserve. From our offices in Kansas City, we help clients from throughout the region, including St. Joseph, Independence, Lees Summit, Columbia, Warrensburg, Overland Park, Olathe, Atchison, Lawrence, Topeka, and many more Kansas and Missouri communities. For primary startup and general information our offices are located at 1718 WALNUT, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI 64108, or we can be reached locally through phone at (816) 472-HOPE (4673), fax at (816) 472-5464, or our TOLL FREE number at (877) 535-1163.