Addictions Treatment Blog

The now infamous single-car crash involving golf legend Tiger Woods outside of his Florida home at nearly 2:30 AM has many people speculating. The lack of a clear statement on what occurred and cancelled meetings with investigators have also created even more of a mystery.

Here is one scenario that makes sense to me. Being a very busy professional and having two young kids is difficult to say the least. My guess is that his doctor prescribed him Ambien, or a similar drug, to help him sleep better at night. This drug has a history of causing sleep-driving - yes sleep-driving - among other side effects. This is where people in an almost zombie-like state, actually get in the car and drive with little or no recollection of doing so. It happens with walking and eating as well.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on this possible behavior and there have been other documented cases of this happening.

Tiger Woods seems to be a very upstanding citizen, does a lot of non-profit work (even has his own Foundation), is a family man and one of the most dedicated professional athletes in history. The police report already said that alcohol was not involved, so I really think this offers some explanation as to what might have happened. I'm sure that the truth will eventually come out, but this also explains how Tiger could have said that it will never happen again - because he doesn't intend to ever take that drug again. Sad that something like this would have to happen, but good that nobody was seriously injured.

Aside from odd behavior like sleep driving, Ambien and other sleep drugs have other problems, such as a high potential for abuse. In fact, with the current prescription drug epidemic there has been an increase in the number of people seeking treatment for Ambien addiction.

(From CADCA Coalitions Online) - The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE), along with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and representatives from 15 nationally recognized prevention, health professional and child advocacy organizations, are launching Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer: What You Can Do to Help Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse.

Although the use of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs among youth has declined from 2002 through 2008, over this time many teens have turned to misusing prescription drugs, according to SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health. In fact, prescription drugs are misused more by this age group than any illicit drug, except marijuana. The non-medical use of these drugs — the very same drugs given to people to treat pain, anxiety, depression, hyperactive behavior and sleep disorders — is a growing and under-recognized problem that puts young lives at risk.

“Prescription drugs found in home medicine cabinets across the country have become the new drug of choice among teens, and every teen is at risk,” says Ray Bullman, Executive Vice President of NCPIE. “This initiative gives teen influencers—anyone who interacts with teens on a regular basis and can have a positive influence—the tools to help prevent prescription drug abuse in their school districts and communities. It also provides tips for delivering consistent prevention messages to teens at home, at school, on the field or during health-related visits.”

Despite warning sounds echoing years in advance, the prescription drug epidemic continues to get worse for both young and old alike. The slick direct-to-consumer marketing schemes, doctor-influencing marketing programs, false or hidden information on clinical trials and other fraudulent efforts from the pharmaceutical industry keeps fueling the wildfire with little to no recourse. Even with landmark judgements on state and national levels against some drug makers - to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars - hasn't put much of a dent in their efforts, especially when they're raking in billions off of these programs.

Addiction treatment centers across the country continue to see larger percentages of clients seeking help through a drug rehab program because of prescriptions. If you or someone you love needs to find a successful rehabilitation facility, call one of our counselors today for a free and confidential assessment and referral at 1-800-217-0986.