Can a bus accident cause a victim to suffer from a drug addiction?
While it is common for a victim of a bus accident to suffer from a serious injury that leads to chronic pain and discomfort, one recent death raises another concern regarding the overall effect a bus accident can have on an individual. Just a few weeks back, Chuck Mosley, who was known as the original singer of Faith No More, passed away from a possible heroin overdose. While you may be asking yourself, what does a drug overdose have in common with a bus accident, well this story explains just that.
According to KQED Arts, Mosley was involved in a bus accident back in 1994 where he sustained a debilitating back injury, an injury many victims often suffer from. The accident occurred because the driver of the bus he was traveling in feel asleep at the wheel. Because of the pain Mosley was experiencing, he developed an addiction to the drug. A friend of Mosley’s said he “may have developed his addiction in the year he spent recovering from the injury.”
But, Mosley isn’t the only one who has become hooked on drugs used to help cope and deal with the pain he was feeling. Many accident victims often seek medical attention where they are given a prescription for a strong drug to help them get a handle on the pain. But, that too can lead to an addiction and many accident victims and others suffering from chronic pain become dependent on this medication and other types of drugs.
Far too often do victims suffering from physical or emotional distress rely heavily on the drug they have been prescribed, and eventually cannot do without it. And that’s where the initial stages of addiction begins.
Sadly, Mosley couldn’t beat his addiction and it eventually took his life.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “it is estimated that between 26.4 million and 36 million people abuse opioids worldwide, with an estimated 2.1 million people in the United States suffering from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers in 2012.” It can be assumed that among all these individuals who have developed an addiction, some were involved in an accident which resulted in them being prescribed the medication initially.
Being aware of what you are taking and getting off the medication when you no longer need it can help reduce your chances of becoming addicted.
If you were recently involved in a bus accident in San Francisco, CA, it is in your best interest to discuss your accident with a San Francisco bus accident attorney. While you might be thinking about how your recent accident has affected you presently, you might fail to consider the long-term effects of it. This is something a bus collision lawyer can help you with which might even contribute to you getting a higher settlement payout for the injuries you may have sustained. USAttorneys.com can help you locate a nearby attorney now should you need some assistance in finding a professional.
