The Terrorist Among Us
By now I am sure that everyone knows that on May 2, 2011 Osama Bin Laden, one of the worlds worst terrorist, was killed by the United States Navy Seal Team Six. Osama Bin Laden has been held as one of the most dangerous terrorist of all time. Relentlessly spreading his message of intolerance and hate against the American life style and was personally responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans on September 11, 2001. What most people don’t know is that in comparison to Osama Bin Laden there is a much more dangerous and sinister force at work in our own backyards, taking far more lives on a daily basis, then Osama Bin Laden ever could.
So who is this horrific and mysterious force that is worse than Osama? Well, to find out, you don’t have to pull up the latest terror report to see what color level we are at or google search a list of the most dangerous men alive. You won’t find this person on CNN or FOX news. Actually it is much more simple than that. All you have to do is get up and walk to your bathroom and take a look in your medicine cabinet, flip on the television, open a magazine or look in your purse. If you are like the majority of Americans what you will find in one of these locations is a medication or information about a medication.
Thats right, medicine is now the leading cause of death in the United States on a annual basis. Far out-killing cancer and heart disease and practically putting to shame the numbers put up by Osama Bin Laden.
In comparison :
- Death Toll From 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks = 2,996 Deaths.
- Death By Medicine = 900,000+ deaths PER YEAR
While every death is significant, especially in such a historical and heart chilling event as the terrorist attacks on 9/11, it’s clear to see that the largest threat to the American population does not live in a cave somewhere in the middle east. Rather, it is safely tucked away in the comfort of our own homes, and it is bound to get worse. As the pharmaceutical companies grow larger and larger every day and as the American people are bombarded with billions of dollars worth of direct to consumer advertising about the next miracle drug or surgery, our nation grows weaker and weaker with every prescription filled. We are for the first time in recorded history raising a generation of children that is not projected to out live their parents and our ten year projections for iatrogenic (medically induced) death is approaching a staggering 10 million lives. That’s 1 million per year!
At this point the American people need to stop worrying about who is landing at their local air port and start concerning themselves with what dangers go along with landing in your primary care providers office a pharmacy or, Heaven forbid, the emergency room!
- Dr. Dan