[shibumi]

"In a few years I will finish pharmacy school and have the honor of explaining to these people why giving Vicodin prescriptions to alcoholics is a bad idea."

You know as much as I hate to get serious about anything (ever) I feel compelled to point out that apart from the addictive consequences of such prescribing, there's a *huge* medical reason as well.

Alcohol + Acetominophen = Liver Damage (real quick like) and very likely real quick death as well.

It's a kind of chemical synergy thingy.

[Slings and Arrows]

Believe me, I’m very aware of that little interaction. Adding depressants to depressants isn’t so hot either.

In fairness, I haven’t actually run into a doctor who prescribed Vicodin to an alcoholic. I have run into doctors who prescribed Vicodin to patients already on hepatotoxic medications with an absolute contraindication to acetaminophen, though.

[CaspersGh0sts]

"Alcohol + Acetominophen = Liver Damage (real quick like) and very likely real quick death as well."

Well, there's that whole respiratory suppression thing in combination, as well, which can be a much quicker death. Which goes for all the opiate and Xanax combo prescribers out there, as well.