LETTER TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Joan Gadsby,
May 2, 2009
President of the United States Barack Obama and Michelle Obama,
The Whitehouse,
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
USA
Couriered through Phil Chicola,
U.S. Consulate in Vancouver, B.C. Canada
May 2, 2009
Dear Mr. President and Michelle,
Re: My Internationally Endorsed Book "Addiction By Prescription" - A Serious
Worldwide Health Issue
Requiring Long Overdue Systemic Change
Congratulations on your election as President of the United States!
I have been following with considerable interest, Mr. President, your work and enlightened policies for change in many areas not only in the United States but which also are having a worldwide impact.
You and Michelle are indeed an inspiration to us all.
With your focus, Mr. President, on healthcare reform and systemic change, I wanted to draw to your attention the continuing issue, and even now more so with the current economic challenges, the serious problem of overprescribing and uniformed use of addictive prescription drugs ie tranquilizers, sleeping pills and antidepressants which cost the healthcare system millions of dollars and which are 10 times the problem of illegal drugs.
These insidious drugs not only devastate the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and their families but bring with them considerable socio and economic costs.
I know personally the horrors of prescription drug addiction since after the death of my 4 year old son Derek with a brain tumour, I was prescribed a chemical cocktail of these drugs for over 2 decades by my former family physician whom I trusted to "do no harm".
Like many others, I was never informed of the serious short and long term side effects and in February 1990, I almost lost my life from an unintentional overdose. I went thorough a harrowing withdrawal, spent several years doing cognitive retraining to regain my intellectual functioning, left my lifelong executive marketing career with 4 of Canada's largest companies and political role as a local Councillor to rebuild my health,my life and my family. My personal economic losses as a result amounted to $2 million.
Today, 18 years drug free, my life has improved tenfold. I sincerely believe that God kept me alive to carry this important message.
As a direct result of my firsthand experience, I spent 10 years assembling international research on the subject, much of which I have referenced in my internationally endorsed book which I wanted to share with you and Michelle and which is enclosed.
It is my sincere hope that my book will create further awareness of this issue and since it also includes a multi stakeholder strategic action plan for change and accountability, stimulate your thinking and contribute to your strategic action plan for meaningful and practical policies for systemic change in this field of healthcare.
There have been "lots of studies but little action" taken over the past two decades to address this serious "iatrogenic" or "doctor induced" problem where unfortunately, continuing ignorance, denial and apathy of many doctors and the pursuit of "bottomline profits" by drug companies have perpetuated the problem of "accidental addicts" to prescription drugs.
I also co produced a television documentary "Our Pill Epidemic - the Shocking Story of a Society Hooked on Drugs" which aired nationally and currently have a feature film/movie of the week in development based on my book with a major production studio in Los Angeles.
Tragically, May 1, 1999 my oldest beloved daughter, Deb also died of cancer, breast cancer, but there were no pills needed to cope with her illness or her death. And I was right there for her trying to save her life as the Mom she always deserved.
I hope you will visit my web site www.addictionbyprescription.com and would like to draw to your attention in particular the Facts section which details some of the worldwide statistics regarding addictive prescription drugs.
As a result of my many years of work in this field, I have been recognized as an international authority, public speaker and consultant and continue to do media interviews on the responsible and informed use of these drugs. I have presented at numerous international conferences in the United States, Canada and in Europe. The last time I was in Washington, D.C. was for a television program on addictive prescription drugs.
Prime Minister Stephan Harper also has a copy of my book which I gave him personally at a barbecue here in North Vancouver 2 years ago this summer. In Canada I have presented to the Senate and the Standing Committee on Health.
Since writing my book, I have returned to my career in marketing and property development as President of my two companies, Market Media International Corporation and Seaview Villa Estates Ltd. - my multi family development of 31 oceanview villa homes on the scenic Sunshine Coast here in British Columbia. Web site www.seaviewvillaestates.com.
I have many relatives who live in the United States whom I visit frequently, and my son in law, David, the father of my two grandchildren Veronica, 6 and August, 3, is a former New Yorker who lives close by with my daughter Carrie.
As you both are, I am committed to positive change and trying to make the world a better place. I am also a runner which became instrumental in my return to good health.
I hope to hear from you and eventually have the opportunity to meet you both.
I would also like to extend to you both and your girls a personal invitation to visit the 2010 Olympics here in Vancouver and Whistler - our special part of the world.
Sincerely,
Joan E. Gadsby
Market-Media International Corp.
4507 Cedarcrest Ave., North Vancouver, BC, V7R 3R2, Canada
Phone: (604) 987-6064 Fax: (604) 987-6063
Email Joan E. Gadsby
Joan Gadsby's Main Page · addictionbyprescription.com · www.seaviewvillaestates.com.
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