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Tobacco is legal but so is alcohol and there are people who are addicted to each. For people who aren't addicts, it's a judgement call where frequest using crosses the line to abusing. If the drug use reaches the point where it causes easily observed damage to the body, I can't fault a doctor for calling that drug abuse.

Bart wrote:Tobacco is legal but so is alcohol and there are people who are addicted to each. For people who aren't addicts, it's a judgement call where frequest using crosses the line to abusing. If the drug use reaches the point where it causes easily observed damage to the body, I can't fault a doctor for calling that drug abuse.

The definition of a drug, it's legal status, and the definition of drug abuse can be changed to suit the agenda of a person or group of people.

WildBill wrote:

Bart wrote:Tobacco is legal but so is alcohol and there are people who are addicted to each. For people who aren't addicts, it's a judgement call where frequest using crosses the line to abusing. If the drug use reaches the point where it causes easily observed damage to the body, I can't fault a doctor for calling that drug abuse.

The definition of a drug, it's legal status, and the definition of drug abuse can be changed to suit the agenda of a person or group of people.

True. Many drug abusers are in denial.

Bart wrote:Tobacco is legal but so is alcohol and there are people who are addicted to each. For people who aren't addicts, it's a judgement call where frequest using crosses the line to abusing. If the drug use reaches the point where it causes easily observed damage to the body, I can't fault a doctor for calling that drug abuse.

Tobacco and alcohol aren't the only legal addictions. What is the addiction called for "thrill seekers" or "adrenalin junkies?" There a tens of millions of non-smokers and non-drinkers who are addicted to the rush/pleasure/etc. they get from participation in many dangerous and potentially harmful activities, that in millions of cases do damage their bodies, but they continue anyway. Insurance companies list the following as "hazardous activities":

Aviation
Base jumping
Bungee jumping
Car/bike/powerboat racing
Hang gliding
Hot air ballooning
Parachuting
Rock climbing/mountaineering
Scuba diving
Skiing
Skydiving
Surfing
White water rafting

After all, isn't it a chemical that stimulates the "pleasure centers" in the brain that causes people to continue to want to participate in these hazardous activities? Shouldn't we declare them "chemically dependent" too? Or, is it because their activities are noble, they push the limits, they challenge themselves, overcome obstacles, etc. that we should ignore the danger to themselves, and only chastise the smoker or drinker who participates in a "nasty habit?" Just askin'

mojo84 wrote:For those that are curious, do a Google search using online medical records.

My Google-Fu has not turned up a site as described by the OP: "Blue Cross and Blue Shield started a site where all your medical information can be accessed."

I have BCBS and have not received any email from them about this, and I can't find it on their site. That's why I asked for a link.

(Note: I just found and checked the "Personal Health Manager" which may be what the OP was talking about. It had two entries from 2005 regarding something I had back then.)

I was using Google Health until they discontinued it. I haven't looked around lately for a replacement (that I would trust) so for now it's back to spreadsheets to track things myself.

Tornado, sorry about that. My comment was somewhat misleading. I did not see one for BCBS. I did see them for some other carriers and third parties.

Mojo84, thanks for the clarification. I see plenty of places that want me to enter my own info, but I'm particularly interested if there's one where I can see what medical professionals have entered about me. Since they said something wacky about VoiceofReason, the odds are good some more of us have erroneous info out there.

As has been mentioned, like credit reports. And if you've haven't checked your credit report recently, you really can get one free one per year from each of the three big agencies. Go to the FTC link http://www.ftc.gov/freereports or google it yourself if you don't trust a link from a guy named after a weather phenomenon.

Here is one place to check. Medical Information Bureau (MIB).

http://www.mib.com/html/request_your_record.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry, can't get the url link established on my not-so-smartphone.

Interesting. I'm going to have to read more about mib.com before I turn over my SSN. But what I've read so far looks legit.

They link to this: http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-fin ... ce-report/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and it's originally from insure.com.

Then there's this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIB_Group,_Inc" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Anybody have experience using mib.com?

They have quite a bit of info on people. I am in the insurance business and they operate similar to how credit bureaus operate.

Here is another link specific to BCBS.

http://www.bcbs.com/healthcare-partners ... h-records/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

G26ster wrote:

Bart wrote: Aviation
Base jumping
Bungee jumping
Car/bike/powerboat racing
Hang gliding
Hot air ballooning
Parachuting
Rock climbing/mountaineering
Scuba diving
Skiing
Skydiving
Surfing
White water rafting

In not trying to be competitive here,, but I do 7 of those things listed... Just saying

Heck my job is a "hazardous activities"

Am I addicted?

What about when I am prescribed pain meds after an injury, or for chronic pain? Records would show i have a "reoccurring uses of opiate based medication" When shown in context to the copious injures I have sustained over 47 years no Doc is going to call it excessive.. But if you don't see, look at the full data you could draw that conclusion.