Prescription Drug Abuse Paper

Across the world abusing prescription drugs causes more deaths than street drugs do combined (“International Statistics”). Prescription drugs are so easy to get ahold of and so easy to get addicted to. The misuse of prescription drugs have gotten out of hand. These drugs can cause unintentional overdoses easily. The misuse of prescription drugs can lead to addiction, affect the health of users in a dramatic way, and even cause death.

The key to safer and more effective prescribing is to educate doctors about addiction and alternative approaches to pain management. The State programs cited by CDC include an increased effort to monitor and intervene in areas of high-risk prescribing. The PDMP are tools that have been implemented in most states and these create a central database to enable prescribers and dispensers to see all prescription activity for certain classes of opioids (CDC,

The disease model of addition is the foundation of Narcotics Anonymous. The disease model posits that the addict has an incurable disease much like diabetes or an allergy; thus, exposure to a substance is viewed as the primary cause of psychological addiction (Narcotics Anonymous, 1983; Jenkins, 2016). N.A. is identified with the spiritual model of treatment (Jenkins & Finner-Williams, 2016). The spiritual model of therapy views addiction as a disease to which persons are defenseless without a “higher-power.” In this view, treatment focuses on the resignation of self, and instead, instruction from a higher power and a spiritual awakening toward recovery (Jenkins & Finner-Williams, 2016).

Another cause of opioid misuse is painful working conditions and an excessive amount of job injuries that lead to disabilities and poverty. “Although opioid analgesics may allow those with otherwise debilitating injuries to maintain employment, individuals in manual labor occupations appear to be at increased risk for non-medical use” (Dasgupta 183). Physicians prescribe painkillers manly to the American middle and working class which coincidentally have the most social problems leading them to

Education about overdose or providing referrals to medical and social services such as health screenings are offered. Also, incorporating harm reduction strategies into public health interventions for people who inject drugs may be helpful in resolving other health care (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). One argument against Needle Exchange programs is that by providing needles and syringes to addicts, the government is essentially condoning illicit and immoral behavior (“Debate: Needle exchanges”). Drug users are continuously given free access of clean utensil to shoot up. Instead of providing them access, the government should focus on punishing drug users, discourage drug-use, and provide more treatment for quitting

Underlying Causes: The increase in the sale of opioids is considered to be the root of the opioid crisis, as the drugs have been proven to be highly addictive. An addiction to prescriptive opioids, however, can lead to an addiction to synthetic, illegal opioids, such as heroine or fentanyl, which are less expensive and easier to acquire. In fact, in their journal article, “Associations of nonmedical pain reliever use and initiation of heroin use in the United States” Pradip Muhuri and associates discovered that “the recent (12 months preceding interview) heroin incidence rate was 19 times higher among those who reported prior nonmedical prescription pain reliever (NMPR) use than among those who did not (0.39 vs. 0.02 percent)” (Muhuri et. al). In other words, abusing prescription opioids significantly raises the chances of abusing illicit drugs, such as heroin.

Some patients prefer not to take pain medication because they fear addiction or may have a history of substance abuse. Educating the patients on their right to be free of pain and having their pain managed aggressively is a priority in the recovery phase. The goals that I hope to achieve during this clinical practicum

These pills, such as xanax and oxycodone allow people for short periods of time to withdraw from the harsh reality faced today. “Between 1997 and 2002, sales of oxycodone and methadone nearly quadrupled” (Okie). Around 15 years later and the prescription pill problem is continuing to skyrocket. Since prescription pills are dispersed out to anyone by doctors, many people do not realize that it is as much of an illicit drug as cocaine and heroin is. “Misinformation about the addictive properties of prescription opioids and the perception that prescription drugs are less harmful than illicit drugs are other possible contributors to the problem” (NIDA).

To begin with, “It’s a life or death issue. We are losing six people a day from just prescription drug abuse”. (James Mcdonough) reason that we are losing six people a day is because of the prescription drug ads that are on tv. Another thing is that people who see the drug ads feel the need to call for an appointment for their doctors to have them prescribe them a medicine that they want. Some of the people that see the drug ads on tv are thinking that it is ok to ask their doctors for prescriptions which is weakening their relationships between each of them

I think that doctors should give patients more information when prescribing opioids to patients. Many people that just had a painful surgery take opioids to stop their pain and then shortly get addicted after from taking the pills, I believe people would not get as tempted, and feel like it is ok to take opioids, if they knew they were highly addictive. Allen, a recovering addict, had to research her symptom to find out why she was having this temptation to take these pain killing pills when she was not even in pain. Allen’s doctor never told her about the danger of these “painkillers” but once Allen found out, she was concerned about herself, and knew she was addicted and in

Sam Quinones’ Dreamland is a commentary about the opioid problem in America. Quinones draws attention to how in the twentieth century opioids were seen as addictive: “[D]octers treating the terminally ill faced attitudes that seemed medieval when it came to opiates” (184). In the 1970s, Purdue Pharma stated that opioids such as morphine were not addictive substances. After this study was released, many doctors began to view opioids as a viable option for pain relief. Throughout the rest of the book, Quinones explains the shift from doctors never prescribing opiates to prescription opiates being used to treat any sort of pain: chronic back pain, arthritis, severe headaches, etc.

Opioid Epidemic in the United States              The opioid crisis has risen over the years here in America. The addiction to painkillers has caused many drug overdoses across America. According to the Vox," In 2015, more than 52,000 people have died from drug overdoses from linked to opioids such as Percocet, heroin, Oxycontin or even fentanyl. This problem did not become an overnight health crisis, but it has become quickly known in America.             Expanding our drug treatment centers across America would provide the support to those who are addicted to drugs.

Dependence on prescription opioids can stem from treatment of chronic pain and in recent years is the cause of the increased number of opioid overdoses. Opioids are very addictive substances, having serious life threatening consequences in case of intentional or accidental overdose. The euphoria attracts recreational use, and frequent,

A look at how one man and his backing help keep an entire pharmaceutical company in the position of running a monopoly. This man is named

According to Timothy Wilens MD, there is “data indicating that 1 in 10 adolescents has a SUD [substance use disorder] . . . Roughly 80% experienced onset before age 25 years” (Wilens). With this large number of teens abusing drugs, the question of what the effects and consequences of drug abuse as a teen are becomes relevant. Specifically, identifying what the effects and consequences of teen drug abuse are through a scientific lense is important because drugs affect the body, brain, and its chemical balances.