Prescription Drug Abuse And Prescription Drugs Essay

Most people are familiar with prescription medications; almost everyone has taken them at one point or another during their lifetime. Not all prescription drugs are addicting, but a large number of them are. Prescription drug abuse is a disease that has become a major problem in the United States, which affects over six-million Americans. Prescription drug abuse not only affects the individual, but can additionally have far-reaching consequences that affect family, personal health, employment, communities and society as a whole. Research has shown that at least 10% of people prescribed an addictive medication will become dependent on the medicine. Due to prescription drug abuse, states are beginning to monitor doctors who prescribe certain medications, more closely, which may scare some physicians away from prescribing helpful medications to people who truly need them. It is very likely that people given prescription medications do not intend to become addicted or to abuse the m edication. They simply want to ease their medical problems. There are numerous reasons a person may abuse or become addicted to prescription medications. Many physicians are over-booked and have busy schedules and don’t take enough time with patients, instead they simply write a prescription and send the person on their way. A second reason is that most addictive medications work quickly and effectively, especially painkillers. A third reason is that many people have a subconsciousShow MoreRelatedDrugs And Prescription Drug Abuse2022 Words   |  9 Pagesoverview of the increased use of pharmaceuticals and prescription drug abuse in the US. The section continues with the relationship between illicit drugs and prescriptions, adolescents’ abuse, personal and social factors; then concludes with the theoretical approach. The Social-Ecological Theory, will be applied in researching prescription drug abuse, possible influences and protective factors in adolescents in re lation to prescription drug abuse, to develop focused intervention strategies and educationalRead Moreprescription drug abuse1523 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Prescription Drug Abuse Millions of people throughout the world are taking drugs on a daily basis. If you were to ask someone why they take prescription drugs, most people would be taking them for the right reason. However, it’s estimated that twenty percent of people in the United States alone have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.1 Prescription drug abuse is a serious and growing problem that often goes unnoticed. Abusing these drugs can often lead to addiction and even deathRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse2011 Words   |  9 PagesCultivating a Solution for the Youth of America Prescription drug abuse has become an epidemic across the United States, destroying and affecting many lives of young Americans. Why do so many people abuse prescription drugs? Many think that prescription drugs are safer and less addictive than â€Å"street drugs.† After all, these are drugs that moms, dads, and even kid brothers and sisters use. The dangers are not easily seen, but the future of America’s youth will soon be in severe danger if theRead MoreThe Problem Of Prescription Drug Abuse1461 Words   |  6 Pages(Quotes about Drug Abuse). This quote by Wayne Gerald Trotman describes how heartbreaking it is to contemplate on exactly how many people’s lives have been adversely impacted as a result of abuse. Child abuse, animal abuse, and sexual abuse are all major types of abuse; however, prescription drug abuse is a problem that is drastically skyrocketing in today’s society. While other addictions and abuses are equally significant, it is imp erative that people put a stop to prescription drug abuse using twoRead MorePharmacists and Prescription Drug Abuse1420 Words   |  6 Pagesof the highest rates for prescription drug abuse, and overdose in the nation. In order to change this it is important to understand what pharmacists do, their role in prevention, and the severity of prescription drug abuse. Pharmacists are known to dispense prescription drugs to patients and inform them about their use; However, one aspect of their career most people overlook is that Pharmacists must keep a sharp eye out for criminals looking to abuse these prescribed drugs. First, here is some importantRead MoreTeen Abuse Prescription Drug Abuse1422 Words   |  6 Pagesleading drugs used and abused by teenagers in America. According to Elizabeth Larsen, â€Å"The Centers for Disease Control classifies prescription drug abuse as the worst drug epidemic in United States history† (Larsen p.4). This is the worst drug epidemic in history because of the percentage of teenage usage. Based on different studies, pills are the most commonly abused drug among twelve- and thirteen- year olds because of how easy they are to access. In fact, many teens that abuse prescription medicationRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse. Did You Know That Prescription1173 Words   |  5 PagesPrescription Drug Abuse Did you know that prescription drug abuse is one of the leading causes of death in the United States? â€Å"According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, two-hundred and ninety people in the United States are killed by prescription drugs every day. (White)† That number is growing every year due to the lack of knowledge of prescription drugs and the potential harm they can cause. Many people are under the misconception that prescription drugs are safe becauseRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse : Drug And Free World1508 Words   |  7 Pagesaged 12 to 17 abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – Overdoes Deaths – Drug-Free World,†n.d.) A 2007 survey in the United States found that 3.3% of 12 to 17 years olds and 6% of 17 to 25 year olds had abused prescription drugs in the past month (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – Overdoes Deaths – Drug-Free World,†n .d.) Prescription drug abuse causes the largest percentage of deaths from drug overdoses (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse StatisticsRead MoreTeenage Prescription Drug Abuse Essay1427 Words   |  6 PagesTeenage Prescription Drug Abuse Years ago, the common image of an adolescent drug abuser was a teen trying to escape from reality on illegal substances like cocaine, heroin, or marijuana. Today, there is a great discrepancy between that perception and the reality of who is likely to abuse drugs. A teenage drug abuser might not have to look any further than his or her parent’s medicine chest to ‘score.’ Prescription drug abuse by teens is on the rise. Also, teens are looking to prescription drugsRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse Among Adolescents1628 Words   |  7 PagesNursing Informatics Quality Improvement Prescription Drug Abuse Among Adolescents Have you ever heard these words –hillbilly H, a-minus, red birds, Vitamin R, and roses? There is no question that we have heard some of these words. Yet, what is unexpected is they are all code words used by teens for prescription drugs (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2016). Prescription drug abuse among teens has rapidly increased, and has become a public health concern. (Milner, Ham, Zamboanga, 2014.) With