...Prescription drug abuse deserves renewed attention After watched the movie Shutter Island, it must be very easy catch such scenes that the lead hero who is acted by Leonardo DiCaprio always asks aspirins from doctors, either when he is seasickness or has a headache. Familiar scenes always emerge in lots of movies and TV plays. People all know that artistic creation is based on realities, and in fact, those scenes are not from scenarists’ imaginations. In the real world, typical cases of prescription drug abuse always manifest in three ways. Taking a prescription drug that is prescribed for others, taking medicine for reasons like feeling depressed, or overdosing than as prescribed. Abuse of prescription drugs could produce serious problems for people, especially worse in addiction. Because prescription medicine abuse is becoming a significant problem in the United States, the phenomenon has to be taken seriously. According to the survey of National Institute on Drug Abuse, the medicines which abused are broadly described as those targeting the central nervous system, including those used to treat psychiatric disorders. In 2010, approximately 7 million persons were current users of psychotherapeutic medicines taken not in medically (2.7 percent of the U.S. population). The situation must lead to awful outcome. Even if no one want to see the terrible result that not only people’s physical health be drowned in danger, people’ mental health and relationship are under threaten...
Words: 1101 - Pages: 5
...Prescription Drug Abuse: The New Drug of Choice Tanya Butler COM/172 Elements of University Composition and Communication II March 29, 2012 Betty Taylor-Thompson Ph.D. Prescription Drug Abuse: The New Drug of Choice “In 2010, approximately 16 million Americans reported using a prescription drug for nonmedical reasons in the past year; seven million in the past month” (National Drug Intelligence Center, 2002, p. 1). “Nonmedical use of a prescribed medicine is use by someone who does not have a prescription for the medication, or use of the prescribed medicine by someone who does not have a prescription in a manner that is not directed or approved by the prescribing physician” (DuPont, 2006, p. 1). The misuse of prescription medication is an expanding health problem in the United States today. An individual taking her own medication exactly as prescribed is not misuse, but giving one pill to a friend or loved one is prescription abuse. In fact, it is against the law. Most people overlook the fine print at the top (or bottom) of the prescription label that clearly states: “Caution: Federal law prohibits transfer of this drug to any person other than the patient for whom it was prescribed.” Then again, some people are very aware of the fine print but choose to ignore it. Many people believe that because the prescription is written by their doctor, it is safe. This is not the case! Prescription narcotics are just as dangerous as illicit drugs, such as cocaine, heroin...
Words: 1729 - Pages: 7
...Health Care Reform Project: Part I-Prescription Drugs Prescription drug abuse and prescription overprescribing, of all categories, is becoming rampant in the United States. It is also one of the most rapidly growing dilemmas in America influencing people of all ages. Prescription drug use in the past was limited to adults. Over the last decade, more and more children and adolescents are consumers of these drugs. Coping with children who behaved badly in the past has taken a new direction that includes prescribing medications. Medical professions now have the option to prescribe these medications as they see fit. Many physicians are more than willing to write a prescription based on the complaints of a patient rather than finding other treatment options or the root of the problem. Drugs manufactures have had to come up with new and innovative ways to market these drugs to healthcare providers and the public as well. As society changes so will the way drugs are marketed, prescribed and taken. Demand for prescription drugs will continue to increase as well as the overall cost. Consumers today demand more flexibility in acquiring prescription medications rather than using the traditional drug stores. Patients are swamped by pharmaceutical ads and physicians are repeatedly proliferated with drug prescribing information from pharmaceuticals representatives. Getzen and Allen (2007) states, “the average American fills 11 prescriptions per year. Pharmaceuticals were a...
Words: 1274 - Pages: 6
...University Over the Counter, Over Prescribed Prescription Drug Abuse Over the Counter, Over Prescribed Prescription Drug Abuse When describing a drug addict, the stereotypical description is usually someone who has no job, steals to get their fix, and is living their life in poverty because of their crippling addiction. The drug of choice for these “junkies” is typically black tar heroin. However in recent years this has not been the case. The age of prescription drugs is beginning and people are dying from prescription drug overdoses at an alarming rate. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), as seen in Figure 1 found in the Appendix, in 2010 there were 8.76 million prescription drug abusers (Drug Facts: Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications). Prescription drug abuse has become an epidemic in America and it is not isolated to the stereotypical addict, as doctors and emergency response teams are seeing more and more overdoses and individuals seeking medical attention who are in the upper middle class and lead a fairly “normal” life besides their addiction. The NIDA found that there are around 5.1 million people in the US suffer from substance abuse disorders related to prescription pain relievers (Figure 1, Appendix). Although pain killer abuse gets a lot of the prescription drug abuse headlines, there are other medications that are being abused namely stimulants. Because over the counter and prescription medicines are so easy to obtain and the stigma...
Words: 4393 - Pages: 18
...Prescription medication abuse James Glassman COM/172 December 22, 2011 University of Phoenix Sheila Bassoppo-Moyo, Ed.D. Prescription medication abuse In this research paper you will find that obtaining prescription medication is easier than going to find illegal drugs. Another, disturbing problem is the amount of deaths in the United States each year caused by the abuse of prescription medication. Some questions you might find yourself asking are why is this a problem, how can we resolve this problem, what are some long term effects from abuse of prescription medication, and what is the government planning to do to help resolve this issue? In recent years the abuse with prescription medications has come to a ridiculous number in the last decade across the world. I hope this paper helps you understand the significance of this worldwide problem. What is prescription medication abuse? Prescription medication abuse is when someone takes medication prescribed by doctor in a manner or dosage other than prescribed, or when someone takes prescription medication from somebody else and uses it in a manner or dosage other than prescribed (na, 2011). Abuse can include taking a friends or relatives’ prescription to get high, to relieve pain, or help with medical issue without seeing a physician. There is a reason why prescription medications are prescribed by a doctor, prescription medications are dangerous when taken with other medications or not taken properly. In many cases...
Words: 1635 - Pages: 7
...Kathryn Rapp Composition II 11/12/2012 Drug Addiction Everyone knows at least one person that has been or is addicted to drugs in some way, whether it be cigarettes, alcohol, or illegal drugs. Although, not many of those people ever look past the addiction and wonder why. I’m going to lean more towards the alcohol and illegal drugs that people are addicted to and try to get past the actual problem and try to explain the reasons behind it. It has been proven that most addicts are addicted because of childhood issues and traumatic experiences they never got past. One of the most known drug addictions is alcoholism. Alcoholism is when people become dependent on alcohol and their body and mind does not know when to stop drinking. They start to feel they have to have alcohol to survive or function. Recent data from the National Institutes of Health reports that 15% of the people living in the United States are considered “problem drinkers.” Of this 15%, 5%-10% of the males and 3%-5% of the females could be labeled as alcoholics. Another study found that approximately 30% of people in the U.S. report experiencing an alcohol disorder at one point in their lifetime. Researchers from the University of California in San Diego have found that the lifetime risk of alcohol-use disorders for men is greater than 20%. They share that there is a risk of around 15% for alcohol abuse and 10% risk for alcohol dependence. (http://www.alcoholaddiction.info/alcoholism-statistics.htm) Alcoholism...
Words: 934 - Pages: 4
...Drugs and College Students Victoria Lyles-Savage Professor Stone SOW 301-01 Drugs and College Student In today’s society there are a number of college students and teens, who misuse prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons along with street drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy, heroin and steroids. Drugs and alcohol use on college campuses is universal. This has been an epidemic that has grown across the United States. According to Yusko,Buckman, White, and Pandina; alcohol and drug use in college is one of the more serious problems faced by colleges today .Another study stated that 90 percent of teens said they have used alcohol, over 50 percent have used marijuana, 17 percent used cocaine and 13 percent have used some form of hallucinogenic drug. Athletes are at risk to drug use because of the increased physical demand of athletics and heightens stress and time constraints placed upon them by fulfilling the dual role of being an athlete and student (Yusko, Buckman, White, Pandina, 2008). Peer pressure in itself is an epidemic and strongly impacts nonathletic individuals as well. The use of prescriptions drugs for nonmedical use is higher than are use of cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and inhalants all combined. Prescription Opioids result in more drug abuse deaths than both cocaine and heroin combined (Katelyn Rozenbroek& Rothstein, 2011).There are a lot of factors that drive teens and college students to turn to drugs and alcohol. The highest rates of...
Words: 1740 - Pages: 7
...Prescription Drug Abuse Interventions: Focus on Elvis Presley Alenka Ferrel, Jessica Garoutte, & Cristina Rainwater PSY 480 March 5, 2012 Dr. Tara Thompson Prescription Drug Abuse Interventions: Focus on Elvis Presley Prescription drug abuse is not currently classified by the DSM-IV-TR, for it focuses on a pattern of drug abuse which bypasses personality patterns and focuses on common characteristics between clients, rather than a specific drug (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009). Prescription drug abuse is a wide-spread and exceedingly common problem in present day America. This essay will examine the case study of cultural icon Elvis Presley and his struggle with prescription drugs which eventually took his life. Biological, psychological, and social factors which contributed to his addiction will be examined, as well as interventions which may have been helpful had they been available or had Elvis decided to seek help. The examination of the case study, along with the contributing factors and possible interventions, should be considered for anyone going through problems with similar addictions. The Case of Elvis Presley Elvis Presley was one of the most well-known and famous individual’s of all time. After his death, Elvis was made into a cultural icon and coined the “King of Rock n’ Roll.” However, fame and fortune did not lead him down a productive and positive life path, but rather to a life of depression, alienation, and prescription drug addiction. Elvis...
Words: 1438 - Pages: 6
...The Case for and Against Drug Testing Case Study 16-1 Columbia Southern University The adversity that the Castulon Corporation is faced with during the recent discovery of employee’s use of drugs on and off the facility, they’re trying to decide what can be done about the current situation while implementing a drug screening policy to resolve the situation. According Drug Use Statistics, “Among unemployed adults aged 18 or older in 2009, 17.0 percent were current illicit drug users, which were higher than the 8.0 percent of those employed full time and 11.5 percent of those employed part time. However, most illicit drug users were employed. Of the 19.3 million current illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2009, 12.9 million (66.6 percent) were employed either full or part time” (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, 2010). Not to mention prescription drug abuse or alcohol abuse. Some say those statistics and Castulon Corporation’s current issues that the implementation of a drug screening policy should not should be put in place immediately. However, what implications would it have on the employees who are not a using drugs, and how far should the testing go, after all alcohol and prescription drug use can cause just as much damage. The one thing Castulon did was weigh the pros and cons, and assigned the task to two employees of proving both sides to management. I do agree that there are some industries where drug screening should be mandatory...
Words: 947 - Pages: 4
...As one prescription drug abuser in his early 20’s explained: Once people (pill brokers) know you take them prescription opioids, they’ll start calling you. “Oh, it’s this time of the month.” Then they wait for that person to get their script. They know exactly in their head what day the script’s getting ready to come so they got the patterns down. Pill brokers and dealers reported congregating in open air drug markets typically strip mall and pharmacy parking lots, and outside methadone clinics to buy, sell, and trade prescription drugs. These markets were reported to involve a variety of transactions, including the purchase of prescription drugs for cash, as well as trades for crack and heroin. Pill brokers also reported the purchase of used fentanyl patches from nurses who have stolen them from pain patients or from disposal containers in hospitals. Some individuals frequenting the drug markets also barter their oxycodone for other opioids or benzodiazepines, typically alprazolam. Doctor Shopping focus group participants indicated that even in a small state like Delaware, doctor shopping appeared to be fairly easy. The vast majority of abusers reported obtaining medications through doctor shopping, and most reported frequenting at least four physicians in order to obtain sufficient amounts of their desired medications. Occasionally clinics and hospital emergency rooms were reported as locations for doctor shopping as well. A heavy user stated: Another focus group member...
Words: 3476 - Pages: 14
...carisoprodol, and alprazolam is subject to abuse. Ingestions of this drug combination reported to Texas poison centers during 1998–2009 were identified (totaling 1,295 cases) and the distribution of ingestions by selected factors was determined. The number of cases increased from 0 in 1998 to 200 in 2007, and then decreased to 132 in 2009. The counties in eastern and southeastern Texas accounted for 80.9% of the cases. Of the patients, 57.3% were women and 94.6% were age 20 or older. Suspected attempted suicide accounted for 59.3% of the cases and intentional misuse or abuse for 27.3%. KEYWORDS. Alprazolam, carisoprodol, hydrocodone, poison center INTRODUCTION Abuse of prescription drugs is increasing in the United States. Rates of overdose deaths involving prescription drugs increased during 1999–2006.1 Emergency department visits involving the nonmedical use of opioid analgesics increased during 2004–2008.2 There has also been an increase in prescription drug abuse among adolescents.3,4 Hydrocodone is a prescription narcotic pain reliever sold alone or in combination with other medications known by the brand names Vicodin (Abbot Laboratories, North Chicago, IL), Lorcet (Forest Pharmaceuticals, St. Louis, MO), Lortab (Mallinckrodt Inc., Hobart, NY), and Norco (Watson Pharmaceuticals, Corona, CA). Carisoprodol is a prescription muscle relaxant known by the brand name Soma (Meda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Somerset, NJ). Alprazolam is a prescription anti-anxiety medication known by the...
Words: 2676 - Pages: 11
..."There are no recorded cases of overdose fatalities attributed to cannabis, and the estimated lethal dose for humans extrapolated from animal studies is so high that it cannot be achieved," stated in a 1995 report prepared by the World Health Organization. (Medical Marijuana Mall USA, 2013). Medical marijuana is safer than prescription drugs, alcohol, and spice. Marijuana is more beneficial to use than prescription drugs because of the lack of serious side effects. The most common side effects of marijuana are coughing, wheezing, and bronchitis. These side effects are easily taken care of by using a vaporizer or preparing foods with marijuana. Marijuana is less dependable than prescription medication such as pain killers. Prescription medications are now killing more people in the United States than illegal street drugs. Even more importantly the consumption of marijuana cannot result in a fatal overdose. (Medical Marijuana Mall USA, 2013). Someone can’t even take a Tylenol or Aspirin without there being serious side effects to the liver and other organs in the body. Medical marijuana is not lethal, prescription and even non-prescription pills, powders, liquids, and injections are. (Medical Marijuana Project, 2012). A CBS news editorial by Dr. Mitch Earleywine mentions that medical marijuana can be marked cheaper to use than certain prescription drugs. This is especially relevant to patients in chronic pain who do not have medical insurance and need to pay out of...
Words: 1989 - Pages: 8
...Neuroenhancement; Stimulants in the Classroom In the current economy, people are competing to earn a decent living; meanwhile, only certain individuals receive a prescription for neuroenhancing medication. An individual receiving Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment is at an advantage compared to an individual with ADHD and no prescription. Neuroenhancing drugs, categorized as stimulants, are most often prescribed to people who’ve been diagnosed with ADHD. Students are the main focus of this research paper because data supports the claim that neuroenhancers are often used to improve performance in the classroom. There are positive and negative results that come from the use of neuroenhancing medication. A qualitative study by Margaret Talbot examines a Harvard student and includes personal insight from an Adderall user that earned a college degree. If a student doesn’t have access to prescribed neuroenhancers, and has a hard time focusing on schoolwork, is the student similar to someone with bad vision and no access glasses? The current situation in our information based economy with a growing need for higher education puts prescribed users of neuroenhancement at an academic advantage over people with similar neurological characteristics and no prescription. Defining the Drug ADHD medication has an intended purpose to improve the ability for the user to focus on a given task. More specifically, “stimulants increase the activity of the sympathetic nervous...
Words: 2287 - Pages: 10
...from the Los Angeles Times, it is estimated that 100 people die every day from drug abuse or overdose. Abuse or overdose being defined as taking more medicine than a doctor prescribes, or taking medication not prescribed to the victim. These totals don’t even include deaths related to side effects from other prescription drugs, and those reach over one hundred thousand people annually. These numbers have alarmed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but rightfully so because from the years 2000 to 2009 the report states, “The percentage of poisoning deaths among those aged 15–19 years with prescription drugs as a contributing cause increased from 30% in 2000 to 57% in 2009.” There are many different speculations that would drive such a rapid climb, such as music and lifestyle, accessibility to the drugs, and affordability for many teenagers. Agencies like the CDC and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are working together with the White House to reside this issue by improving education of healthcare professionals, using state prescription monitoring programs, and proper disposal of controlled substances by business trade and the public. I agree with Obama in that there are steps that need to be taken to help end this recent issue in society. Although, I believe there are other ways to go about it and the first is to federally decriminalize marijuana. Prescription drug abuse has been recognized since the 1980’s, but it hasn’t received as much attention...
Words: 1630 - Pages: 7
...Substance Abuse and Psychosis in Adolescents Over the past several decades, the U.S. population has grown significantly and continues to do so at a rapid pace. The most recent U.S. Census Bureau figures estimate that the population in the United States is currently nearing 304,800,000. Of this tremendous number, approximately one quarter are children under that age of eighteen years and over 40 million are adolescents (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001a). For the purpose of this examination, we will define adolescents as individuals between the ages of ten and eighteen years, although it is important to keep in mind that there are many different definitions and understandings of adolescents, most of which are not as directly related to chronological age (Santrock, 2001). Adolescents are a very special population because these are often the years in which childhood and adulthood become blurred, roles, expectations and needs change, as well as significant physical and psychological growth. As we also know, experimentation is often characteristic of adolescence and this experimentation can be physical, sexual or philosophical; all of which may possibly lead to drug use. This paper seeks to examine the question of whether or not drug abuse is related to psychosis in adolescents. Literature Review Adolescent Drug Use According to a national study in 2006, over 60 percent of reported that drugs were used, kept and sold on their school campuses on a regular basis. ...
Words: 2009 - Pages: 9
