...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...
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...Prescription Drugs In this society, most Americans use some type of prescription drug. According to this week chapter reading: “More than 80 % of U.S. adults use some form of medication, with 50 % taking a drug prescribed by a doctor. The average American fills 11 prescriptions per year spending approximately $ 771 annually (Gentzen, p. 245, 2007).” This is a true statement because I am one of those Americans who depend on prescription drugs. I have a seizure disorder that doctors have not found what cause me to have seizure. Without medication, I can have a seizure. So now I have become what society has called “addicted” to prescription drugs, when I go too long without medication, I can have a seizure at any given time. So I am glad that my team has chosen this topic to discuss. We talk about The History of Prescription Drugs, Drugs Addicts, and The steps that we believe that could be used to make a change to the present system. Prescription drugs are medicine regulated by legislation to require a prescription before it can be obtained. The term prescription drug is used separate from over-the-counter drugs that can be purchased without a prescription. In the United States, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act determines what requires a prescription. When obtaining a prescription, a person will also receive a pamphlet explaining the drug and helpful information about the effect of the drug and how it affects the body. It also describes side effects...
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...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...
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...Prescription Drug Abuse and Misuse Tactical Plan Key Health Communication Messages: Abuse and misuse of prescription drugs can be dangerous and deadly. Many people think prescription drugs are not as dangerous as other illegal drugs. This is false, prescription drugs are just as dangerous as any other illicit drug when misused and or abused. This can lead to addiction, overdoses and death. Mixing prescription medication with other drugs or alcohol can lead to permanent health problems, including organ and cardiovascular problems. It is illegal to share your prescription medication with someone or to have someone else’s prescription regardless of the reason. You can be convicted of illegal drug possession and or illegal drug distribution. The law is very clear on prescription medication. The only one that can use or carry the medication is the person it is prescribed to or their licensed medical caregiver. Prescription drug abuse and misuse negatively affects students grades and can jeopardize their futures. Abusing or misusing stimulants or other prescribed medication to help academically does not work. In fact it has proven to negatively affect grades as well as a danger to your health . Identify the signs of prescription drug abuse and misuse. Know where to seek help for yourself and others. If you or someone you know shows signs of prescription drug abuse or misuse seek help immediately before it gets worse. If you suspect someone has a problem...
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...been that of whether or not there should be a prescription-drug benefit added to Medicare. Both George W. Bush and Al Gore have proposed a plan to expand Medicare to include full prescription-drug coverage for senior citizens receiving Medicare, at the expense of taxpayers. It is obvious why this issue has been such a priority for both candidates. Senior citizens vote at a much higher rate than other age groups. Both candidates know the importance of these senior citizen votes and believe that the proposal of adding a prescription-drug benefit is something that will appeal to a vast number of senior citizens. Both candidates have portrayed the issue as being very critical and as a serious problem that needs to be addressed. The question, however, is whether or not such drug coverage is a worthwhile project to undertake. Is the problem indeed serious enough to call for the type of reform that the candidates are proposing? Medicare is already a very costly program to keep up, and adding prescription-drug coverage would increase these costs even more. In order to fund this project, there will need to be a tax hike. Should taxpayers subsidize this prescription-drug benefit? Is there a good reason why this redistribution should take place? What are the benefits and costs of this proposal? These and other questions will be addressed in this paper as we examine the following topics: the need for senior citizens to have prescription-drug coverage, the political rhetoric involved with...
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...Prescription Drug Use “According to results from the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 2.1 million Americans used prescription drugs nonmedically for the first time within the past year, which averages to approximately 5,750 initiates per day.” said by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Many people with depression or a mental illness mistreat drugs and abuse them. Some people get the drugs from the doctor and others from people who are actually prescribed with the drugs. The effects of the drugs will cause more problems than it would help. People have misuse prescription drugs when they are depressed and/or mental illnesses. The author is using a personal story to connect to the readers. In an article about drug...
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...Americans spend more money on prescription drugs per year than any other developed country. Due to laws that prevent businesses such as Medicare from negotiating prices and generous patent laws, the prices of medication sold in America has skyrocketed. These laws are inhibiting these necessary medications from making their way to people who desperately need them. While it is understandable that pharmaceutical companies should be allowed to profit off their medications, it is unnecessary to grant them full control over the pricing of their products. Organizations such as Medicare need to be allowed to negotiate with these companies, otherwise the price of pills will continue to increase. Companies such as Turing Pharmaceuticals have taken...
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...The drug epidemic in America is at a shocking all time high. The rate of people dying from drug overdoses has been quickly increasing more and more over the last 10 years. Yet these drug overdoses are not always from scary street drugs like in the movies, many of the big killers come from behind the pharmacy counter. When in medical distress, a doctor is the first person many turn to. Medical emergencies, life-long illnesses, or developed diseases, and a doctor can either completely stop the problem in its tracks or curb the issue until its manageable. However more and more doctors are making mistakes while treating their patients. Not only are prescription drugs not always even necessary, but doctors are prescribing medications at alarmingly...
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... Rough Draft Turner Comp 2 Is Prescription Drug Abuse an Epidemic? Many people especially the younger generation, ages starting at twelve years old have turned to the abuse of prescription drugs. The most commonly misused prescription drugs are painkillers (opioids), antidepressants, and anxiety medication. People claim addiction is a choice, but according to science addiction is considered a brain disease due to the fact that it alters the brain permanently by changing the structure of the brain itself and how it works. Some say the huge sting made over prescription drug abuse is all over exaggerated and they blame the media. But how can you make the claim that the abuse of prescription drugs isn’t a huge epidemic? The 2010 Nation Survey of Drug use and Health states that 2.4 million Americans have used prescription drugs non medically within the last year with ages 18-25 being the highest of users. Evidence proves that prescription drug abuse is an epidemic in the United States today, and those who disagree rely on blaming the media for falsely portraying the intensity of prescription drug abuse. People often think everything is okay as long as it’s not right in front of their faces, and too many people have turned a blind eye to this dangerous addiction. It is time for people to realize the real issues prescription drug abuse is causing and how quickly it has become such a dangerous epidemic. How did this epidemic...
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...Prescription Drug Abuse Prescription drugs have become increasingly dangerous to young people in the United States. In fact, prescription drugs do not only appeal to adults anymore, but are quickly becoming the drug of choice among young people. According the CDC, after cannabis, prescription drugs are the most common drugs used by people 14 and older. Because of availability, effects, and lack of knowledge about what these drugs can do, prescription drugs are becoming a greater danger to you people than marijuana. Perhaps one reason why prescription drug use is becoming more popular among young people is because they are so easy to get. Many young people can get prescription drugs from his or her home. Some parents leave prescriptions in unlocked medicine cabinets, or leave leftover prescriptions lying around where kids can easily get them. Disposing of your old prescriptions responsibly can easily prevent this. There are many drug take-back programs available. Unfortunately, some kids may have parents who are addicts themselves, so his or her parents may end up sharing drugs with their kids. Of course, there are other ways for young people to obtain prescription drugs. Another way these prescription drugs can be obtained is if a doctor prescribes them. Many addicts engage in an act called “doctor shopping”. Doctor shopping is when a patient tries to get prescription drugs from multiple doctors without each doctor knowing. These people may sell or use the drugs,...
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...Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences (“Drug Abuse”). It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it works.Drug Addiction affects more people than you know it. It can hurt the people around you and even yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Many unfortunate factors cause one to fall into drug addiction, but many ways exist for recovery. One way that can cause addiction is peer pressure. It has a big impact on many people and their lives. “Saying “yes” or “no” on the spur of the moment works pretty well most of the time. But big decisions need a little more attention and...
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...Most of us respect prescription drugs, mainly used for the reason the doctor intended. Understanding problems, pitfalls and the magnitude prescription drug abuse and misuse has on today’s society. Medical society estimates the number as high as 40 million people (aged 12 and older); have used drugs for nonmedical reasons in their lifetime. Making nonmedical use of prescription drugs a defining drug dilemma of the new century. The management of chronic pain is an art and a science, according to the Center of Disease Control (CDC). Nevertheless, the opioid epidemic has received substantial publicity and policy makers are more aggressively trying to combat the problem. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the three classes of...
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...the same drug from another country. So, are these drugs equivalent and how can one know but rely on the source of where the medication is coming from? Former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Mark McClellan said “there is no evidence that unapproved imported drugs are becoming any safer or more reliable” on why the United States does not buy drugs from other countries (Badger 2004). The FDA argues they are not the same...
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...professionals. It stands to reason that prescription drug abuse within the elderly presents a much higher risk than prescription drug abuse among younger generations. Ignoring this problem leads to a diminished quality of life and a less attentive healthcare system. Sadly, prescription drug abuse is a silent epidemic among the elderly population and it is a growing problem. With proper attention and diagnosis, there can be a reduction in injuries, such as hip fractures from falling, excessive hospitalizations, and even untimely death. Prescription drug abuse is overlooked by our healthcare professionals every day. Elderly patients are prescribed more medications than younger...
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...Prescription Drug Abuse Leader: Group Purpose: The purpose of this group is to discuss the issue of prescription drug abuse and how we as potential LCDCs plan on dealing with this problem. Process: Group meetings will take place on weekly basis on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm. Gilbert Arias will be group leader. Group members are encouraged to participate and give feedback. Rules : Confidentiality is of utmost importance in the group experience. All members are required to maintain confidentiality with regards to all members. All confidentiality rules that apply in individual counseling will apply in group for_________. Consequences of breaching confidentiality can be detrimental to the group process and is therefore taken very seriously. Group members are expected to maintain regular attendance at this group for its duration. Acknowledgement of Commitment Please sign and date the following statements to confirm your acknowledgement: I agree to maintain confidentiality concerning what others say and do in group I agree to obey the rules the group adopts. Signature____________________ Date_______________ Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction • Prescription drugs are the second most commonly abused category of drugs, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs. • The National Institutes of Health estimates that nearly 20 percent of people in the United States have used prescription...
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