...| Reasons and Prevention Strategies for Epidemic of Prescription Drug Abuse among Teens | Prescription Drug Epidemic Among Teens | Walden University | | Reasons and Prevention Strategies for Prescription Drug Abuse among Teens Overview Increasing abuse of prescription drugs among teens can be attributed to psychological, environmental, or behavioral conditions.Drug abuse in teens can be linked to other disorders or conditions which lead to drug abuse. Teens who abuse drugs are likely to become adults who abuse drugs. It is necessary to understand and address these underlying issues if successful prevention is to happen. First it is necessary to understand the magnitude of the problem 2.3 million Teens were abusing prescription drugs in 2003. (Controlled Prescription Drug Abuse at Epidemic Level, 2006) This is a very large number of teens abusing potentially addictive and deadly drugs. These numbers indicate a major problem with the potential to rapidly grow out of control if not addressed appropriately. In fact recent studies have found there has been an increase in prescription drug abuse among teens at an alarming rate. From 2005 to 2008 there was a 12% increase in prescription drug abuse among teens. (Elliot, Souder, Privette, &Richardson, 2008) This is a very large increase in a very short period of time. An increase such as this calls for further explanations on why this increase occurred so rapidly. Prevention methods need to be developed to avert...
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...Prescription Opioids Deanna Pannell Aurora University One of the growing problems in America is the abuse of prescription opioids. In the past 10 years, the misuse of prescribed opioids has gone out of control, making it a national issue that many people are attempting to attack. Prescription opioid use is increasing in public health, creating an epidemic that is growing rapidly. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse: opiates, depressants, and stimulants are the three drug classifications most commonly abused by Americans. A multitude of research on the subject has concluded that there is more than a single solution to the problem, such as taking immediate action as well as creating prevention strategies. I decided to do additional research on this topic since it plays a huge part in my career as well as personal life. Being a substance abuse counselor in the criminal justice field, I experience first-hand the effects of prescription opioid abuse. A large number of client’s participating in the TASC (Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities) are dealing with prescription opioid abuse due to an injury or surgical procedure. On April 25, 2015, my first cousin died from a heroin overdose at the age of 23. After a football injury, he was prescribed Hydrocodone and became addicted. Since the pills are too expensive, he began using heroin and his battle ended 5 years later. In 2009, 16 million Americans age 12 and older reported taking a prescription pain reliever...
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...ER ICA’ S PR E S CR I P T ION DRUG A BUSE CR I SI S 2 011 Background Prescription drug abuse is the Nation’s fastest-growing drug problem. While there has been a marked decrease in the use of some illegal drugs like cocaine, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) show that nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug non-medically.1 The same survey found that over 70 percent of people who abused prescription pain relievers got them from friends or relatives, while approximately 5 percent got them from a drug dealer or from the Internet.2 Additionally, the latest Monitoring the Future study—the Nation’s largest survey of drug use among young people—showed that prescription drugs are the second most-abused category of drugs after marijuana.3 In our military, illicit drug use increased from 5 percent to 12 percent among active duty service members over a three-year period from 2005 to 2008, primarily attributed to prescription drug abuse.4 Although a number of classes of prescription drugs are currently being abused, this action plan primarily focuses on the growing and often deadly problem of prescription opioid abuse. The number of prescrip tions filled for opioid pain relievers—some of the most powerful medications available—has increased dramatically in recent years. From 1997 to 2007, the milligram per person use of prescription opioids in the U.S. increased from...
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...a growing epidemic occurring affecting all genders, races and socio-economical groups, which is the abuse of prescription pain medication and heroin. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of overdose deaths due to prescription pain medication has quadrupled from 1999 to 2013, with more than 16,000 deaths in 2013 alone (The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 2015). Also disturbing are the statistics for heroin overdose, which have increased 286 percent from 2002 to 2013, with the rate of addiction doubling as well (Cook, 2015). The abuse of heroin and prescription pain medications are tied together since individuals abusing pain medication are 40 times more likely to become addicted to heroin and half of those addicted to heroin are also addicted to pain medication (Cook, 2015). As this epidemic of drug abuse continues to grow and affect communities across the United States, it becomes apparent that federal and local government bodies need to become involved. One such way is the introduction and passing of new legislation to help cope and deal with the growing issues at hand. On June 17, 2015, one such bill was introduced to a congressional committee, H.R. 2805: Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse Prevention, Education, and Enforcement Act of 2015 (S. H.R. 2805, 2015). H.R. 2805 is a bill, which addresses prescription opioid abuse and heroin use, and methods of managing such issues through the development of best prescribing practices...
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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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...Interstate Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs - A Priority Issue for Partnership for a Drug Free America Abstract One ongoing priority of the Partnership for a drug free America (PDFA) is supporting Prescription drug Monitoring Programs (PDMP). With adolescent prescription drug abuse on the rise PDFA started a 5- year campaign called the Medicine abuse project to prevent teen prescription drug abuse. A vital tool taking precedence in this project is ensuring that Interstate prescription drug monitoring programs are implemented, utilized, and funded in all 50 states. PDFA points to research from the CDC showing the rise of prescription drug abuse amongst teens ,and their recommendation for using prescription drug monitoring programs to gain control over this epidemic. In supporting PDMPs, The Partnership for a Drug Free America is rallying with the Congressional caucus on prescription drug abuse and their initiatives to support nationally interconnected PDMPs. Recently, PDFA has received a great deal of backlash, and their motives for supporting interstate PDMPs have come into question. Mainly, because of their financial support from Pharma Pharmaceuticals. However, PDFA address all funding questions responding that Pharma provides funding solely for educational grants. The use of Interstate PDMPs comes into controversy with states like Florida, suggesting that utilizing interstate PDMPs violates...
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...Drugs in the Workplace Mark Gomez MGT 331 December 7, 2015 Abstract Defining the “drug problem” in the workplace is a task riddled with ambiguity because employers aren’t completely sure how to implement the most suitable policy for their organization. This should be an employer’s concern because drug misuse is a serious problem that can affect the business where the user works and sometimes their co-workers. Successfully tackling the drug issue correctly can benefit the employer by reducing absenteeism, reducing accidents related to drug use and promoting a more productive environment. The focus of this paper is to review current workplace policies on drug use and the challenges it brings employers. Drugs in the Workplace When it comes to drugs, employers have a legal responsibility to look after employees’ wellbeing, health and safety. Employers have a general duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974 (HSW Act) to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees (Drug Misuse at Work A Guide for Employers, 2005). A good employer will want to help employees. In some cases, alcohol or drug misuse may be used to help cope with work-related stress. If there is a problem with alcohol or drug misuse in your workplace, then this may be part of a wider stress problem. A good starting point is to focus on the scope of the situation. Prescriptive drug use in the Unites States of America accounts for roughly 48...
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...Community Health Advocacy Project-Part Two Soeurette Joseph University Of Phoenix Population-Focused Health Care NUR/544 Louama Driscoll July 14, 2014 Community Health Advocacy Project-Part Two Prescription misuse is the non-medical usage of prescription drugs without doctor’s prescription. This has become a significant health concern among adolescent group ages” between “12 to 19. One-third of individuals over the age of 12 who have used drug for the first time, started by using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes (The National Survey on Drug use and Health, 2010). The epicenter of an epidemic of prescription drug abuse in United States is the State of Florida. The sales of prescribed pain killer per person in Florida is three times higher than the sales of Illinois that holds the lowest sales rate (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). Definition and Differences of Community and Aggregate A community is a group of people or collection of people who interact, form a sense of unity with others. In addition to sharing a geographical location, they also share social ties. The three types of community include those that: a) share similar or common interest of which a professional organization is an example, b) community of solution, a group of people joining or coming together to formulate a solution to a problem, and c) geographic. Nies and McEwen (2011) define an aggregate as a subgroup of a group or population that share similar...
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...Drug Policy Reform Eric L. Morton Urban Policy/UST 458 Cleveland State University Abstract In the United States the prison population has increased from 300,000 in 1972 to 2.2 million people today. One in 31 adults in the United States is in jail, prison, on probation or parole. The American government currently spends over 68 billion dollars a year on incarceration. Drug Policy and the incarceration of low-level drug offenders is the primary cause of mass incarceration in the United States. Forty percent of drug arrests are for simple possession of marijuana. Growing evidence indicates that drug treatment and counseling programs are far more effective in reducing drug addiction and abuse than is incarceration. Drug policies most often refer to the government's attempt to combat the negative effects of drug addiction and misuse in its society Governments try to combat drug addiction with policies which address both the demand and supply of drugs, as well as policies which can mitigate the harms of drug abuse. Demand reduction measures include prohibition, fines for drug offenses, incarceration for persons convicted for drug offenses, treatment (such as voluntary rehabilitation), awareness campaigns, community social services, and support for families. Policies which may help mitigate the effects of drug abuse include needle exchange and drug substitution programs, as well as free facilities for testing...
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...Healthy Concepts - Drug Abuse Cassandra J. Champion HCS-535 Monday, February 20, 2012 Cynthia Nelson Healthy Concepts - Drug Abuse Today’s economy is tough and many people face issues that they never thought they would face. Healthy Concepts is developing a program to assist alcohol and drug abusers. The choices that are made throughout a person’s life time can lead to so many path’s. The choices can be developed through education and assistance by the community. Drug abuse can affect any and all communities, it can breach any wall that is put up. According to "2011 National Drug Control Policy" (2011), "In 2007, the most recent year for which data are available, the economic impact of illicit drug use on American society totaled more than $193 billion.” (para.1) Also according to “2011 National Drug Control Policy” (2011), “Through efforts such as the Drug Free Communities (DFC) program, the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, and Strategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grants, ONDCP is helping to translate the concept of prevention into effective action at the local level”(para.1). HealthPeople.gov is just one tool that opens up nationally and locally to communties to assist in developing programs to prevent illict drug use and many other health aspects. Drug abuse and alcohol abuse have made a huge impact on families, society and costs the American society large amounts of money. Prescription drug use has become the drug of choice. Many doctors will...
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...Name: Class: Teacher: Topic: Alcohol and Drug Abuse Drug Abuse. Physiological Effects * Physiological effects of drug abuse vary by the type of drug. Stimulants, such as amphetamines, can delay sleep and elevate a person's mood, but high amounts can cause nervousness and anxiety in the user. Depressants, by contrast, impair mental and physical functions, and slow neural activity in the brain. With some drugs, especially narcotics such as opium or heroin, the body can build a tolerance in which it adjusts to the drug's presence. Over time, the body requires higher doses to maintain the same effect. When an abuser stops taking the drug, the body experiences withdrawal symptoms, such as feeling weak or sick. Withdrawal symptoms are the body's reaction to the absence of the drug to which it had become adjusted. Social Effects * The social effects of drug abuse begin with abusers and their families. Substance abuse has been a factor in divorce, family violence and related problems. The social effects extend into the larger society, as well, such as through crimes committed by drug abusers to get money needed to feed drug habits. Further, the lucrative nature of drug trafficking fuels crime as rival drug gangs fight for control of the traffic. The U.S. government, for example, noted increased drug-related violence on the U.S.-Mexico border and cited drug gangs in these areas as the nation's leading organized crime threat Economic Effects * Reports...
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...different medications. I feel my source is credible because the site was not biased in any way. It had references, testimonies and documentations along with charts and graphs from different doctors as well as different patients in different states of the addiction on different medications. The source does not make any claims without evidence to support what is stated and I feel like this site reached out and touched me due to my own personal experience with an addiction to pain medication that led to a suicide attempt in June 2010. Rovero, April (2012) American Society of Addiction Medicine http://www.asam.org/advocacy/find-a-policy-statement/view-policy-statement/public-policy-statements/2012/01/26/measures-to-counteract-prescription-drug-diversion-misuse-and-addiction Founder/President National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse www.ncapda.org This is an exceptional resource to use because the Founder is also the President and a treating doctor who is the backer of this organization and have treated multiple patients with addictions. The article is a report on experiences that have been lived by patients and their family members and they...
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...Identification of the Problem: Opioid Epidemic in the United States: A Public Health Problem The opioid epidemic occurring in the United States is one of the most widespread public health problems facing the nation today. The use of prescription opioids, a pain reliever, has increased fourfold since 1991, equating to an additional 140 million opioid prescriptions being prescribed in 2013 than in 1991 [1, 5]. Furthermore, the sale of prescription opioids in hospitals, pharmacies, and doctor’s offices has risen 300% since 1999 [7, 13]. This has led to a windfall for pharmaceuticals, as OxyContin, an opioid led to 3.1 billion dollars in sales in 2010 [28]. Thus is due to the fact that the United States alone consumes 80% of the worlds opioid...
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...Public health and health literacy is an unfamiliar topic to many Americans and continues to be overlooked and disregarded in the United States Healthcare system. Healthcare professionals and students in the Healthcare field are not specially trained in this area, which makes it hard to construct a system that targets public health and health literacy. Creating a healthcare system that is more focused on preventative measures may help to alleviate costs in the emergency room, leading to better quality of life and directing our system to prevention rather than solely focusing on treatment. Public health initiatives focus on preventative measures such as colonoscopies, mammograms, screenings for diabetes, immunizations etc. Unfortunately, students...
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...Methods As the Communications Coordinator for RxRUS, I have been tasked with addressing the public about the concerns and reports of negative effects of one of our medications that is used by a significant part of the population. Also, we have received reports that one of the individuals who claim to have experienced significant negative effects from this particular medication is a well-known public figure. Our consumers have been our number one priority for the last 40 years. I want to begin by saying that it is our top priority to see that our consumers receive medications that have been thoroughly tested and researched in various ways to ensure safety and satisfaction. Our company has prided itself on the hard work and dedication of our staff and the quality of our medications. At RxRUS, our products are reviewed and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, also known as the FDA. To quote the FDA website, “Drug companies seeking FDA approval to sell a new prescription drug in the United States must test it in various ways. First are laboratory and animal tests. Next are tests in humans to see if the drug is safe and effective when used to treat or diagnose a disease. After testing the drug, the company then sends FDA an application called a New Drug Application (NDA). Some drugs are made out of biologic materials. Instead of an NDA, new biologic drugs are approved using a Biologics License Application (BLA). Whether an NDA or a BLA, the application...
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