Public Policy: Prescription Drug Abuse According to the National Center for Health Statistics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1999 and 2007, there has been a 402% increase in the number of prescription opioid pain relievers consumed by the U.S. public. From 1999 to 2007, the rise in prescription drug overdoses in the U.S. has increased by an astounding 17,000 and the deaths have increased from three deaths per 100,000 population to nine deaths per 100,000 (Chen, Hedegaard
Words: 880 - 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
Words: 3476 - Pages: 14
No one can deny that the problem of prescription drug addiction is at its worst today than ever before, causing countless cases of dependency and abuse at epidemic proportions, and gaining the reputation of being the "silent epidemic" in some major cities in America. Prescription drug addiction is also known as the "silent killer," and rightfully so, because it can take one innocent pill, or the wrong dosage, to place its user into a permanent sleep-an all-too familiar event known as fatally "overdosing
Words: 640 - Pages: 3
Prescription Drug Abuse in America Kelsey Diamond Ferris State University Abstract Prescription drug abuse is a very real and prominent facet of American society. According to the staff at Mayo Clinic, “Prescription drug abuse is the use of a prescription medication in a way not intended by the prescribing doctor [and] includes everything from taking a friend's prescription painkiller for your backache to snorting or injecting ground-up pills to get high”. Because of the high rates of abuse
Words: 890 - Pages: 4
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
Words: 1369 - Pages: 6
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
Words: 732 - Pages: 3
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
Words: 1431 - Pages: 6
Research Paper ADHD Medications and their Abuse Today The medications used to treat Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are powerful, especially when abused, and have lasting impacts on the patients and the abusers. Treatment, in the form of prescription drugs is available to help these individuals, yet is harmful to others who either are misdiagnosed or abuse it. Additional laws and policies implemented by our elected officials will help ensure the prescribed medications reach the intended
Words: 2009 - Pages: 9
Prescription drug abuse has been a growing problem in society over the past few years. These drugs are so widely available, easy to get, and they have increased in popularity. The potential for abuse is very high with prescriptions narcotics and they have attracted a variety of age groups. Doctors will often prescribe these medications to individuals based on their claims they are in pain. While there are people who desperately need these drugs, a fraction of people who obtain them will either resale
Words: 1007 - Pages: 5
GLT Task 2 Substance abuse is defined as “a pattern of harmful use of any substance for mood altering purposes” (Medline encyclopedia, 2014). This includes over the counter and prescription medications. Substance abuse leads to many problems from homelessness, jail, and even death. Many people abuse substances because they have some kind of stress in their life and see drugs as a symbol for a way out (More, 2008). I will be discussing how prescription drugs have an effect on the United States
Words: 730 - Pages: 3
