· Australian actor Heath Ledger’s death was an accident caused by the abuse of prescription medications, the New York City medical examiner’s office said on February 6 th (Reuters). Taking prescription drugs in a way that hasn’t been recommended by a doctor can be more dangerous than people think. In fact, it’s drug blogger.comted Reading Time: 8 mins Essay on Prescription Drugs and Drug Abuse in the United States Words8 Pages With access to prescription drugs, people are able to treat a multitude of diseases and illnesses. These drugs help deal with pain, inability to sleep, depression, and much more Prescription Drug Abuse Essay Words | 7 Pages. Prescription Drug Abuse Research Paper According to results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated million Americans used prescription drugs non medically for the first time within the past year
Prescription Drug Abuse Essay Example ��
Prescription drug abuse has had a strong hold on American society for decades and it does not appear to be diminishing. While some drugs have decreased in popularity over the years others have increased. While society has taken steps in the right direction by supporting treatment programs for addicts and drug abuse prevention programs much more must be done to lower the current trend of substance abuse in our culture.
Prescription drugs are medications regulated by the U. These medications are helpful in treating a variety of health conditions prescription drug abuse essay are only available when prescribed by a doctor or other healthcare professional.
The government restricts these medications because they may be harmful if they are not taken properly or if they are combined with other medications Firshein, Doctors and other healthcare professionals are highly trained and prescription drug abuse essay at selecting the best medication to use for a certain condition.
The type of medication and the dosage prescribed is carefully determined. Two recent events of deaths occurred due drug abuse.
But some people experiment with prescription drugs because they think they will help them have more fun, lose weight, fit in, and even study more effectively. Prescription drugs can be easier to get than street drugs: Family members or friends could have a prescription. But prescription drugs are also sometimes sold on the street like other illegal drugs. Most patients take medicine responsibly, but approximately 9 million Americans used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes inaccording to the National Institute on Drug Abuse NIDA.
Non-medical purposes include misusing prescription drugs for recreation and for psychic effects—to get high, to have fun, to get a lift, or to calm down. It involves a complex web of factors, including the power of addiction, misperceptions about drug abuse, and the difficulty both patients and doctors have discussing the topic. Some people think that prescription drugs are safer and less addictive than street drugs. After all, these are drugs that moms, dads, and even kid brothers and sisters use.
But prescription drugs are only safe for the individuals who actually have prescription drug abuse essay for them. The doctor has also told them exactly how they should take the medicine, including things to avoid while taking the drug — such as drinking alcohol, smoking, or taking other medications. They also are aware of potentially dangerous side effects and can monitor patients closely for these.
But taking drugs without a prescription — or sharing a prescription drug with friends — is actually breaking prescription drug abuse essay law. Some people mistakenly think that prescription drugs are more powerful because you need a prescription for them. For example, dextromethorphan DXM is found in some OTC cough medicines.
When someone takes the number of teaspoons or tablets that are recommended, everything is fine. But high doses can cause problems with the senses especially vision and hearing and can lead to confusion, stomach pain, numbness, and even hallucinations. According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, inan estimated 1. This represents a significant increase since the s, when there were generally fewer thanfirst-time users per year. From toprescription drug abuse essay, the number prescription drug abuse essay new users of pain relievers increased by percent; the number of individuals who initiated tranquilizer use increased by percent; the number of new sedative users increased by 90 percent; and the number of people initiating stimulant use increased by percent.
In total, inan estimated 4 million people — almost 2 percent of the population aged 12 and older — were using certain prescription drugs non-medically: pain relievers 2. Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health NSDUH indicate that 4. Rates of abuse were highest among the age group 6.
Among the youngest group surveyed, agesa higher percentage reported using psychotherapeutics 1. Specifically, the survey found that 5. Past year, non-medical use of tranquilizers e. Also within the past year, 6. Examples: oxycodone OxyContinhydrocodone Vicodinand meperidine Demerol. Medical uses: Opioids are used to treat pain or relieve coughs or diarrhea. How they work: Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the prescription drug abuse essay nervous system the brain and the spinal cordpreventing the brain from receiving pain messages.
Examples: pentobarbital sodium Nembutaldiazepam Valiumand alprazolam Xanax. Medical uses: CNS depressants are used to treat anxiety, tension, panic attacks, and sleep disorders.
How they work: CNS depressants slow down brain activity by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA. The result is a drowsy or calming effect.
Medical uses: Stimulants can be used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD. How they work: Stimulants increase brain activity, resulting in greater alertness, attention, and energy Vranken, The likelihood that someone will commit a crime, be a victim of a crime, or have an accident is higher when that person is abusing drugs — no matter whether those drugs are medications or street drugs.
This risk is higher when prescription drugs like opioids are taken with other substances like alcohol, antihistamines, and CNS depressants. CNS depressants have risks, prescription drug abuse essay, too. Abruptly stopping or reducing them too quickly can lead to seizures.
Abusing stimulants like some ADHD drugs may cause heart failure or seizures, prescription drug abuse essay. These risks are increased when stimulants are mixed with other medicines — even OTC ones like certain prescription drug abuse essay medicines. Taking too much of a stimulant can lead a person to develop a dangerously high body temperature or an irregular heartbeat.
Taking several high doses over a short period of time may make a drug abuser aggressive or paranoid. But when a person snorts or injects Ritalin, it can be serious. And because there can be many variations of the same medication, the dose of medication and how long it stays in the body can vary. Probably the most common result of prescription drug abuse is addiction. People who abuse medications can become addicted just as easily as if they were taking street drugs.
The reason many drugs have to be prescribed by a doctor is because some of them are quite addictive. Vranken, According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health NSDUHapproximately Nearly 7 million Americans aged 12 or older reported current past month use of psychotherapeutic drugs for non-medical purposes, representing 2.
In prescription drug abuse essay report, prescription drug abuse essay, psychotherapeutics include any prescription-type pain reliever, tranquilizer, prescription drug abuse essay, stimulant, or sedative but do not include over-the-counter drugs Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Percent of U.
Household Population 12 and Older Reporting Past Month Non-Medical Use of Psychotherapeutics,by Age. Additional data from the NSDUH show that 2. Each year, the Monitoring the Future MTF study asks drug use and related questions of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders nationwide. MTF provides usage estimates for alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, and substances that are only legally available by prescription. The study includes data for the non-medical use of amphetamines, stimulants including Ritalin, and sedatives barbiturates including: methaqualone, tranquilizers, the narcotic pain relievers Vicodin and OxyContin, as well as GHB, Ketamine, and Rohypnol, which is not legal for prescription in the United States.
Survey respondents were asked to exclude from their responses prescription drug abuse essay use of prescription drugs that occurred under medical supervision National Institute on Drug Abuse and University of Michigan, Percent of Students Reporting Lifetime Non-Medical Use of Psychotherapeutics,by Grade. Approximately 9. Percent of Students Reporting Annual Non-Medical Use of Prescriptions,by Grade. According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately For this report, depressants were defined to include barbiturates, tranquilizers and Quaalude Bureau of Justice Statistics, In the correct amount, the drug will relieve your symptoms without making you addicted.
If a doctor prescribes a pain medication, stimulant, or CNS depressant, follow the directions exactly. Here are some other ways to protect yourself. In conclusion, abusing prescription drugs can affect your relationship with your family. It can create problems at school and with your future education.
You may end up losing some longtime friendships or be forced to give up some of your favorite activities. Moreover, you could get into some serious problems with the law. Listed above are so many reasons not to abuse what can be of good use. David Friedman. Drugs, Violence and Economics. Kalb, Claudia. Firshein, Moyers. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings Office of Applied Studies, NSDUH Series H, DHHS Publication No.
SMA Rockville, MD. Michele Van Vranken, MD, November Retrieved on May 2 from The Nemours Foundation. Food and Drug Administration. National Drug Intelligence Center, National Drug Threat AssessmentOctober Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, prescription drug abuse essay, Results from the National, prescription drug abuse essay.
National Institute on Drug Abuse and University of Michigan, Monitoring the Future Drug Data Tables, December Bureau of Justice Statistics, Drug Use and Dependence, State and Federal Prisoners, October Cite this page Prescription Drug Abuse. Prescription Drug Abuse. Accessed May 31,
Prescription Drug Abuse Report Card
, time: 1:47Prescription Drug Abuse Essays: Examples, Topics, Titles, & Outlines
· paper Abstract Prescription drug abuse is a problem that has plagued the United States for some time. It is clear that prescription drug abuse is the intentional use of a medication without a prescription used in the way other than prescribed; as a result the drug is Prescription drug abuse is using prescription medication prescribed by a doctor, for nonmedical reasons. Buying Coricidin for an average cold can lead to drug abuse as well as being prescribed Vicodin by a physician for migraine headaches Prescription Drug Abuse Essay Words | 7 Pages. Prescription Drug Abuse Research Paper According to results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated million Americans used prescription drugs non medically for the first time within the past year
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