The use of opioids and other drugs continues to gradually increase in the United State. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of overdose deaths involving opioids has quadrupled since 1999” (CDC website). Individuals are abusing prescription opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and methadone. Prescriptions opioids that are supposed to be used as pain relievers, cough suppressants and for withdrawal symptoms are being use by individuals in order to feel relaxed or for the overwhelming effect of euphoria. These types of drugs are to be taken orally, but people are snorting, smoking, and injecting them in order to get a better high. I have personal encounters with opioid drugs and opioid abuser on a regular
Considerable cautions have been obtained throughout the United States to decrease the misuse of prescription opioids and helps to minimize opioid overdoses and related complications. Even though the pain medications have a significant part in the treatment of acute and chronic pain situations, it sometimes happen that the high dose prescription or the prescribed medications, without having enough monitoring, can create bad outcomes. It is always a dilemma for the providers to find who is really in need of pain medications and to identify those who are questionably misusing opioids.
Opioid abuse, misuse and overdose is a problem in The United States. You can’t turn on the TV or read a newspaper without some mention of the epidemic. This issue has caused the practice of prescribing or taking narcotic pain medication to be looked at under a microscope. Patients are fearful to use some necessary pain medication, because they may become addicted. Other patients who genuinely do have pain and need medication are having a tougher time obtaining the help they need. The problem of abuse and addiction is tough to solve since for some people the medications are the only way they can function and live a semi-normal life. A patient with pain may be hesitant to visit the doctor and
The over use of opioid has been one of the major public health problem in the United States (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2018). Opioids include prescription medications that are used to treat pain symptoms which includes codeine, morphine, methadone, hydrocodone, and etc., as well as illegal drugs such as heroin and illicit potent on opioids such as fentanyl analogs (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2018). The opioid overdose could happen due to many factors such as when a patient deliberately misuses a prescription, or misuse heroin (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2018). Opioid overdose could happen due to the prescriber miscalculated the opioid dose or when
Since the 1920’s, medical schools have devoted little to no class-time to teaching medical students about substance use disorders. A 2001 study reported that the average four-year medical school only provided twelve hours of curricular time to this type of disorder. Additionally, due to federal regulation of physician prescription practices for narcotics, the development and delivery of substance use disorder treatment services has typically been provided in specialized facilities. The removal and segregation of these services outside of generalized medical facilities has left many physicians unprepared to handle addiction. Moreover, since patients with substance use disorder in recovery are frequently treated at specialized facilities, the only experience many physicians outside of those facilities have with addiction is with patients who are engaging in doctor-shopping or pill-seeking behavior. Thus, while physicians regularly treat the medical complications of addiction, physicians lack skills in the screening, assessment, treatment, and referral of patients with substance abuse problems. With so little formal training or exposure to patients with an addiction, especially patients in recovery, physicians are poorly prepared to provide appropriate medical
Drug abuse and misuse are prominent problems in the United States, whether the issue is with trafficking, overdoses causing death, illegal recreational use in adolescents, or even improper prescriptions by medical professionals leading to physiological dependence. The formerly listed problems stem from outdated, yet current, classification system of drugs in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The “Heroin Epidemic” is an example of a problem concerning improper prescribing in medical practice; this issue began when many medical professionals began to prescribe potent painkillers to their patients early in their treatments. Over time and with consistent use, the patients grew to psychologically and physiologically depend on the painkillers. Eventually, the prescribed painkillers became unaffordable and patients began to depend on a cheaper drug with similar, yet more dangerous, effects: heroin. As a result, many are addicted to heroin as compared to prescription drugs. There is also an issue concerning qualified medical professionals that “pill mill,” meaning they prescribe Schedule II drugs such as oxycodone with the sole purpose to make more money; this puts the patient in danger in exchange for the doctor’s personal benefit. As a student pursuing a career in the medical field, I find that the proper implementation and use of medicine and drugs is vital to providing quality health care, so that events like the heroin
From the research gathered, I have developed a theory that the causes, as well as the possible remission approaches to opioid diversion, are simply not “black and white.” The idea of physician faulting does not come without partial responsibility falling to the user when recognizing the physician’s main objective of aiding the patient – and not to be their drug addiction specialist. However, alternatively, one cannot blindly hand full fault to the patient as they are (generally speaking) simply seeking pain relief, and not taking recognition of possible addictive implications. Considering the validity of all research involved, it is alluded that these seem to be co-occurring factors and that both must be evaluated when forming opinions on causes and effects. The onset of opioid misuse is not that of singular blame, just as it cannot be simply solved by an individual idea. The installment of PDMPs will not entirely mitigate the problem because of the immediate attention needed regarding general education on every concerning face of opioid use. With careful thought, the theories can be combined and utilized to assure the hopeful discontinuation of opioid diversion. Concerning opioid diversion, causative factors of patient and physician responsibility are co-occurring and must be treated
Millions of people throughout the world are taking drugs on a daily basis. If you were to ask someone why they take prescription drugs, most people would be taking them for the right reason. However, it’s estimated that twenty percent of people in the United States alone have used prescription drugs for non-medical reasons.1 Prescription drug abuse is a serious and growing problem that often goes unnoticed. Abusing these drugs can often lead to addiction and even death. You can develop an addiction to certain drugs that may include: narcotic painkillers, sedatives, tranquilizers, and stimulants.1 Prescription drugs are the most common abused category of drugs, right next to marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and
The very same items a doctor prescribes to help people get well might be making them sick. Prescription drugs are being taken for reasons other than the ones they are being prescribed for, fueling an addiction that impacts as many as 48 million Americans ("Prescription Drug Abuse" WebMD). According to MedLinePlus, "an estimated 20 percent of people in the United States have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons. This is prescription drug abuse." While a considerable amount of time, resources, and attention are focused on the problems associated with illicit drugs, prescription drug abuse is "an increasing problem," with very serious consequences for individuals, families, and communities (MayoClinic Staff). The United States Office of National Drug Control Policy claims, "Prescription drug abuse is the Nation's fastest-growing drug problem, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic." Because prescription drugs are viewed as safe due to their being part of the doctor's pharmacopeia, the same psychological, legal, ethical, and social barriers to abuse might not be present. However, prescription drug abuse creates a wide range of problems, including dangerous or lethal side effects, long-term addiction, and the dismantling of family and community
es and non-prescription drug abuse among minors with the misguided insight that their use is safer than the illegal drugs. Through an online survey, the researchers collect data on the issue and correlate with specific variables such as community stigma, apparent risk and the access to the drugs. The authors discover a positive correlation. This study will aid in gaining an in-depth understanding of the exact nature of relation between community stigma, apparent risk and the access to the drugs to drug abuse in the society. It will serve as viable literature in identifying the various ways and procedures to limit and observe the access of these drugs to adolescents. 2. Goebel, J. R., Compton, P., Zubkoff, L., Lanto, A., Asch, S. M., Sherbourne,
Prescription drug abuse is not a new problem within our society. Prescription drug abuse has in fact been an ongoing problem that is currently spinning out of control. There are many people within our society that are currently dealing with prescription drug addiction. Prescription drug abuse is the intentional use of a medication without a prescription; in a way other than as prescribed; or for the experience or feeling it causes (The Science of Drug Abuse & Addiction, 2014). Prescription drugs are developed to assist with various medical problems, and when prescribed by a medical professional are helpful for patients. The using prescriptions for those other than intended for may cause a number of serious issues
Fleary et al. (2010) explores the degree to which prescription and non-prescription drug abuse among minors with the misguided insight that their use is safer than the illegal drugs. Through an online survey, the researchers collect data on the issue and correlate with specific variables such as community stigma, apparent risk and the access to the drugs. The authors discover a positive correlation. This study will aid in gaining an in-depth understanding of the exact nature of relation between community stigma, apparent risk and the access to the drugs to drug abuse in the society. It will serve as viable literature in identifying the various ways and procedures to limit and observe the access of these drugs to adolescents.
One in three Americans are prescribed opioids from their doctor. Once someone is prescribed a medication and take it daily, as told to do so by the doctor, it is extremely easy to become dependent on the pills. Dependency on a drug means that the body physically craves it and may experience withdrawals when the prescription is stopped. Addiction characterizes as a mental need for the drug. The behavior changes and abusing the medication will begin.
When one feels that they are experiencing pain, anxiety, or sickness whether it is mild or severe, one quick and easy solution is to head straight to the doctor’s office. A patient will describe his or her symptoms of pain to the doctor and more likely than not that doctor will prescribe the patient some type of prescription drug or pain reliever. Writing patient prescriptions and taking drugs for pain has become a socially acceptable standard in society and has also become an essential part of medicine. Today, Americans are spending millions of dollars every year on drugs, both illegal and legal, and both for medical and often non-medical use. However, what many do not realize is that the widespread increase of drug using in America
Drug abuse is the habitual taking of addictive or illegal drugs. Many college students rule out prescription drugs because they feel that they are neither addictive nor illegal. Prescription drugs are both. Not only are they addictive to the people that are required to take them, but also they are even more addictive for students who they are not prescribed to. When prescription drugs are obtained without consent from a doctor, it is considered illegal. Many college students try to take short cuts in life without realizing the extent of the consequences that their actions may hold.