Essay On Prescribed Medication

The intended use of medications is meant to improve a person’ health, it is very important the individual administering medication or self-medicating use the drugs correctly, by following the doctors’ instruction for the medication prescribed. Medication is given to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness. Medication can be very dangerous, which can potentially cause harm or even deaf if it’s not used properly.

Prescription drug abuse has become an epidemic in the United States especially among the youth of our country. The Partnership for a Drug Free America says that 2,500 teens a day abuse prescription drugs. Abuse of these narcotics can lead to serious mental and physical consequences. Why is this such a problem, what can we do to solve it, and how is it affecting our social lives?

Today prescription medication is taken for reasons or in ways or amounts not intended by a doctor, or taken by someone other than the person for whom they are prescribed. The estimated deaths from prescription medications are increasing each year. Narcotics are the most common abuse substance by Americans, after alcohol and marijuana. By keeping track of prescriptions could cut down the deaths and prevent the escalation of addiction.

Prescription medications are intended to help individuals not create new problems. When an individual is diagnosed with ADHD they often seek medical attention. Medication will often be prescribed to help this individual manage their ADHD symptoms. However, many of the medications used to treat ADHD are stimulants. These stimulants can have adverse effects on the human body. There are hidden dangers when using ADHD medications such as side effects, addiction, and classification.

We as people often take medications for any problem we may have, from headaches to conditions that are more serious. While most prescribed medication is necessary, some of it is not. Many children are being given medication when they don’t need it. According to a statistics report done by the National Institute of Mental Health, there has been a 21% increase in the number of children on psychiatric drugs from 1988-1994 to 2007-2010. These children are given drugs for emotional and/or behavioral problems. While some children do have conditions that require medication, many do not. The most common disorder for children in America is ADHD, according the CCHR, a report done by IMS Health, which is

According to results from the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an estimated 2.4 million Americans used prescription drugs non medically for the first time within the past year. This statistic averages to approximately 6,600 new people per day who are taking prescription drugs that were not prescribed to them, or are not needed to treat a serious condition anymore. More than one-half of the 2.4 million people taking prescription drugs for the first time are women, ,and about a third were aged 12-17. Prescription drug abuse is highest among young adults, ages 18-25. According to the NSDUH the most commonly abused prescription drugs are opiods, CNS depressants, and stimulants.

The increase of prescription drug abuse has never before been at an all time high. More and more people are getting into the “trend” that is recreationally using Prescription Drugs, and not just any type of prescription drug. Teens are recreationally using opiates such as Oxycontin, Adderall, Vicodin, Morphine Etc. And the numbers continue to grow at an alarming rate. It is now safe to say that Prescription drugs(mostly Opiates) are becoming an even bigger issue than some illegal drugs such as Cocaine, Methamphetamine and many more.

Despite efforts to decrease the number of deaths and overdoses related to narcotic medications, such as OxyContin, and minimize the number of people illegally obtaining them, the measures that the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) in specific are taking are not enough. The literal definition of a narcotic is a drug that produces numbness or stupor; often taken for pleasure or to reduce pain; extensive use can lead to addiction. Narcotics are normally prescription medications that are given to patients to help ease the constant pain cause by cancer or other long term illnesses.

Prescription drug abuse is the use of prescribed medications for reasons other than intended by a doctor or medical professional. Prescription drug abuse involves the misuse of any and all drugs to alter the physical or mental status of a person. The misuse of prescription drugs is described as taking excess amounts, more frequently, or for much longer than originally prescribed.

Often the medication prescribed by psychiatrist to children are for adults and are very powerful. A number of psychiatrist on many occasions have admitted that most medications prescribed to children are only tested on adults and they have no idea what the consequence could be on children and on their future. Most parents have no clue and trust the doctor with their children 's wellbeing . An example could be Jacob Solomon who developed tics in his neck due to the medication he was taking over a span of five years. A girl in Ohio

Children diagnosed with ADHD must take medications to improve their condition. According to Dr. Nakamura Richard, children who are diagnosed with ADHD and do not receive managed medication needed, will greatly impact critical period in their brain’s development. This means that the issue will get more serious and the diagnosed child’s health will be at risk

The document states that the refusal of treatments will be respected, with the exception of life threatening conditions. In a case such as Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD, parent does not necessarily know best when it comes to medicating their children. The psychiatric medications used to treat ADD come with extreme risk and harmful side effects. They often contain methylphenidate, a robust stimulant that parallels the effects of amphetamines and cocaine. These stimulates interact with the nervous system and interfere with the delicate inner workings of the brain. The list off negatives effects is extensive and forever expanding. This list does not only consist of a variety of cognitive deficits, but it also includes high blood pressure, irritable and aggressive behavior, extreme depression that can lead to suicide, unexpected stroke, or heart attack; even in young people. Parents should not administer narcotics to treat behavioral issues. Instead, they should implement alternate solutions that are healthier such as one on one tutoring, learning in a controlled environment without distraction, or changing the eating habits of the person involved. In turn, both the parents and the child with ADD gain an understanding of how the individual operates. As a result, the health of the child, to include physical, mental, and emotional categories, flourish as he or she cultivates improved daily habits and skills, enhancing their overall quality of life and their future competency. In accordance with the mature minor doctrine, all young adults must have the right to choose what goes into their bodies, especially when it effects their brain

Different dosage , timing of medication were used and age of the patient and medical conditions were higly variable, also the parameters to determine efficacy was variable .

Before giving any medication to their children, parents read the suggested dosage on the label of the medication to determine how much they should give the child. In most cases the labeling on the side of the medication is incorrect for children, because of their weight, height, and metabolism (Christensen). More often than not labeling companies just size down the doses for children rather actually testing the effects (Christensen). By doing so children do not receive a correct dose size that would efficiently treat the symptoms that they are experiencing. However, some medication is tested on children and is safe to use. Most pharmacists will take a pill and turn it into a liquid form for child usage (Christensen). Even so only five out of the eighty most commonly used Over-The-Counter drugs are approved and safe for pediatric use (Christensen). As stated earlier people are incorrectly treating illnesses whether it is an incorrect size or an incorrect medicine altogether. In another study that was conducted, it was found that the medication Mevacor, a medicine used to lower cholesterol, had the same effects in treating patients using only half of the starting dose of 20 milligrams a day (Consumer Reports). This goes to show that even with modern day research misdosage can still be very common. The main goal of any parent or caregiver is to make sure that the child they are raising is healthy is receiving the proper care they deserve. In doing so they may make irrational decisions in order to treat the child as soon as possible, instead of doing research or contacting their local pediatrician. This is why it is so often that children receive medicine that does not actually benefit the child, like antibiotics for a cold.Another equally important reason that supports the idea that children are being over medicated is the notion that it

Western medication has proven to be one of the most useful discoveries that are still used every single day in our world. A plethora of people in the United States has been prescribed some form of medication to fix whatever is wrong with them or even to prevent illness in the future. Prescription medicines have been used by people of all ages, sizes, and shapes for centuries. However, we don’t consider the long-term effects that these medicines have, especially when overmedicated. A problem that just is not discussed enough is the overmedication of America’s youth. While children with ADHD and varying medical problems benefit from taking stimulants and other brain-altering prescriptions, these issues can not be simply solved with pills, and parents should cease trying to get children prescribed medicine to deal with the problems that they can’t. This is a form of silencing the child which leads them to a long, unhappy life being overmedicated and not their full potential.