Essay On Prescription Drug Abuse

Individuals who use Opioids are Addicts. The history of this very debatable topic is very educational and interesting. Opioids are drugs that are prescribed for severe to chronic pain, some examples of opioids are: morphine,?methadone, Buprenorphine,?hydrocodone, and?oxycodone.?Heroin?is also an opioid and is illegal. Opioid drugs sold under brand names include: OxyContin?,?Percocet?, Palladone?(taken off the market 7/2005),Vicodin?, Percodan?, Tylox? and?Demerol? among others. These drugs are also classified as a schedule II drug. Substances in this schedule have a high potential for abuse which may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence. Substances are placed in their respective schedules based on whether they have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, their relative abuse potential, and likelihood

Commonly abused substances include alcohol, tobacco, stimulant, cannabis and opioids. There are different pharmacotherapies for various types of abused substances. Multiple substance abuses require therapy for each of the drug that is being exploited.

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.

Opioids are pain-killers that are meant to alleviate short-term or chronic pain, but some people become addicted to the euphoric and sedative effect they produce. When a person takes too much of opioid medication their heart rate drop to dangerous levels and their respiratory may stop completely, which can lead to death. Drugs in this group include Codeine, Fentanyl, Oxycodone, Morphine, Methadone, Oxycodone, and Vicodin. These are among the most commonly prescribed and abused of all prescription

Why is it that prescription drug abuse is increasing at a high rate? The answer to this question can be somewhat complex. There are multiple reasons as to why this is happening, but the reasons all come together and create a laddering effect. Prescription drug abuse is currently at an all-time high because prescription drugs are so easy for a person to obtain. The chain reaction starts at the doctor over-prescribing medications then continues to consumers becoming what I would call drug dealers and ending with and addict or in more often than not death.

Drug abuse in America is at an all time high across the country. Most people start out with a legit medical issue that leads to a prescription for pain, anxiety, stress, or even trouble concentrating. After repeated prescriptions, the body tends to get use to the medicine, with then leaves the body craving more. In fact, prescription drug abuse is the highest drugs abused my both men and women. Research shows that young adults ages 18 to 25 are the prime abusers of prescription drugs, ADHD drugs as well as anti-anxiety drugs. There several reason why this age group abuse these types of drugs. The reasons include getting high, to feel good, better study habits, stress, and weight loss.

CNS depressant abuse overtime will produce a dependence, requiring the user to seek more of the drug and often more powerful dosages to achieve the intended effects. Continued use can also lead to physical dependence and withdrawal when use is abruptly reduced or stopped. All CNS depressants work by slowing the brain's activity, when an individual stops taking them, there can be a rebound effect, resulting in seizures or other harmful consequences. Although withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be problematic, it is rarely life threatening, whereas withdrawal from prolonged use of barbiturates can have life-threatening complications. Someone who is addicted to barbiturates will begin to feel acute withdrawal symptoms within 8-16 hours after the last dose. Symptoms can be present for as long as 15 days and are most severe at the beginning of withdrawal. Barbiturates withdrawal symptoms can include restlessness, insomnia, weakness, dizziness, nausea, sweating and anxiety. There may be tremors, seizures, hallucinations and psychosis. Users may become hostile and violent. Without proper treatment, hyperthermia, circulatory failure, and death can result. Some of the CNS depressents that are commonly abused are Ativan, Librium, Valium, Xanax, Phenobarbital, Ambien and Lunesta. Some of the street names for these prescription drugs are barbs, reds, red birds, phennies, tooies, yellows, and yellow

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.

Prescription drug abuse is a problem in America for various different reasons. There are many people in America whom end up overdosing on prescription drugs. There are numerous amounts of people who grow an addiction of taking their medication longer than prescribed too, and there are very many people who abuse their prescription of medical marijuana or medical prescriptions and start selling it to whom don't need it or overdosing.

Drug abuse: an increasingly popular activity people are using as an escape from reality. Little do they know, after long-term substance abuse, they may never be in touch with reality again. Nearly 22 million Americans 12 years and older use drugs illegally. All drugs, prescription or recreational, can be divided into four classes; depressants, opioids, hallucinogens, and stimulants which all have long lasting effects when they are abused. Depending on which class and more specifically which drug a person abuses, the effects can vary.

(Herzberg 106.3: 408-10). This has become the norm. People take prescription drugs; lifestyle change is far more difficult than popping a pill. Direct to consumer advertising of prescription medication undermines a physicians authority. They went to medical school and passed rigorous testing to become a physician, prescription drug advertising is an insult to physicians. A physician takes an oath, “To do no harm”. They are compromised with the current advertising conundrum, knowing that if a patient does not get the prescription they want from them, they will simply seek another doctor. Drug seekers exist, and without prescription drug advertising they would still exist. Yet the United States is creating new drug seekers by allowing prescription

Although drugs vary in their chemical makeup and pharmacological properties, many drugs are used and abused due to their anxiolytic and euphoric effects, increasing positive emotions and alleviating many

Prescription abuse is when an individual uses medication for unintended purposes or in unintended manners or doses.

Some studies also claim that certain drugs have a greater impact in stirring the aggressive behavior in addicts. People who abuse drugs like crack or cocaine, amphetamines and benzodiazepines tend to behave more aggressively than others. Many instances of violence have come to light where addicts of these drugs were involved. While drugs like cannabis and heroin do not incite addicts to partake in any violence during intoxication, the nature of the person

There are many different types of drugs such as, antidepressants, depressants, hallucinogenic. Most people when asked, oppose strongly to using these drugs