Essay On Psychoactive Medication

Addiction is a chronic brain disease that often results in some sort of relapse. Addiction is characterized by inability to control drug use which results in problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships. This disease causes compulsive behaviors such as the need to use drugs despite the many harmful consequences that affect the addicted individual and those around him or her. Although for most people, the initial decision to use drugs is a one time lapse in judgement, the brain is easily affected by these drugs if the person decides to use these drugs multiple times. The changes that occur to the brain over time will cause the addicted person’s ability to resist the intense impulses of drugs to be altered causing the addict to often give into the temptation of these drugs. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death. Drug addiction is an issue that many people deal with whether they are the addict or the addict is their loved one; but with a good source of support anyone can over come the challenges and consequences of addiction.

As the second decade of the 21st century progresses, the population approaches seven billion. With so many people, how are people supposed to stand out in job applications, or catch the administrators’ eye as he or she reads applications to highly prestigious colleges and universities? More and more people are asking this question, and more and more people are finding help in a small pill. Originally diagnosed for Alzheimer’s disease and ADHD, these drugs are increasingly used off label in universities and workplaces. In society, people call this form of off label use of neuroenhancing drugs chiefly two different things: smart drugs informally, and nootropics formally. The word nootropic originated from a Romanian Dr. Corneliu E.

Psychotropic medications are drugs that has a powerful effect on the central nervous system in the brain. Psychotropic medication alters the chemical in the brain which effect thought, mood, emotions and behaviors. Drugs are prescribed to treat a diagnosed mental disorder/illness such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Depression, etc. Medications can be useful to treat or alleviate the symptoms that an individual may experience. However, at the same time, psychotropic medications can do more harm than good. Psychotropic drugs can present dangerous side effects, and there is a potential risk that the client has to consider before taking them. With that being said, the patient should always discuss with their doctor the risks and benefits or if there is an alternative treatment available. Psychotropic medication has always been a hot debate, especially when deciding if it should have administered to children or not.

It is believed that certain individuals are predisposed or vulnerable to addiction based on biological, psychological and social influences. The euphoric high produced by many addictive substances is the result of overstimulation of the “pleasure center” of the brain. This is the same area that controls emotions, fear, self-control and overall feelings of wellness. The presence of these foreign chemicals creates a response that the brain will crave as soon as it fades. The brain’s chemistry works against its own health, as it rewires its decision making faculties around the primary goal of finding and taking more of the drug” (1). Many people mistakenly believe that psychological addiction is somehow less serious or real than physical addiction. The psychological aspects of addiction are much more challenging to repair and recover from than the physical addiction. Psychological addiction can last for years or even a lifetime.

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?

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.

Have you ever stopped to think how many different medications one has to take to be at risk for polypharmacy? Is polypharmacy a matter of too much medications at one time or, can it be a complex medication regimen that is being used to treat side by side health problems? Polypharmacy has many different meanings such as, more than five medications taken by an individual on an everyday basis. Another description may be multiple medications that are taken to treat one or more conditions within an individual. In either case, polypharmacy among the elderly “represent one of the fastest growing segments of the population” (AGBONJINMI, L. A., 2017).

A Framework for Reducing Medication Errors in Healthcare Settings: Managers Perceptions and Attitudes Regarding Errors

Addiction is like all behaviours “the business of the brain”. Addictions are compulsive physical and psychological needs from habit-forming sustenances like nicotine, alcohol, and drugs. Being occupied with or involved in such activities, leads a person who uses them again and again to become tolerant and dependent eventually experiencing withdrawal. (Molintas, 2006).

Although numerous people believe prescription drugs are challenging to retrieve, they are actually surprisingly accessible. Prescription drugs are drugs that are obtainable at the local pharmacy. These drugs are just as powerful but carry little to no jail time compared to street drugs. Prescription drugs are available to obtain anytime in contrast to street drugs which are only available at certain times. Prescription drugs are accessible at various pharmacies and health care facilities throughout the United States while street drugs are only accessible at scarce locations. Society takes advantage of the accessibility of prescription drugs because they have become accustomed to the availability of these drugs. One could compare this to fast

The main type of dangerous drugs you hear about are the illegal ones. However, if you abuse prescription drugs they can have major consequences as well. Most people use drugs prescribed by doctors or physicians without abusing them. The estimated amount of adults using prescription drugs as a recreational use is as high as 20%. Many of the people using prescription drugs do not understand how harmful the side effects of these drugs are. Most people abuse prescription drugs to get the better mood, adrenaline rush, or to ease mental or physical pain. Most of the abused prescription drugs are sedatives, tranquilizers, or painkillers. These are widely found and easy to obtain. Many of the addicts are either prescribed by a doctor or stolen from a friend or relative. Most of the addicts are oblivious

Common types of medication include POM (prescription only medication) which can be obtained from a pharmacist only if prescribed by a doctor. These could include anti-depressants which are very common. Anti-depressants work by selecting receptors in the brain and controls levels of serotonin. They come under the group 'SSRIS' (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Over the counter medicines (OTC) may include things like paracetamol or ibuprofen, which are everyday painkillers. Something like paracetamol inhibits the production of pain and inflammation-causing chemicals called prostaglandins.

Among the numerous definitions for addiction, there lies yet another to define it from a biochemical perspective. Milkman (1983) defines it as “self-induced changes in neurotransmission that result in social problem behaviors." This definition encompasses the psychological, biochemical and social aspects of addictive processes. It is not limited to substance abuse and can be applied to any activity characterized by compulsion, loss of control and continuation of the substance despite harm. This has helped investigators gain a better understanding of the nature of addiction.

Work of drug specialists is relied upon to become quicker than the normal for all occupations during that time 2000, basically because of the build pharmaceutical needs of a bigger and more established populace. The expanded number of moderately aged and more established individuals will build the interest in drug store settings. The quickly developing number of elderly populace is particularly critical since the doctor prescribed medications are utilized twice as much by individuals beyond sixty five years old, on the normal, as more youthful individuals. The probability of the investigative change will make more medication items accessible for the counteractive action, analysis, and treatment of sicknesses will likewise build interest for

Throughout the history of the human species, we have been always wanted to know three basic questions: why we are here, where did we come from, and where do we go after this life? Whether we were created from an omnipotent being as in many religions, we happened by chance and made it to where we are through evolution, or maybe even something else. Whatever the case may be, humans have always been curious and wondered about our existence and consciousness. Along with these age old questions, also came the use of psychoactive drugs and other mind altering substances. In order to try to understand these questions, humans have experimented with drugs that alter their state of consciousness.