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Scott Petty

Professor Roberts
HLTH 1050
5/19/2014
Prescription Drug Abuse
Drug abuse is a big probe! in our society "it# !any peope getting in troube seing iega
$rugs to ot#ers an$ peope #urting t#e!se%es by using t#e!& '#en peope t#in( about a $rug probe!
t#ey generay t#in( of iega $rugs i(e cocain an$ #eroin) an$ t#e $estruction t#e can cause for peope
an$ t#eir fa!iies& Do peope consi$er prescription $rugs to be potentiay $angerous an$ a potentia
probe! for fa!iies* Do parents a"ays (eep t#eir prescription $rugs "#ere t#eir c#i$ren can+t fin$
t#e! easiy* , $on+t t#in( t#at peope a"ays t#in( about t#ese t#ings because t#ey $on+t i!agine t#at
t#eir c#i$ !ig#t "ant to ta(e t#eir pain (iers or ot#er types of ega $rugs for t#eir en-oy!ent& .ore
t#an t"o !iion teens abuse prescription $rugs e%ery year /0o!!ittee on 1o%ern!ent Refor!2 '#ie
prescription $rug abuse by young a$uts is a probe!) t#ey aren+t t#e ony ones t#at abuse t#ese $rugs in
our society& Anyone cou$ beco!e a$$icte$ to pain (iers if t#ey aren+t carefu) an$ t#ey !ay go
furt#er an$ abuse t#e $rugs t#ey #a%e been prescribe$&
THE PURPOSE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Prescription $rugs co!e in $ifferent categories) t#e !ost abuse$ are) pain reie%ers) sti!uants
an$ se$ati%es& /3Prescription Drugs&32 T#e purpose for t#e! is to #ep !anage a !e$ica con$ition t#at
a person !ay be e4periencing) un$er t#e care an$ !onitoring of a Doctor& '#en ta(en correcty)
generay t#ese !e$ications $o "#at t#ey are inten$e$) #eping so!eone "it# a !a-or probe!) an$ if
t#ere is an a$%erse reaction a $octor !ay $iscontinue or $ecrease t#e $ose of t#e $rug being use$& T#e
ony reason a prescription $rug s#ou$ be ta(en is if so!eones ife is being negati%ey effecte$ in suc#
a "ay t#at !a-or #ep is re5uire$ to get t#e! bac( on trac( an$ to get t#eir ife in or$er& T#e ony ti!e a
prescription $rug s#ou$ be ta(en is "#en prescribe$ by a Heat#care professiona) an$ #onesty on t#e
patients part is %ita&
WHY DO PEOPLE ABUSE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS?
Abuse of prescribe$ $rugs can be attribute$ to a ot of factors& T#ey are "i$ey a%aiabe) t#ey
are easy to obtain an$ t#ey are ine4pensi%e an$ ess of a stig!a associate$ "it# using t#e! %ersus #ar$
iega $rugs& .ost of t#e peope t#at abuse prescription $rugs obtain t#e $rugs t#roug# fa!iy an$
frien$s) !any ti!es "it#out t#eir (no"e$ge& 6ery fe" peope obtain t#e $rugs t#roug# a $eaer or
t#roug# a source onine t#at t#ey actuay pay for it7 !ost peope t#at abuse t#e $rugs obtain t#e! for
free in so!e "ay& '#en buying t#e! fro! so!eone "#o is seing t#ey are generay %ery c#eap for
t#e buyer) t#at is anot#er reason t#at so !any peope are abe to obtain t#ese $rugs& .any peope "#o
uses t#ese $rugs fee t#at t#ere isn+t t#e sa!e stig!a associate$ "it# it i(e iega $rugs) so it !a(es
t#e! fee t#at peope "ont t#in( as negati%ey about t#e! "#en t#ey use t#e $rugs& Aso t#ey fee t#at
it !ay not be as $angerous to use prescription $rugs as it is to use iega $rugs& 89orty percent of teens
beie%e t#at it is safer to abuse prescription $rugs t#an to use iega $rugs) "#ie t#irty percent beie%e
t#at prescription $rugs are not a$$icti%e&3 /0o!!ittee on 1o%ern!ent Refor!2 :no"ing a t#ese
reasons t#at peope use prescription $rugs for recreation it is easy to un$erstan$ -ust "#y so !any $rug
users "ou$ prefer to use t#e! rat#er t#an iicit $rugs& T#e fact is) prescription $rugs "i get t#e user
8#ig#; an$ t#ey $on+t #a%e to go to a t#e troube to obtain t#e! t#at iicit $rugs "ou$ re5uire& So!e
iicit $rugs can be e4tre!ey e4pensi%e) suc# as 0rac( 0ocaine) "#ic# runs at a street price of <10)000
to <2=)000 for -ust a s!a $ose in !a-or A!erican cities& .ost of t#e young a$uts t#at "is# to get
#ig# cannot affor$ #ar$ $rugs) so t#ey oo( to prescription $rugs as t#e aternati%e&
Anot#er reason "#y peope abuse prescription $rugs is base$ purey on t#e fact t#at t#ey
beco!e a$$icte$ to t#e! "#en t#ey are ta(ing t#e! for pain& Peope can first beco!e o%er"#e!e$ by
t#e great) pain free feeing t#at pain $rugs can offer so!eone "#o genuiney $oes nee$ t#e!) but t#ey
can potentiay get a$$icte$ to t#e feeing t#at it offers t#e!& Peope !ig#t "ant to continue to ta(e
t#e! e%en if t#e reason t#ey "ere ta(ing t#e! in t#e first pace is gone) but t#ey !ig#t fee t#ey #a%e to
ie or stea in or$er to get t#at feeing again& >4y0ontin "as first intro$uce$ to t#e pubic as an
aternati%e to !orp#ine) t#e appro%e$ for!ua "as abe to $ei%er a so" reease of t#e !e$ication
"it#out t#e su$$en eup#oric feeing t#at cou$ !a(e a pain $rug a$$icti%e& ?ut !any peope foun$
"ays to abuse t#e $rug) suc# as crus#ing it t#en in#aing t#e po"$er) !a(ing t#e effect si!iar to
#eroine& An$ so!e patients suffere$ "it#$ra"as e%en fro! t#e 9DA appro%e$ tabets t#e!se%es&
T#e 9DA is a"ays trying to fin$ ne" aternati%es an$ better !e$ication t#at "ont #a%e t#ese
effects) but t#ere "i a"ays be t#ose fe" t#at "is# to fin$ a "ay to abuse t#e!& House"i%es #a%e aso
been s#o"n to be at ris( to abuse !oo$ atering prescription $rugs& Researc#ers t#in( t#at one of t#e
reasons for t#is !ay be $ue to t#e bore$o! t#at !any of t#e! #a%e to $ea "it# $ay in an$ $ay out
"it# t#eir ifestye& /Seect co!!ittee on narcotics abuse an$ contro2 Peope abuse prescription $rugs
for t#e sa!e reasons peope abuse iicit $rugs& Peope "ant to abuse t#e! because of t#e goo$ feeing
t#ey get or t#e feeing of eup#oria& Pain (iers an$ se$ati%es are abuse$ for t#e rea4e$ feeing t#ey
gi%e t#e user an$ reease of tension& Sti!uants "i #ep re$uce appetite) so!e fee t#is !ay #ep t#e!
contro t#eir "eig#t& ?ecause t#ey "ant to be safe "#en t#ey get #ig#) so!e peope fee prescription
$rugs "i be !ore safe to ta(e t#an iicit $rugs& .any young a$uts ta(e t#e! because of peer
pressure) an$ t#ey "ant to fit in "it# "#at ot#ers are $oing&
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF ABUSING THEM?
'it# t#e increasing abuse of prescription $rugs in our society) #eat# probe!s fro! t#e abuse is
aso increasing as "e& T#e Los Angees Ti!es recenty anay@e$ t#e 2009 0D0+s $eat# statistics an$ it
s#o"e$ a #uge a!ount of peope are $ying $irecty because of prescription $rug abuse& T#e 0D0
report s#o"e$ t#at !ore peope $ie$ in 2009 fro! prescription $rugs t#an fro! a !otor %e#ice
acci$ents& /.ercoa) Dr&2 .any !ore peope are $ying fro! t#e abuse of Prescription $rugs t#an fro!
iicit $rugs& Pain reie%ers) "#en abuse$) are #ig#y a$$icti%e) an$ t#ey !ay so" t#e users breat#ing
$o"n to $angerous e%es) t#ey are aso #ig#y $angerous "#en use$ "#ie $rin(ing aco#o& '#en
abusing se$ati%es ones breat#ing !ay aso be $ra!aticay so"e$ aong "it# a re$uce$ #eartbeat)
t#ese effects can be !agnifie$ "#en co!bine$ "it# aco#o an$ o%er t#e counter seep an$ aergy
!e$ications& Se$ati%es !ay aso cause sei@ures "#en t#eir use is $iscontinue$ after a proonge$
a!ount of ti!e& '#en sti!uants are abuse$ t#ey are #ig#y a$$icti%e an$ can increase a persons bo$y
#eat to e4tre!e e%es) t#ey can aso cause sei@ures an$ a $ra!aticay increase$ #eartbeat&
/3Prescription Drugs&32
RECOGNIZING SIGNS AND GETTING HELP
?y spotting t#e signs of $rug abuse) ot#ers !ay be abe to #ep t#e person "#o is a$$icte$& >ne
of t#e signs of $rug abuse is steaing !oney) if a teen nee$s a ot of !oney for instance an$ "i e%en
go to great engt#s to get it) #e !ay be using $rugs& 9orging or seing prescription $rugs cou$ !ean a
person is abusing t#e! as "e) aso if t#ey are ta(ing !ore t#an prescribe$ of t#eir !e$ication& ,f a
person #as e4cessi%e !oo$ s"ings an$ an increase or $ecrease in seep) is aso a goo$ sign& .a(ing
poor $ecisions an$ gi%ing t#e appearance of being re%%e$ up or %ery et#argic& See(ing ot#er $octors
t#at "i prescribe !ore !e$ications an$ continuousy osing prescriptions so t#at ot#ers nee$ to be
"ritten& ,t is #ar$ for an abuser to #i$e t#ese signs) an$ it is easy to "atc# out for t#e!& Prescription
$rug abuse nee$s to be confronte$ t#e !o!ent it is suspecte$ so t#e in$i%i$ua can get t#e #ep t#at
t#ey nee$&
>nce a person a$!its to #a%ing a probe! "#at can t#ey $o to get #ep t#e t#at t#ey nee$*
.any consi$er a$$iction to $rugs to be a $isease) an$ can be treate$ "it# t#e rig#t #ep& .any peope
fin$ support groups to be %ery #epfu if t#e probe! isn+t too e4tre!e) but so!eti!es peope nee$ a bit
!ore t#an t#at& Re#ab is a great pace if t#e abuse is e4tre!e an$ peope nee$ a ot of #ep& T#ere are a
ot of $ifferent paces peope can fin$ #ep fro! an$ it is i!portant to be supporti%e of peope t#at nee$
#ep to reco%er) because it is %ery #ar$ to brea( strong a$$ictions to $rugs& .any peope to$ay are
going t#roug# successfu ong ter! reco%ery because of t#e #ep of frien$s an$ fa!iy) but !any
peope ose t#eir "ay an$ go bac( to using $rugs& ,t is ne%er too ate) an$ a anyone can $o is try t#eir
best to #ep&
CONCLUSION
, t#in( one of t#e !ost i!portant t#ings to un$erstan$ "#en ta(ing about prescription $rug
abuse) is it is -ust as $angerous as ta(ing #ar$ iicit $rugs& Peope abuse t#e! for t#e e4act sa!e
reasons as t#ey "ou$ #ar$core iicit $rugs) an$ i%es can be $estroye$ t#e sa!e "ay& T#e $ifference is
it is !uc# easier to obtain prescription $rugs& ?ut , t#in( in our society t#ere is a gro"ing nee$ t#at
peope #a%e to obtain #eat# an$ "e being) an$ t#e (no"e$ge on #o" to $o so& , t#in( t#is !ay be
one of t#e reasons peope "ant to oo( !ore to"ar$s prescription $rugs t#an iicit $rugs& , #ope "it#
t#e (no"e$ge "e #a%e on t#e $angers of prescription $rug abuse peope "i start to un$erstan$ #o"
$angerous it is& 'it# our societies gro"ing (no"e$ge of t#e benefits of nutrition) e4ercise an$ positi%e
!entaity) !aybe in t#e future instea$ of turning to $rugs) peope "i turn to foo$ an$ aug#ter) an$ t#e
#eartac#e peope suffer "it# $rug abuse "i be a t#ing of t#e past&
'or(s cite$
0o!!ittee on 1o%ern!ent Refor!& Subco!!ittee on 0ri!ina Austice) Drug Poicy) an$ Hu!an
Resources& Prescription Drug AbuseB '#at ,s ?eing Done to A$$ress T#is Ce" Drug
Dpi$e!ic* B Hearing ?efore t#e Subco!!ittee >n 0ri!ina Austice) Drug Poicy) An$ Hu!an
Resources of t#e 0o!!ittee >n 1o%ern!ent Refor!) House of Representati%es) >ne Hun$re$
Cint# 0ongress) Secon$ Session) Auy 2=) 200=& 'as#ingtonB E&S& 1&P&>& ) 200F&
.ercoa) Dr& 3Prescription Drugs Co" :i .ore Peope t#an ,ega Drugs&3 Mercola.com& C&p&) n&$&
'eb& 01 Aune 2014&
3Prescription Drugs&3 NCADD& Cationa 0ounci on Aco#ois! an$ Drug Depen$ence) ,nc&) n&$& 'eb&
0G Aune 2014&
Seect 0o!!ittee on Carcotics Abuse an$ 0ontro& 'o!en+s Depen$ency >n Prescription DrugsB
Hearing ?efore t#e Seect 0o!!ittee >n Carcotics Abuse An$ 0ontro) House of
Representati%es) CinetyHsi4t# 0ongress) 9irst Session) Septe!ber 1G) 19F9& 'as#ingtonB E&S&
1o%t& Print& >ff&) 19F9&

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