Prescription Drug Abuse Research Paper
Since the 1960's heroin use disorders has become worse when pertaining to societal issues since Heroin an opioid drug made from morphine, which is a natural substance this various opium poppy plant is highly addictive. Heroin may be smoked, snorted, or injected, the reason for this use has increased across the United States particularly amongst gender, various age groups, and typically all income levels through legal and illegal purchase of this drug. Several dynamics contribute to the severity of the recent societal prescription drug abuse which is problematic from a global perspective. Basically the number of prescriptions written by physicians that's distributed to patients. Partaking in countless social acceptability of using medications
Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse is increasing rapidly and especially in the teen community. It's not only in the teen community but it is estimated 52 million people use prescription drugs for non–medical reasons in their lifetime (Cite Source: searching for answers.) Medical professionals are now trying to learn the symptoms/tricks of someone who is trying to get a prescription for a non–medical use. Not only is this deviant in the medical field but also falls into the deviant behaviors of the person in the street using or selling a prescription drug.
One thing can be misinterpreted is that if you have a prescription it is not illegal for you to have. So, if you also have refills that your doctor wrote for you that is just enabling the addiction for someone that does not need them for a medical reason. The part where it becomes illegal is people are selling their prescription to other people for their own use. The 3 most common controlled prescription drugs abused are opiates, sedative–hypnotics, and stimulants. Many teenagers believe that prescription drugs are safer than street drugs and that they are not addictive (Cite Source: searching for answers). That is the dangerous thing about prescription drugs is that people don't think of them as a drug even though it can have the same effects as other drugs. There are some doctors that are trying to fix the addiction by learning the signs of the addiction and not giving so many refills without another visit to the
Most people are familiar with prescription medications; almost everyone has taken them at one point or another during their lifetime. Not all prescription drugs are addicting, but a large number of them are. Prescription drug abuse is a disease that has become a major problem in the United States, which affects over six–million Americans. Prescription drug abuse not only affects the individual, but can additionally have far–reaching consequences that affect family, personal health, employment, communities and society as a whole. Research has shown that at least 10% of people prescribed an addictive medication will become dependent on the medicine. Due to prescription drug abuse, states are beginning to monitor doctors who prescribe certain medications, more closely, which may scare some physicians away from prescribing helpful medications to people who truly need them. It is very likely that people given prescription medications do not intend to become addicted or to abuse the medication. They simply want to ease their medical problems. There are numerous reasons a person may abuse or become addicted to prescription medications. Many physicians are over–booked and have busy schedules and don't take enough time with patients, instead they simply write a prescription and send the person on their way. A second reason is that most addictive medications work quickly and effectively, especially painkillers. A third reason is that many people have a subconscious
Essay On Prescription Drug Addiction
Currently, prescription drug addiction is the most serious problem among all the other drug addictions that exists. Several researches have shown us that, addiction to any drug whether legal or ill–legal, is a brain disease which can be treated efficiently. But similar kind of treatment is not apt for all the individuals who suffer from prescription drug addiction. Prescription drug addiction is not at all different from addiction to some other substances or from alcoholism. However, for medical reasons, no one is prescribed to take cocaine or alcohol.
Historically, it has been observed, that the most under reported drug abuse problem is the prescription drug addiction. Two types of commonly ill–treated drugs are benzodiazepines which are used to reduce anxiety and opioids which are used to manage pains. Long–term use of opiates may lead to addiction and physical dependence. Abandoning benzodiazepines is generally mild. The common symptoms are nervousness, insomnia, and restlessness which can be relieved by quitting the drug slowly. Painkillers may relieve pain for the time being but those suffering from intense pain, may need narcotics to overcome it. Prescription drug addiction and also the withdrawal from it may be more harmful than any other substance due to the dangerous nature of these drugs....show more content...
As a result to get the same effect which was originally obtained by a smaller dose, a larger dose of the drug is needed. As a result they become a victim of prescription drug addiction. Along with prescription drug addictions, some addictive behavior like keeping secrets, lying, hiding pills and obsessively counting them, buying drugs off the street is quite
Prescription Drug Abuse
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,...show more content...
The recommendations of the article are therefore useful in concluding a study or exploring future areas of research. 4. Jafari, S. (2014). Prescription medication abuse. BC Medical journal, 56(2), 92–93. Jafari (2014) specifically focuses on the issue of misuse of prescription painkillers. Terming it as an urgent issue, the author systematically accounts for the total number of fatalities in Ontario, noting that drug abuse killed more individuals than HIV. Jafari uses data from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in presenting statistics to show the significance of the issue. In addition, Opioid abuses as well as other emerging addictions specifically in the young population are also expounded. The author cites the process of obtaining the drugs as a plethora of activities by unscrupulous individuals in the society. In the conclusion, the author proposes for a dedicated system to counter prescription drug abuse among individuals; as well as additional mechanisms to monitor the chief distributors of the drugs. This is therefore a relevant article in our research. 5. Jena,
Prescription Drug Abuse Essay
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.
There are dozens of reasons why people get addicted to drugs(in General) whether it is depression, you may have pain, you may have been pressured into using by your peers and many more. But why isn't anyone doing anything about it to at least try and stop the increase of the numbers of growing addiction? The answer is simple. Money; The Prescription Drug Companies make Billions of dollars off of citizens and there is no one else that profits...show more content...
Some of these drugs are so volatile that that the drugs are by the gale encyclopedia standards" Illegal or illicit drugs are chemical substances either banned by law entirely, or banned for use except under specific circumstances by designated personnel." (drugfree P6) A drug may be illegal to sell, dispense, possess or use under all circumstances except those specifically allowed by law""Prescription drugs refer to legally regulated pharmacological drugs that can be obtained only with a prescription from a licensed
Prescription Drug Abuse Essay
Prescription Drug Abuse Research Paper 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....show more content...
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
Essay On Prescription Drug Abuse
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. Prescription drugs come in different forms and treat many different illnesses and diseases. Different drugs fall into different groups and can produce different highs when they are abused. Every drug falls into one of four groups. One of the four groups is opiods. Opiods are basically painkillers, they attach to tiny parts of your brain to relieve pain. Common examples of opiods are oxycodone, methadone, hydrocodone, and codeine. Because demand and use of painkillers is high it's easy to see why opiods are the most commonly abused class. Sedatives are another class of drugs. Commonly abused sedatives are phenobarbital, methaqualone, clonazepam, and alprazolam. Sedatives are usually used to treat symptoms of insomnia, anxiety, and panic disorders. When abused, sedatives offer a more relaxed, chilled type...show more content...
The "Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America" are helping to combat prescription drug abuse by spreading awareness and knowledge of these drugs. The National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse is another organization that's helping the fight. The NCAPD is a group of individuals that have focused all their attention towards the prevention and awareness of addiction and misuse of prescribed medications. They have many sponsors and host events to help their efforts."Narconon" is another organization that hopes to relieve the issue by directly helping users overcome their addiction. It's a rehabilitation center that offers help to anyone and spreads education about the dangers of
Prescription Drug Abuse Case Study
Like the general population, the nursing profession is also plagued by the growing problem of prescription drug abuse. The stressful work environment, the ease of access to prescription drugs and perhaps a lack of training or education adds fuel to the problem of addiction. According to the American Nursing Association about 10% of the nursing workforce may be dependent on drugs or alcohol (Starr, 2015). There are roughly 4,148,730 active nursing professionals in the United States (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2017). This means that around 414, 873 of nurses suffer from the aforementioned addiction issues. Since nurses are at the forefront of health care, it follows that any form of abuse causes a significant problem in the quality patient care delivery.
As nursing students we are well aware of the changes the body undergoes when under the influence of a drug. These prescription medication can alter or impair...show more content...
They state that the ANA opposes fraudulent or incompetent prescribing activities by health care providers and the misuse of prescribed drugs by nurses themselves (ANA, 1991). The Virginia Board of Nursing has a similar stance. Apart from having defined disciplinary proceedings for such cases they also offer continuing education courses in response to the prescription drug abuse crisis. The U.S. government is also aware of the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, their target on the other hand, is the whole U.S population and not only the nursing profession. The Office of National Drug Control Policy, (n.d.) lists several steps to combat prescription drug abuse which include expanding prescription drug monitoring programs and providing training for health care providers to better detect opioid abuse. Similar to health care the government is opting for a collaborative approach, seeking the help of federal, state, and even international partners to fight this
Persuasive Essay On Prescription Drug Abuse
According to a federal official, the ongoing scourge of prescription–drug addiction is beginning to reach epidemic proportions, ballooning about 75 percent in the United States within the past five years ("Prescription–drug Abuse Escalates"). Prescription drugs have become extremely overused due to the pain killing aspects, along with a sort of "high" when they are being abused. This high has been something people chase and will do anything to get. A report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicated that there were more American adults using prescription painkillers than cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or cigars combined (Ingraham). The over proliferation of prescription drugs has become a major problem with adults....show more content...
Many housewives have been known to try to reach this high, which causes them to be less tired and more energetic, by taking their children's ADHD medicine and or faking symptoms to get the medicine on their own. This is an illegal act, and even though many people think abusing these drugs just a few times will not harm them, they are extremely addictive and after a while they will become extremely toxic to the body (Ellison). Karen Tandy, the first female administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency said that "When parents and children alike think that it's OK to abuse prescription medication because it's safer than street drugs –– there's something wrong with the psyche," (Prescription–Drug Abuse Escalates). Many people are tremendously uneducated about the harmful effects of prescription drugs, people think about the immediate relief that they get instead of the long term damaging
With access to prescription drugs, people are able to treat a multitude of diseases and illnesses. These drugs help deal with pain, inability to sleep, depression, and much more. Every day we are increasingly living in a world where there is better living through chemicals. However, what most do not seem to see is the rising tide of pain, illness, and ultimately death being caused by the pills people take every day. Most keep drugs in a special place in their minds, where they see them as harmless. Sadly, this is not the case, and in some cases our prescription drugs can be just as harmful as illegal drugs (King 68).
In addition, these drugs are just as addicting as some of the drugs that most hold to be off–limits, and need to be...show more content...
Opioid drugs are some of the most widespread pain medications that we have in this country; indeed, the fact is that opioid analgesic prescriptions have increased by over 300% from 1999 to 2010 (Mitch 989). Consequently, the number of deaths from overdose increased from 4000 to 16,600 a year in the same time frame (Mitch 989). This fact becomes even more frightening when you think about today; the annual number of fatal drug overdoses in the Unites States now surpasses that of motor vehicle deaths (Alexander 1865). Even worse, overdose deaths caused by opioids specifically exceed those attributed to both cocaine and heroin combined (Alexander 1865).
While our major access to these drugs is doctors, we cannot simply lay blame on them, as there is not enough knowledge about these treatments to correctly appropriate drugs, and therefore extra is given (Hemphill 373). Alexander of the Department of Epidemiology of the Journal of the American Medical Association, states that "There are serious gaps in the knowledge base regarding opioid use for other chronic nonmalignant pain" (Alexander 1865–1866), which leads to the unfortunately large number of leftover drugs. In fact, the main place that people get their drugs are from leftover prescriptions (Hemphill 373).
This leads to a bigger problem for our youth, where 81% of OTC drug abusers also end up using marijuana and hallucinogens (King 68). Over a million arrests are made every year for
Prescription Drug Abuse Essay
Parents enable drug abuse without realizing it. When adolescents use cocaine, heroin, marijuana, LSD, and other illicit drugs, it captures a parent's attention. However, a problem more prevalent than the use of these illicit drugs, and hits closer to home is nonmedical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD). NUMPD occurs when a person without a prescription gains access to a prescription drug and uses it simply for the experience, or for the feeling the drug causes. Therefore the drugs in question end up being used for nonmedical purposes in a manner in which it was never intended. Opioids, used to treat pain, are the prescription drugs that youth are most likely to misuse. These are commonly used because they are available in medicine cabinets...show more content...
There are reports on the increasing abuse of these medications (1). A study conducted to review the problem of adolescent nonmedical use of prescription drugs found that as many as 20% of adolescents have abused these drugs in the previous month (2). These numbers trend even higher when the adolescent smokes and drinks (61%) compared to adolescents who neither drank nor smoked. A review of the available information on this topic by Dr. Ty S Schepis and his colleagues on this subject of NMUPD by analyzing several studies revealed that this misuse of drugs is associated with depressive symptoms, Attention deficit disorders or having access to attention deficit disorder medications either through friends or siblings. This study also found that males were more likely to abuse stimulants, whereas another study found that females were more like to abuse pain killers or opioids (3). Schepis and his colleagues saw an associated between NMUPD and poor academic performance, cocaine, and marijuana
Persuasive Essay On Prescription Drug Abuse
In the United States of America, there is prescription drug abuse epidemic that continues to be a growing concern. Prescription drugs cause a large amount of overdoses and result in an abundant amount of deaths each year. A government study conducted shows this epidemic is scarily on the rise, "A recent government study found a 400% increase in prescription drug abuse between 1998 and 2008" (Schreiner 531). The excessive use of prescription drug abuse is leading to nonmedical use of the drugs, and creating addiction. Furthermore society is paying an extreme amount of money in this battle. With this drug abuse on the rise, legislators must create a law preventing doctors and pharmacists from over prescribing prescription medications as well a law to require they both participate in drug monitoring programs to prevent drug abuse. Now is the time that doctors and the pharmaceutical industry must be held accountable for their role in causing one of America's worst addictions. The over medication of prescription drugs in the United States must be brought to an end by legislators creating laws to stop...show more content...
These programs can be successful when applied but without a physician being required to participate they can be unuseful as it leads to lack of accurate information for public health records. Doctors and pharmacist should both have a legal obligation to check a drug monitoring database and participate further in drug monitoring programs. Doctors and pharmacies should also be investigated for prescribing large quantity of prescription medication resulting in legal action if perhaps they are found guilty of overprescribing. With legislators onboard to curb the misuse of prescription medication this problem can finally be
Prescription Drug Abuse
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. Almost half of all Americans know someone addicted to the pain pills they are prescribed to. Heather VanderSloot knows the thoughts an addict has because four years ago she was an addict. Heather was addicted to painkillers for eight years. She grew up extremely close to her grandfather and after
Teenage Prescription Drug Abuse Essay
Teenage Prescription Drug Abuse
Years ago, the common image of an adolescent drug abuser was a teen trying to escape from reality on illegal substances like cocaine, heroin, or marijuana. Today, there is a great discrepancy between that perception and the reality of who is likely to abuse drugs. A teenage drug abuser might not have to look any further than his or her parent's medicine chest to 'score.' Prescription drug abuse by teens is on the rise. Also, teens are looking to prescription drugs to fulfill different needs other than to feel good or escape the pressures of adulthood. Teens may be just as likely to resort to drugs with 'speedy' side effects, like Ritalin to help them study longer, as they are to use prescription...show more content...
Steroid abuse by teen athletes and abuse of performance–enhancing supplements like creatine is also on the rise (Performance–enhancing drugs and your teen athlete, 2008, The Mayo Clinic). Although some teens may feel jaded and certain that they know 'drugs are bad,' and drugs fry your brain like the famous fried egg in a pan in the popular television commercial immortalized during the 1980s, many well–educated teens and young adults do not see the same risks inherent in prescription drugs or drugs that make them feel better or run faster (The Partnership's fried egg message, 2008, Partnership for a Drug–Free America). "For a sizable group of people in their 20's and 30's, deciding on their own what drugs to take – in particular, stimulants, antidepressants and other psychiatric medications – is becoming the norm. Confident of their abilities and often skeptical of psychiatrists' expertise, they choose to rely on their own research and each other's experience in treating problems like depression, fatigue, anxiety or a lack of concentration. A medical degree, in their view, is useful, but not essential, and certainly not sufficient," reports the New York Times, citing incidents of young adults
Prescription Medication Abuse Essay
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.
Narcotics are used for several reasons. The surgery drugs are usually used before, during, and after procedures , but the drugs you may or may not get is based on the type of surgery your having. Another use for prescription medication is to treat metal illness, such as depression, anxiety and panic disorder. At...show more content...
Overdose deaths from prescription painkillers have skyrocketed during the past decade. The non medical use and abuse of prescription drugs is a serious public health problem in this country (NIDA). Although most people take prescription medications responsibly, an estimated 52 million people (20 percent of those aged 12 and older) have used prescription drugs for non medical reasons at least once in their lifetimes( NIDA). Young people are strongly represented in this group (NIDA). Now a days young people are easily influenced. Based on the group of friends he or she hangs out with, when one person does something they all tend to follow and do the same, maybe prescription drugs are one of them. When a teenager in Jan Sigerson's office mentioned "pharm party" in February [2006], Sigerson thought the youth was talking a keg party out on a farm (Engdahl 213). "Pharm," it turned out, was short for pharmaceuticals, such as powerful painkillers Vicodin and Oxycontin (213). Sigerson, program director for Journeys, a teen drug treatment program in Omaha, soon learned that area youths were organizing parties to down fistfuls of prescription drugs (213). Drug counselors across the USA are beginning to hear about similar pill–popping parties, which are part of a rapidly developing underground culture that surrounds the rising abuse of prescription drugs by teens and young adults (213). The results of taking prescription medication in teens is treatment programs to help stop the abuse or death(NIDA). The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that there are 44 deaths each day from prescription pain medication which is a staggering number exceeding 16,000 persons a year (Thomas–Bush and White
Essay On Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription Drug Abuse
The Office of National Drug Control Policy calls prescription drug abuse "the Nation's fastest growing drug problem." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as a growing national epidemic. Prescription drug abuse is the Nation's fastest–growing drug problem. While there has been a marked decrease in the use of some illegal drugs like cocaine, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) show that nearly one–third of people aged 12 and over used drugs for the first time began by using a prescription drug non–medically. (1) One of the major concerns of prescription drug abuse is the rise in misuse among young people. As parents we fear that our children...show more content...
What are some of the contributing factors? Some scientists believe that certain individuals are at greater risk of drug dependence because of psychological factors, including difficulty controlling impulses, lack of values in drug use, low self–esteem, peer pressure, and depression. Risk–taking also increases between childhood and adolescence as a result of changes around the time of puberty in the brain's socio–emotional system leading to increased reward–seeking, especially in the presence of peers. (3) Younger people also believe that they will not lose control if they use drugs. Genetics can also contribute to the increased likelihood that an individual will abuse drugs. Some of the most commonly abused classes of prescription drugs include opioids (for pain), central nervous system (CNS) depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy). Hydrocodone–acetaminophen, sold under the brand name Vicodin is a semi–synthetic opioid similar in effects to morphine and is among the most widely prescribed medications in the US in any drug category. Hydrocodone products, when abused, can lead to dependence, tolerance, and addiction. Vicodin™ is one of the most frequently prescribed medications
Prescription Drug Abuse
"The scientific method leads us to truths that are less than self–evident, often mind–blowing, and sometimes hard to swallow." (Achenbach) People might read something that they don't particularly agree with, in either the newspaper, the internet, or even in magazines, but it possibly is written by an expert in the field. Then which results that people don't believe the expert since it doesn't go along with what individuals think. Now for example, the abuse of prescription pills is becoming a widespread problem in the United States. Folks think that those who are abusing the prescribed medication are doing it because they want to, not realizing that most of the persons consuming the painkillers are struggling with discontinuing the use of the...show more content...
An additional myth, "All that matters is easing my pain" (Hitti) which isn't necessarily true. Yes, helping relieve the pain is the goal, but not the only goal. For those who have the mentality of thinking that the only target of prescription medication is pain alleviation are at a higher risk of addiction because they don't realize the amount of medication they ingest while trying to avoid the ache. Last, but not least, "I am a strong person. I won't get addicted." Fisherman explains, "Addiction isn't about willpower, and it's not moral failure, it's a chronic disease and some people are genetically more vulnerable than others." (Hitti) As stated earlier if your family has a history of addiction there is a greater possibility of you having a dependence towards controlled substances. With all these myths, along with several more proceeding, physicians should be required to inform the patients of all potential issues, such as addiction, if mistreating prescription
Prescription Drug Abuse Research Paper
Various types of drugs introduce complications in the world today, but prescription drug abuse provides one of the largest issues. The use of a medication without a prescription, in a way other than as prescribed, or for the experience or feelings elicited pertains to the meaning of prescription drug abuse. According to several national surveys, prescription medications, such as those used to treat pain, attention deficit disorders, and anxiety, are being abused at a rate second only to marijuana among illegal drug users. The consequences of this abuse have consistently worsened, reflected in increased treatment, emergency room visits, and overdose deaths. The classes of prescription drugs most commonly abused consist of: opioid pain relievers,...show more content...
The two main categories of drug addiction treatment include behavioral and pharmacological. Behavioral treatments teach people how to function without drugs such as handling cravings, avoiding drugs and situations that could lead to drug use, and preventing and handling relapses. Behavioral treatments such as individual counseling, group or family counseling, contingency management, and cognitive–behavioral therapies can aid patients in improving their personal relationships and seeing an increase in their ability to function at work and within their community. In treatment, the drug abuser is taught to break old patterns of thinking and behaving and to learn new skills for avoiding drug use and criminal behavior. Individuals with severe drug problems and co–occurring disorders typically need longer treatment and more comprehensive services. Early in treatment, the drug abuser begins a therapeutic process of change. In later stages, he or she addresses other problems related to drug abuse and learns how to manage them as
Essay on Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse has become increasingly prevalent among teens in the county. There has been an increase in the abuse of prescription drugs for a number of reasons. Some individuals who misuse prescription drugs believe they are safer than other illicit drugs because they are prescribed by a healthcare professional and dispensed by a pharmacist. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified this prescription drug abuse as an epidemic. More and more teens are becoming addicted to these substances and the epidemic is only growing. Prescription drug abuse by teens has been rapidly increasing over the last five years. According to nationally projectable survey by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and MetLife...show more content...
This is not true as many long and short term health issues will arise in an individual who abuses prescription drugs. The effect a drug has on one's body is based off the type of drug it is. Opioid painkillers such as OxyCotin and Vicodin, central nervous system depressants such as Valium and Ativan, and stimulants such as Ritalin and Adderall, all cause different health problems. Opioids can cause choking, changes in mood, interruptions in menstrual cycle, infertility, decreased cognitive function and slowed breathing. Stimulants can cause paranoia, loss of appetite, and in high doses, an increase in body temperature and an abnormal heartbeat. Depressants, can cause memory problems, lead to seizures and slows normal brain function. Taking any of these drugs can result in addiction. Even though a doctor prescribes prescription drugs, they will still have major health impacts on a person abusing them. There is a very high chance that an individual how abuses prescription drugs will become addicted. Addiction is defined as a persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful. There are many reasons why a person would become addicted to a substance. Family history of addiction, traumatic experiences in childhood and mental disorders such as depression or anxiety can all increase ones vulnerability to becoming an addict. When a person takes prescription