Prescription Medications And Illicit Drugs Essay - 1706 Words

Drugs in the United States are a complex issue that ranges from legal, over-the-counter and prescription medications to illicit substances that are highly addictive. While many people have a legitimate need for medication to function on a daily basis, there are also many incidences where these potentially helpful drugs are abused. When legal medications are abused, they cause the same personal, social and economic problems as illicit substances. This paper will look at the use of both prescription medications and illicit drugs to see who is taking drugs, who is susceptible to drug addiction, the social and economic impact of drug abuse, and, finally, a few remedial solutions for drug abuse in the United States. Drugs in the United States Introduction â€Å"We awake to the kick of caffeine, soothe our nerves with tobacco, ease our tension headaches with aspirin, wind down the day with alcohol, and swallow an antihistamine to help us sleep – all perfectly legal, respectable, and even expected† (Kuntz, 2001, p. 195). Nowadays it seems that everyone is looking for the magic pill to fix all of his woes. Is it any wonder that 67.2% of physician’s office visits in the United States involve either ordering new prescription drugs or adjusting current prescriptions? (U.S. Center, 2012, table 23). This hunt for the easy fix has led to a society in which the majority of the United States population is using drugs for either medical or recreational use. Drugs are definedShow MoreRelatedSubstance Abuse Is A Problem That Has Over Time Dogged Institutions Of Higher Learning1259 Words   |  6 PagesData 4 3.2 Analysis of Data 5 4. Implications and Recommendations 9 References 11 â€Æ' Background Substance abuse is a problem that has over time dogged institutions of higher learning. There is a cause for alarm based on the recent misuse of prescription medication as well as the legalization of marijuana in certain states. This is a cause of concern for businesses because it affects the future supply of graduates. It is estimated that 46 per cent of U.S. college students have in one way or the otherRead MoreAbuse Of Prescription Stimulants : An Annotated Bibliography868 Words   |  4 PagesAbuse of Prescription Stimulants in College Students: An Annotated Bibliography Arria, Amelia, Ph.D. Nonmedical Use of Prescription Stimulants What College Administrators, Parents, and Students Need to Know. Center on Young Adult Health and Development, n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2015. The use and abuse of prescription stimulants is not only focused on one specific level of students it affects as young as 8th graders in high school who wish to accomplish a high level of academic performance to reach theRead MorePrescription Drugs Are Making Parents More Overwhelmed Than Ever Before1456 Words   |  6 PagesPrescription drugs are making parents more overwhelmed than ever before about their teenaged child! Why must they worry so much about their teenaged child? â€Å"When you can stop you don’t want to, and when you want to stop, you can’t†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Davies). This quote signifies that adolescents and adults have the option to quit or not try the drug when being introduced, but when they get started on the drug and they are thinking abouting quitting, they cannot because of the addiction they have on the drug. EachRead MoreWhat Term Should be Used to Describe Alcholism?1465 Words   |  6 Pages The majority of people hearing the term addict or addiction drugs are probably the first thing that comes to their mind. Fewer may think of alcohol because, although people who chronically abuse alcohol are also addicts, the term alcoholic or alcoholism is used more often in reference to those people. A growing number of people will imagine a person sitting in front of a poker machine, flashbacks of a certain president admitting to being a sex addict, or a teenager with a PlaystationRead MoreEssay on Prenatal Substance Abuse954 Words   |  4 Pages Substance abuse during pregnancy can have a negative force on the health and wellness of not only the fetus, but that of the mother. The harmful effects of medications, alcohol and illegal drugs on an unborn child can be devastating and can have significant consequences to its use. Sometimes the effects can be faced and treated, and other times the outcome is a lifelong challenge. During the prenatal period, it is importan t that new mothers are informed of the different types of abuseRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse : Drug And Free World1508 Words   |  7 Pages12 to 17 abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – Overdoes Deaths – Drug-Free World,†n.d.) A 2007 survey in the United States found that 3.3% of 12 to 17 years olds and 6% of 17 to 25 year olds had abused prescription drugs in the past month (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – Overdoes Deaths – Drug-Free World,†n.d.) Prescription drug abuse causes the largest percentage of deaths from drug overdoses (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse StatisticsRead MoreDrug Abuse Within The Elderly Population1135 Words   |  5 Pagesof prescriptions written for controlled substances (those with an addictive quality) has increased more than 150% since 2008. Until recently, the social issue of drug abuse within the elderly population has not been widel y understood or addressed. Because this is an issue affecting an ever-growing number of the country’s population, the focus of our practice based research project will be based primarily on the increasing number of older adults who are becoming addicted to prescription drugs. ToRead More Cost of Drug Abuse on Society Essay923 Words   |  4 PagesDrug abuse is a rampant problem in the United States. Drugs can be abused in a variety of different ways by people from every walk of life. Most of us have been affected by drug abuse either directly or indirectly. Drug abusers harm themselves, as well as their families and communities. Drug abuse takes an enormous toll on our society at many levels. The cost of drug abuse on our society is astronomical, not only financially but also personally, emotionally, socially and professionally. Read MoreThe Epidemic Of Opioid Addiction1678 Words   |  7 Pages The United States currently faces an unprecedented epidemic of opioid addiction. This includes painkillers, heroin, and other drugs made from the same base chemical. In the couple of years, approximately one out of twenty Americans reported misuse or abuse of prescriptions painkillers. Heroin abuse and overdoses are on the rise and are the leading cause of injury deaths, surpassing car accidents and gun shots. The current problem differs from the opioid addiction outbreaks of the past in thatRead MoreDrugs : The Most Addictive Comes From Opium814 Words   |  4 Pagesus suffer from additions. These additions range across a very wide spectrum, People can be addicted to books, coffee, sex, work, alcohol, drugs, and the list goes on. Some are addicted to multiple things, such as alcohol and drugs. Although some of things have ingredients, which are prone to forming addiction, others are solely self-generated. In the case of drugs, one of the most addictive comes from opium. We know that opium has been around for a very long time; however, we have only dealt with