Prescription Drug Abuse

By

Diane Ostlund

Onset of opiate abuse begins with chronic pain diagnosis usually in adults Chronic pain and disability are extremely prevalent in the United States. The use of opiates for pain is well accepted.

Prescription Drug Abuse

Easy access to prescription medication

began with doctors over-prescribing for chronic pain.

Tolerance to prescription medication increases with length of use.

Chronic back pain

Non-cancer opiate misuse and abuse cont.

Availability

The greatest factor associated with increasing prevalence of opiate abuse appears to be increased environmental exposure.

Once addicted to opiates the addict will begin to ‘doctor shop’ when PCP begins titrating patient or suggests a pain management clinic.

The next step for the addicted individual is to look for the drugs on the street which can lead to crime and legal problems.

Addiction

Addiction to opiates requires medically supervised stabilization/detoxification.

Aftercare facility to maintain abstinence from opiates.

Support groups to maintain abstinence will increase the chance of relapse.

Drug abuse has many physical implications.

Drug abuse has been linked to the damage of brain tissue.

The unpredictability of drugs can lead to an overdose and death.

Conclusion

This “National Dilemma” is a problem we as a society need to take strong measures against to combat the disastrous prescription medication abuse that has befallen teenagers and adults in the United States, as well as the world. We can start by supporting legislation on how the medications are dispensed and controlled by doctors.

Conclusion

Also, we can monitor and make sure our prescribed medication is not accessible to our children at home. As leaders and professionals in our communities we need to educate and inform children and adults of the dangers these medications can bring if they are not used as prescribed.