A Look Inside Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse and addiction has been on the rise for quite some time now. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institute of Health, an estimated 20% of people living in the United States have abused prescription drugs. And although Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem for people of all ages, the elderly are especially susceptible to misuse of prescription drugs simply because they are prescribed more drugs than younger persons.
However, the elderly are certainly not the only ones being affected by the current rise in prescription drug abuse. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 9.3% of students in the 12th grade have reported using Vicodin without a prescription. Other prescription drugs that are commonly abused include narcotic painkillers, sedatives, tranquilizers, stimulants and more.
Although nobody knows exactly why prescription drug abuse is currently on the rise, one theory is that the combination of doctors prescribing more drugs, along with the advent of online pharmacies, makes prescription drugs easier to come by than ever before. Certain types of these drugs can alter the activity in the brain and ultimately lead to addiction.
Studies have found that the prescription drugs that are most commonly abused include opiods such as codeine, oxycodone, meperidine, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, and propoxyphene.
Some ways you can prevent prescription drug abuse and misuse are:
- Always inform your doctor about every prescription and over-the-counter medication you are ingesting
- Make sure to read all the information given to you regarding your medication before you begin taking it
- If you are unsure about the effects of any medications, be sure to ask your doctor.
- Always take medications as prescribed
For more information on prescription drug abuse and several other resources including health news, information on biomedical research, press releases and more check out the United States National Library of Medicine National Institute of Health at www.nlm.nih.gov
This prescription drug abuse problem is epidemic. Parents!! Lock up your prescription medication. You are the first line of defense.
Good work! Thank you!
I always wanted to write in my blog something like that. Can I take part of your post to my site?
Of course, I will add backlink?
Regards, Reader
Hi there
I’m glad to have your site provide links and resources for recovery
It is important for people looking for recovery resources to have sites like this to visit on a regular basis… it is good that you are adding new information on recovery everyday
I have lived in the USA for several years now and I am sure that it is one of the most advanced countries in providing recovery and rehab for people who are seeking help for an addiction.
I am glad you provide lots of information and links to other places that also provide online recovery.
Hello. Your site content excellent! Thank you for your wise words. I would like to see more articles about prescription drug abuse. It is an important issue that doesn’t get enough attention. I’d argue that prescription drug abuse is just as big a problem as alcoholism.