When mentioned to most Americans, the phrase “drug culture” will bring thoughts of smugglers, violent cartels, street corner drug dealers, and back alley crack houses. But there is a new drug culture exploding before our eyes. It is an even greater legal drug dependency that grips much of
Medications have come a long way in past years. Today medications have provided many health benefits and have played a major role in extending our life spans. Modern medicine has become what it is today mainly because of our technological advances that help us better understand disease and sickness. Many Americans count on these advanced medications to rescue them from a lifestyle of illness. But in this generation there is a rise in drug abuse, and I’m not talking about heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, alcohol, marijuana, or even tobacco. I am talking about the abuse of prescription drugs. Prescription Drug Abuse, has been with us since doctors began prescribing drugs, but has become more common since the service of the “refill prescription”. Recent studies show that nearly 1.3 million Americans are abusing prescription drugs. Prescription drug abuse is usually overlooked by doctors.
There are many different types of prescription drugs in which people can become addicted to. There are three general categories of medicine in which are most usually abused in
Main symptoms of pill addiction are an increased tolerance to the drug, so that the user needs a much larger amount to get the same effects they were used to before abusing the medication. More and more of the drug is required. This leads to many other problems. Long term effects include respiratory problems, seizures, irregular heartbeat, depression, or even death following a large dose. Other causes of these effects can come from being unknowledgeable about the medication or addiction. Addicts who mix medications, drink with their medication, or do both usually will be followed by serious internal damage, brain damage, or death. Last year, prescription drugs replaced heroin and cocaine as the leading cause of fatal overdoses.
When these medications are not taken responsibly by the person they were intended to help they are being abused within our society. A prescription written on a piece of paper by a doctor does not mean its safe. When prescribed responsibly, taken as directed, and kept out of reach of children, painkillers, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds, etc., can benefit the person in need. People in
Sadly our society is an unhealthy and over medicated one that is becoming dependent on our drugs and are always searching for the next “quick fix.”
LINKS: just add www. in front :)
addict-help.com/prescriptionabuse.asp
sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/04/040420213723.htm
nida.nih.gov/researchreports/prescription/prescription8.html
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ReplyDeleteIt's a sad truth. I almost think that these "great" medicines are hurting this country.
ReplyDeleteThere will always be those who will abuse substances. The benefits these drugs provide are very important to those who use them correctly.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad people are so desperate they have to abuse drugs used to heal people who are actually sick.
ReplyDelete....thats deep man real deep.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kerouac...what if there is little of the medicine and someone really needs it but someone abused the drug.
ReplyDeletethis post depresses me, i just dont understand why people feel the need to do drugs especially abuse medicines... is it really worth it?!
ReplyDeleteI;m happy someone mentioned a problem that is rarely discussed in public.
ReplyDeleteWe are often too preoccupied with the abuse of illegal drugs that we forget about the danger of over-the-counter medication. It is very sad to me that our country has stooped down to any means possible in order to obtain drugs.
ReplyDeleteI think it's really sad that people are so desperate that they abuse medications that are supposed to help people.
ReplyDeleteI think it's sad that people abuse over-the-counter drugs.
ReplyDeletethese people will make it even harder to get over-the-counter drugs.
ReplyDeleteGood post. It is sad that people abuse medications.
ReplyDeleteWow, more deaths than heroin? I had no idea it was such a huge deal.
ReplyDeleteWhile select drugs can have benefits, on the most part they can bring more harm then good. Learned a lot about drugs from this post.
ReplyDeleteQuite timely. In a world where drug abuse is a major strain on the healthcare system (addicts cost us tax money when our hospitals have to save their lives), how do we continue to develop lifesaving medications while simultaneously preventing their misuse. It would seem to come down to the individual's choice.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been a fascinating digression: what is it about American culture that causes people to reach for the pills?
(no, the answer is not zombies).