Rise in Prescription Drug Abuse Sparks Debate on Stricter Regulations. In recent years, the rise in prescription drug abuse has spiked. To control this spark, the government debated if they should impose stricter regulations. Many people died due to this prescription drug abuse and many people use it to get high without knowing its side effects. If you want to know about the rise in prescription drug abuse, its meaning, and the stricter regulations the government imposed on it, please keep reading the article.
Rise in Prescription Drug Abuse Sparks Debate on Stricter Regulations
Prescription drug misuse (PDM) refers to the state when people take medications that were not prescribed to them. PDM also includes taking more than the prescribed dose, changing administration (like crushing and snorting it), mixing it with other substances, or continuing to use it even when they don’t require it further.
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Experts have estimated that more than 18 million people ages 12 and older have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons in the previous year. That’s more than 6% of the U.S. population. Over 59 million Americans over the age of 12 have used illicit drugs or misused prescription drugs within the last year.
Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs
When people take medications without a prescription, overdose the prescribed ones, or consume them for wrong reasons like getting high, it is known as prescription drug abuse. The most commonly abused prescription drugs fall into three categories:
- Opioids: This medication is typically prescribed for long-term pain relief. For example, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanly.)
- Depressants: These are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. For example, benzodiazepines like valium and xanax.)
- Stimulants: Often prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For example, Adderall and Ritalin.)
Why is Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise?
Several people take the prescription drugs for genuine health concerns but end up misusing them. People abuse prescription drugs for many reasons, such as to ease pain, get high, boost performance, lose weight, peer pressure, etc. Some of the factors due to which the misuse of prescription drugs is rising are:
Accessibility: Technological advancements have made it easier for people to access pretty much anything, including prescription medicines. It has become relatively easy to buy from the black market through the internet or dark web.
Tolerance Levels: In the past, people only took medicine when it was necessary. Over the years, we’ve started seeing medicine as the go-to solution for all sorts of aches and pains. This more relaxed attitude toward prescription drug use has led to more people taking them, and unfortunately, some of these people end up misusing them.
Easy to Hide: Medicines are small, odorless, and easy to take, which makes them easy to hide. Due to these reasons, prescription drugs can be overlooked easily.
Peer Pressure: Teens and young adults may abuse prescription drugs due to social influences or the desire to improve academic performance.
Elderly Prescriptions: Older people take more medications. This relief that such medicines give their aging bodies can easily cause them to become more dependent. Sadly, PDM symptoms in the elderly are frequently misdiagnosed and dismissed as a result of their advanced age.
Signs and Symptoms of Prescription Drug Abuse
Signs of prescription drug abuse are based on the drug involved. Different types of medications have different signs and symptoms.
Someone who abuses opioids might have:
- Dizziness
- Slow or shallow breathing
- Upset stomach, vomiting, or constipation
- Slurred speech
- Poor coordination
- Mood swings
- Depression or anxiety
Abuse of CNS depressants can cause:
- Mood changes
- Trouble walking
- Trouble concentrating
- Poor judgement
- Slow reflexes
- Slurred speech
- Memory problems
- Slow breathing
Symptoms of stimulant abuse include:
- Weight loss and lack of appetite
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Nervousness
- High blood pressure
- Uneven heart rate
- Paranoia
Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
To combat this increasing prescription drug abuse, a new approach is needed that can be multi-faceted, such as:
Spreading Awareness: The public health campaigns should concentrate on educating people about the harmful effects of prescription drug abuse. Awareness must be spread about the significance of proper medication use.
Stricter Regulations: Policymakers should impose stricter regulations for prescribing medication and monitor pharmacies to decrease overpresciption and illegal distribution.
Safe Disposal Programs: Communities can establish drug take-back programs to safely dispose of unused or expired medications, lowering the likelihood of misuse.
Access to Treatment: Increasing the availability of mental health and addiction treatment programs can help people who are addicted to prescription drugs and speed up their recovery.