Prescription Drug Addiction
Epic Abuse Predicted for Purer Stronger Painkiller
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) almost 34 million Americans were misusing or abusing time-released opioid painkillers in 2007. News reports and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) statistics reveal that the problem has steadily worsened in our country.
Learn more about Epic Abuse Predicted for Purer Stronger Painkiller
Are We Over-Medicating for Mental Health Problems?
In a country where we can buy over-the-counter pain relievers which portend to address highly specialized discomforts such as headache, joint ache, backache, migraine and mild arthritis could we be over-medicating for mental discomforts? Some are wondering if we have become a population that is ready to pop a pill the moment we feel even a little bit off of our game.
Learn more about Are We Over-Medicating for Mental Health Problems?
Migraine Sufferers May Endure More Headaches if Opiate or Barbiturate Painkillers Used
Migraine sufferers may unknowingly be making their painful headaches worse if they use drugs like OxyContin and Percocet, popular opiate painkillers that carry a high potential for abuse and addiction. Barbiturate painkillers are also believed to make headaches worse, including causing more frequent migraines, says a study in which researchers reviewed data from more than 8,000 people related to migraines and headaches.
When Dentists Act as Drug Dealers
Kenny Morrison was a top chef at a trendy Los Angeles restaurant, often serving dinner to Hollywood stars. He lived in a beachfront home and generally loved life. But after he became addicted to pain medication after getting dental work in 2003, he lost everything. He began using Vicodin, OxyContin, and codeine to get through the day. At one point, he even had a tooth removed unnecessarily because he needed a prescription for more pain medication.
“At the height, I was taking probably 20, 25 a day,” Morrison told CNN. “It got to the point where I lost the wife, the house, and I was living in a bad part of LA in my truck. And I went from taking a couple of codeine all the way to taking OxyContin.”
Painkiller Patch Can Lead to Dangerous Addiction
In 2005, morphine patches were introduced in Norway in the hopes of reducing the use and abuse of painkillers. However, researchers have found that the patches are often used incorrectly, which can lead to addiction.
Like a nicotine patch, the morphine patch releases small, steady doses of medication over a long period of time, which is good for patients who need low doses of pain-relieving medication. Ideally, this was meant to help reduce drug consumption and control the use of the medication, which would result in fewer cases of dependence. But with so many people using the patch incorrectly, the effect is just the opposite.
“The reason for this incorrect usage is that there is not enough information out there, and a lack of expertise in individuals who are writing prescriptions,” said professor Petter Borchgrevink, head of the Norwegian National Centre for Complex Disorders. When Borchgrevink and professor Stein Kaasa of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology started to research the actual use of the patches, they found that the patches were often being given in addition to other drugs, instead of being used as an alternative to habit-forming medications. “This increases the health burden and the risk of addiction,” said Borchgrevink.
Learn more about Painkiller Patch Can Lead to Dangerous Addiction
Illegal Adderall Use Increasing as “Study Drug”
While Adderall is routinely used to treat those suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), more and more people are finding that it also works to help boost endurance during tough days.
A prescription amphetamine, most people who are using Adderall for its ability to stimulate are doing so without a prescription. According to a recent report in the Colorado Daily News, the use of prescription stimulants is on the rise – especially on college campuses.
Learn more about Illegal Adderall Use Increasing as “Study Drug”
Database Technology Ineffective in War on Prescription Drug Abuse
The “War on Drugs” used to focus on those hard-core street drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy. Now, those charged with trying to keep these drugs off the streets are finding that they no longer pose the greatest threat. Instead, prescription medications are now the new opponents.
The Sun Sentinel reported this latest craze, citing a DEA report that more than 7 million Americans are now abusing prescription drugs. More alarming is the fact that this is more than the number of people abusing heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, hallucinogens, and inhalants combined.
Learn more about Database Technology Ineffective in War on Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise in Senior Citizens
Over the past three decades, adults and children have been increasingly exposed to regular prescription drug use. Medications are routinely prescribed for ailments that range from minor to serious and everything in between. Unfortunately, many of these drugs have the potential to create a chemical or psychological dependency within their users.
Though problems are also on the rise with teenagers and young adults, it is the adult population over the age of 65 who have developed the most serious problem with prescription drug abuse. Pain killers, tranquilizers, and medications that treat depression are the most commonly used, and abused, by the senior population.
With so many prescription drugs available on the market to treat chronic pain symptoms, stress, and anxiety, it is no wonder that so many older adults have developed serious addictions to them.
One school of thought regarding this problem is that medical practitioners need to begin a regular practice of treating people beyond the surface. In other words, rather than simply treating the obvious symptom (pain, stress, etc.) patients would be better served if they were treated in a more thoughtful manner. For instance, if people were sent through a long-term regimen of physical therapy, counseling, or pain management they might develop the skills and abilities that are necessary to be able to handle their physical ailments without the continuous use of pills.
It is particularly important that older adults do not attempt to stop their regular use of any medication without first consulting their physician. With some medications, it is simply too dangerous to suddenly stop using them. Of course, the smart way to stop using any type of prescription drug is to seek the assistance of a trained substance abuse professional.
Sources Used
1. Greider, Katharine. AARP Bulletin Today. “Prescription Drug Addiction on the Rise.” http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/medications/articles/
prescription_drug_addiction_on_the_rise.html. Accessed 18 April 2009.
Learn more about Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise in Senior Citizens
Deaths from Prescription Drug Overdoses Eclipsing Deaths from Illegal Drugs
The danger associated with prescription drug abuse is one that has been receiving increased attention as of late, but the toll it is taking in the country continues to rise. Outlook Online reported the results from several studies on the subject that show significant increases in abuse and even death.
A study released recently by the Oregon State Medical Examiner, Dr. Karen Gunson, found that more people died in Oregon from overdosing on the prescription drug methadone in 2008 than of heroin overdoses.
Learn more about Deaths from Prescription Drug Overdoses Eclipsing Deaths from Illegal Drugs
Facts about Oxycontin
Oxycontin is a narcotic pain reliever that is only available with a prescription. In recent years, this drug has become a commonly abused one because of the effects that it produces within the human body. These effects are similar to those that are generated through the use of heroin.
Connect with an Elements Recovery Adviser
newsletter
