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Essay On Prescription Drug Abuse

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Essay On Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse is a modern-day disease. In an estimate, over six million Americans have abused prescription medication. However, there is no completely accurate way to measure prescription drug abuse. Many people suffer from addiction because of certain doctors’ carelessness in writing prescriptions. When doctors’ are caught intentionally over prescribing abused medications, they are typically the punishment for their crimes is very small. Young adults are also beginning to abuse prescription drugs by illegally purchasing them from the prescription holder and using them as study or party drugs. Prescription drug abuse has torn apart families, destroyed lives, and has even resulted in death. Some people think that by focusing on prescription …show more content…
Past year abuse of prescription pain killers now ranks second-only behind marijuana-as the Nation's most prevalent illegal drug problem." Use of prescription drugs without a doctor's prescription or only for the experience or feeling they cause is commonly referred to as "nonmedical" use. According to the Drug Abuse Warning Network, approximately 363,000 emergency department visits in 2007 involved the nonmedical use of pain relievers (including both prescription and over-the-counter [OTC] pain …show more content…
Sometimes people become addicted to painkillers and then start abusing them. Some even lie to their doctors to get more medication. A few of the drugs being abused are barbiturates, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, and appetite suppressants. If people are not careful, overdose of these drugs could kill them. Even though there is little coverage of prescription drug abuse, it is continually happening. It can and does affect many in various ways. Sometimes doctors, dentists, or pharmacists are involved in illegal drug trafficking. However, if caught they receive small sentences. Young adults are also at risk for prescription drug abuse as students are using them as “study drugs” or “party drugs”. As we begin to see the effects of addiction, we need to be careful so we don't abuse or misuse prescription

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