Nora D. Volkow gave a visual representation showing that the dispensing of opioids in pharmacies has increased in recent years. Volkow is talking about how bad opioid addiction is. Opioid addiction increases the number of overdoses and more people think it's ok to take pain pills. Prescription medicine can be very helpful to people that are in pain. But too many doctors are writing prescriptions for these people and the pills are too easy to get.…
The case study relates to Mr Brown, who was diagnosed with acute pulmonary oedema secondary to acute renal failure, due to excessive use of opioids. The assignment will address Mr Brown’s initial presentation and assessment, relevant past history, medications and the current assessment finding that had him admitted to the intensive care unit. The patient’s pathology results and drug treatment to correct his electrolyte imbalances will be discussed briefly. The assignment will discuss the effects of age related physiological effects on respiratory, cardiovascular and renal system and lastly the pathophysiology and treatment on opioid toxicity, acute renal failure and acute pulmonary oedema.…
My mother is from a small town called Richwood, Ohio which is located about forty-five minutes north of Columbus. This town and area have been affected significantly by the opioid crisis. Heroin has primarily been the main opioid used in this area. The town of Richwood has changed over the last five years or so. I visit this town in Ohio roughly three to four times a year. Comparing it from the years when I grew up to now you can see a very evident difference mainly in the local economy. The town has seen a car dealership close down after over thirty-five years of existence called Mills Chevrolet and Pontiac (T2Buck.com 2009). Other businesses include the Cardinal grocery store located in Richwood. The decline of these small businesses has taken a toll on the local economy. However, many people in the area are known farmers. This industry has essentially kept this city alive. A business in Richwood called Parrot Implement Company provides farming equipment to the residents of Richwood and the surrounding area. This business thrives in this environment which has become a solid local source of employment in different fashions. While other businesses thrive in Richwood, the closing of some has led people to take an…
the chains of addiction there have been many forms for recovery and treatment made available to…
There is controversy of doctors overprescribing opioids to patients with chronic pain, which results in to patients becoming addicted and dependent on the drug. In 2012, Eric L Garland conducted a study in which where he researched the correlation between an opioid-dependent group and how a non-dependent group. He supported his study by including many statistics, significant information, and how accurate the data was. However, this study does not provide a valid argument that opioids are detrimental to our health. The research that was taken in this data was to see the correlation between participants taking opioids, and how opioids influenced their daily life compared to non-dependent opioid participants. Garland supported his research…
This crisis needs addressing because it is creating an environment in the U.S. where many citizens are becoming more dependent on drugs. In 1971, President Nixon declared a war on drugs. This was another attempt at eliminating the number of individuals manufacturing, distributing, and using drugs illegally by enforcing harsher penalties if an individual was caught in these actions. With the Opioid usage being manufactured by pharmaceutical companies and the Opioid Crisis continuing to spread among the U.S., it can be assumed that drug dealers are no longer the only individuals responsible for there being a drug problem. It is safe to say pharmaceutical companies are now a part of the drug problem in the U.S. and is responsible for a great portion of individuals who overdose or develop addiction-like behaviors.…
In the medical field there is a heavy use of prescription drugs. These over the counter drugs can cause side effects that are ultimately worse and can cause worse ailments than the disease they are treating. I totally disagree with the use of these harsh chemicals and compounds. In past years nearly 8 out of 10 deaths in the United States were directly caused as a result of prescription drug abuse. For example, Adderall is a drug that has been classified as a type of legalized form of Methamphetamine and is among one of the most abused drugs in America, mostly used by students at universities. A study done by the Huffington post showed that millions of young people from high school age and college have been abusing the drug to help them “focus” and stay awake during exams. Adderall is a highly addictive drug and most of its heavy users don’t notice the Side…
Butelman, B., Leveron, O., Kreek, M., Schulessman, S., Yan, Y., (Oct., 2012). Opiate Addiction and Cocaine Addiction: Underlying Molecular Neurobiology and Genetics. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 122(10), 3387-3389…
Overdoses are the most common cause of unintentional death in America today. Dr. Sanjay Gupta says most of the blame belongs to doctors which leads us to the question who’s at fault for our prescription overdose. Doctors, doctors are at fault. Addiction blog.org says “ What happens when our drug pushers become those that we trust most with our health?” Doctors don’t put in the effort needed for the patients anymore, they just write up a prescription and send you out. Doctors do not take the time to sit down with you and fully listen to your health problems. Today prescription opioids are the most powerful class of painkillers. They kill more people every year than heroin and cocaine combined. A majority of those deaths result from prescription…
Many Americans use drugs to make them happy or ease the pain. They use a variety of drugs legal and illegally. Society needs to recognize the rapid increase of antidepressant and opioid use in the world. America has seen a rise in the usage of antidepressants and opioids in America, primarily due to the cause of depression and Americans trying to escape the real world and their problems. As a society need to realize the rapid increase in the taking of antidepressants and opioids and bring awareness and decrease the rapid increase.…
Crack, booze, pot, meth- from bustling cities to the serene countryside, the atmosphere surrounding an adolescent is permeated with drugs. Substance abuse has been an ever-growing problem in modern society, considering the amount of users today in comparison to half a century ago. In the 1990s, prescription drug abuse witnessed its first skyrocket. The use of drugs such as Vicodin and Oxycontin, increased by a staggering 343% between 1990 and 2005. From then on, drugs would become increasingly popular and would be more commonly distributed. In modern society, opioid use has become a regularity for a multitude of people, including the disadvantaged, the wealthy and successful, the middle class, and has recently been directed towards young adolescents.…
Prescription drug abuse and addiction is a growing problem in our society. In 2007 an estimated seven million Americans abused prescription drugs, and almost twenty-eight thousand people died as a result of accidental drug overdose. In the United States drug overdoses are the second leading cause of unintentional deaths (CDC, 2010). Medication prescribed by physicians killed more people in that same than illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine combined (Harvard, 2011). Many members of our society do not view prescription drugs as dangerous. These medications are prescribed by a physician and purchased at a pharmacy to treat acute or chronic pain (Byrne, Lander, & Ferris, 2009).…
Since 2001, Narcan has saved more than 10,000 lives and continues to do so to this day (“U.S Heroin Crisis”). As time goes on, the government adds funds to an ever growing war against drugs and enacts more laws against drug abuse; that does nothing to stop the numbers from growing. The government focuses more on the punishment a user should get rather than the help they should seek after an overdose. Many argue that if an addict is found overdosed they should be punished for drug possession or left for dead. What good would any of that do but add the emotional and financial cost of that on their families? Addiction is considered a chronic condition by many around the country and, in the end, these addicts do not sit around saying, “I want to be addicted to this, and ruin my life for the sake of a high”. If these addicts are found overdosed they should not have to worry about being punished horribly for something that they hate as much as a nonuser. These people should worry about their treatment, which is why many lawmakers are considering good samaritan laws. These laws protect overdose victims from punishment and provides them with medical help for their addiction. Another good turn the government has taken is the addition of specialized drug courts where those with drug offenses are brought to get help for their problem. This…
Drug use can be devastating. Deaths from drug overdose rises every year. Each day in the US, 113 people die due to OD, and 6,748 are treated in emergency rooms for drug abuse.…
The reality of drug abuse in American culture has fueled FDA restrictions and reforms for decades as more information on drug availability, distribution, and side effects is released to the public. A trending topic that has gained publicity in the past months is the rate at which doctors prescribe opiates. Drugs such as Percocet, OxyContin, Vicodin, and Roxicodone are synthesized medications that doctors prescribe for the relief of pain associated with anything from a dental procedure to cancer. Since 1997, when prescription pain medication began advertising campaigns on broadcast television, opiate prescriptions have risen 500 percent. In 2010 alone, there were enough prescriptions to medicate every American adult with painkillers around the clock for a month (Courier Post). The FDA was able to recognize the effects that flooding America with opiates had produced, and subsequently pressured pharmaceutical companies to reformulate their versions of the opiate painkillers. When Purdue Pharma, the producers of the widely-prescribed OxyContin, made their pills harder to crush and then snort or inject in 2010 (Bloom), it was assumed that the change would only bring about good in the future years in terms of opiate abuse.…