Abuse Prescription Drugs

Introduction

Prescription drugs are drugs that prescribed to a patient by a doctor to control pain, treat or cure a health condition such as mental illness, diabetes, cancer, or common infections. These drugs regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and demonstrate that they have health benefits when taken exactly as prescribed and directed by a health care provider. For people with these drugs help to control symptoms, cure or treat disease, control pain, or fight infections (Zickler, p. 25). However, these drugs are only safe when taken exactly as directed by a physician, health provider, or as directed on the package. This includes following the dosage instructions, how many times to take the medication and never take a drug that is not prescribed for you.

It Is Illegal

In addition, obtaining prescription drugs without a prescription, called "fun" is illegal and can put you at risk of arrest and prosecution. Regardless of how you purchase a prescription drug, using these types of drugs without a valid prescription - written for you - is dangerous and illegal.

What Is The Problem?

Teens are abusing some prescription and nonprescription feel the effects of the drug. This includes analgesics, such as are prescribed after surgery; depressants such as sleeping pills or anti-anxiety, and stimulants such as prescription drugs for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Teens are also abusing prescription medications such as cough and cold remedies.

Every day 2,500 young people aged 12 to 17 years of age abuse a painkiller for the first time. More teens abuse prescription drugs than any illicit drug, excluding marijuana. In 2006, more than 2.1 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old reported that prescription drug abuse. Among children aged 12-13 years, the drug of choice is prescription drugs.

Because these drugs are so readily available, and many young people believe they are a sure way to get high, young people who otherwise would not touch illicit drugs might abuse prescription drugs.

Discussion

Prescription Drug Abuse in Teenagers (United States)

Approximately 48 million Americans ages 12 and older have used prescription medications for nonmedical purposes in their lifetime. This is nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) annually reports on the prevalence of nonmedical use of illicit and prescription drugs in this age group. The 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) report indicated that 14.6 million persons, or 6.1 percent of the population, had used such drugs non medically in the past year; and that six million, or 2.5 percent of the population, report having done so in the past month (Faupel, Horowitz & Weaver, p. 78).

While prescription drug abuse may seem less dangerous than illegal drug use, research suggests that it is as widespread as the abuse of some illicit substances. In fact, studies indicate that the proportion of the U.S. population that abuses prescription medication is equivalent to the proportion that abuses cocaine—two to four percent. Similarly, a recent SAMHSA report found that, ...