Prescription Drug Abuse
Most people ask doctors to prescribe them with medicine for their use, usually for a simple headache or stomach pain. Their doctors prescribe them many kinds of medicine for different reasons. But a lot of people all over the world have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons. Usually this use is often for getting “high”. With the security against illegal drugs increasing the use of prescription drugs for other purposes also increased. This is what we call prescription drug abuse.
This has alarmed the medical authority and the police as well, as they are now tracking the use of nonmedical drugs. In the USA alone, 20% of people have admitted to using prescription drugs for non medical use. And the number will increase if they are not stopped and warned about the effects of it. Teenagers meanwhile think that using these drugs isn’t violating any laws, since they are not considered illegal drugs. Some are making calls for new laws to be passed concerning the use of prescription drugs in hopes that the rate of nonmedical use will decrease.
It is a serious and growing problem that needs to be taken seriously. Abusing some prescription drugs can lead to addiction, and the addiction is similar to the effects of illegal drugs such as cocaine or meth. You can develop an addiction to narcotic painkillers, sedatives and tranquilizers, stimulants. Some people experiment with prescription drugs because they think they will help them have more fun, lose weight, fit in, and even study more effectively. Other people think that these prescription drugs are safer and addiction isn’t possible or the chance to get addicted is lesser, compared to illegal drugs.
However, prescription drugs are only safe for the individuals who actually have prescriptions for them. That’s because a doctor has examined these people and prescribed the right dose of medication for a specific medical condition. Taking prescription drugs to help you eat, study better or just to feel fine isn’t exactly right. When taking prescription drugs we are taking them only to help our body fight illnesses. We should not use them for other intentions. Most sedatives and narcotics have side effects that can be dangerous to a person’s health. The increased use of the drug for nonmedical intentions also increases the damage caused by the side effects of the drug. This means that prescription drugs are also unsafe to be taken without any directions from a doctor.
Experts don’t know exactly why this type of drug abuse is increasing, but many believe it is the cause of the heightened security measures against illegal drugs. The availability of drugs is probably one reason. Doctors are prescribing more drugs for more health problems than ever before. Online pharmacies make it easy to get prescription drugs without a prescription from a doctor; young adults in particular are able to access it without any trouble. These drugs are also sold illegally at a lower price than in pharmacies. According to new studies, the use of these drugs is increasing and may limit the use of illegal drugs. The production of counterfeit drugs has also increased to accommodate the need for these drugs.