Prescription drug abuse widespread, dangerous with special demographics

Side effects of Vicodin

 Carol Forsloff - We hear about drug abuse frequently, but the growing problem is prescription drug abuse.  Who
uses these and where is the use most frequent? The risks are graphically shown in a few minute video folks should see to understand the dangers and the demographics.

Prozac coma, by heroinoverdose, Coma White by Marily Manson, YouTube

The abuse is so rampant that prescription drugs have songs written for them, as some musicians reflect the culture of drug abuse both inside and outside the entertainment community.  Drugs are no longer for the those groups most identified with them, however.  They are now very much part of middle America..  The video here is explicit in that it shows what can happen when young people become addicted.

First some basic facts about how widespread the problem is of prescription
drug abuse.  For starters, the numbers are large; an estimated 20
percent of people in the United States use prescription drugs for non medical reasons.

Experts don't know all of the reasons why prescription drugs are increasing,
but part of the reason has to do with their availability.

In
addition to the escape, feelings of euphoria, stimulation or relaxation
people believe they achieve from taking prescription drugs, doctors are
actually prescribing more medications for health problems than ever
before.

The notion of take this pill and call me in the morning has now become a way of life, even for children and adolescents..

Pharmacologist Michael Klein, Ph.D., is director of the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) Controlled Substance Staff.  For more than 30 years of government
service he has been looking at the problem of prescription drug abuse.

"Abuse of prescription drugs can also be fatal when used outside of a medical
provider's instructions.they were not looking to “get high” from the
drugs. They were treating themselves, but not according to the
directions of their health care providers,"says Dr. Klein.

"Drug abuse and drug dependence are serious risks of misusing prescription
drugs,"  Dr. Kein explains.  He goes on to explain how it happens.

"One feature of prescription drug abuse is when a person continues to take
the drug after it’s no longer needed, medically. This is usually because
the drug produces euphoric responses. Prescription drugs are often
preferred for abuse because of the mistaken belief that the drugs
provide a “safe high.”

The problem of drug abuse and addiction to prescription medications is
concerning according to Dr. Klein and others involved with the problem.

The numbers are surprising in that in 2008 an estimated 52 million persons
in the United States age 12 or older had non-medically used prescription
drugs at least once in their lifetimes and 6 million of those people
within the past 30 days.

One in five high school students have taken a prescription drug without a doctor's prescription, according to the CDC.

Most of the abusers, however, are between the ages of 26 and 50, so Grandma
and Grandpa who might have more medications available don't take them
for non-medical purposes as much.

There also appears to be regional differences across the U.S. For example,
SAMHSA reports that the highest past-year rates of nonmedical use of
prescription pain relievers occur in Arkansas, Kentucky, Nevada,
Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

Dr Klein underlines the particular risks and responsibilities of this
serious, nation-wide problem since so many of these non-medical uses of
prescription drugs fall into the hands of folks who use them for escape,
for fun and for those temporary good feelings.  He warns. "Don't share
medications with friends or family.

Not only is this a dangerous practice health-wise, it is also illegal."