Today, more than ever before, prescription medications have opened a door to easily and legally having access to drugs that are abused and used just to get high. Although this is a startling and serious problem that has resulted in death, serious health injuries and diseases, many people are turning their heads to it. The reason is that regular, everyday people can go to the doctor and receive prescriptions for medications that are going to treat whatever illness they are suffering from. That process is normal and medication is one of the best ways to treat a wide variety of medical problems and diseases. What is not normal and goes without being acknowledged is that prescription medication abuse and incorrect usage is becoming increasingly popular and a huge problem. Many people are not taking into consideration this abnormal increase in drug abuse, especially when it comes to prescription drugs.
Prescription drug abuse is defined as; taking a prescription medication that is not prescribed to you, or taking it for reasons other than what it was prescribed for. When it comes to prescription drug abuse, there are many medications out there that are abused. The most common are opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and stimulants. These drugs are used for pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders to name a few. They are well known and taken daily by people who aren’t abusing them. Opioids, including hydrocodone and oxycodone, are found in Vicodin and OxyContin and are used for pain while Valium and Xanax contain diazepam and alprazolam, which are CNS depressing chemicals. Other medications such as Ritalin or Adderall contain methylphenidate and amphetamines that are used as stimulants. Abusing any of these drugs can have life damaging affects, for example, addiction and dependency. Opioid abuse can result in drowsiness and even can depress breathing. CNS depressants slow brain function and stimulants that are taken in high doses or very often can cause anxiety, paranoia, and even seizures. Also, if any of the medications are mixed with another medication or alcohol, side effects can be dangerous and life threatening.
Prescription drug abuse is also caused by uneducated usage, which includes not knowing patient history, prescribing the wrong dosage, and by not informing patients of serious, life threatening side effects. An example of this would be Accutane that is used to treat acne . First of all, the requirements are very clear and very strict to even begin the Accutane treatment and once you have begun the treatment, the side effects are extreme and must be taken very seriously. Over dose and excessive use can result in all kinds of health problems such as damaged skin, heart problems, seizures, hearing problems and vision problems. Also, a major problem with Accutane is that it can cause birth defects to women who are or who may become pregnant. With that said, major lawsuits have taken place over Accutane causing inflamed bowel disease (IBD). Roche Laboratories, Barr Laboratories and Hoffmann-La Roche were all sued by a woman named Nazeena Gangji, who took the drug Accutane and its generic brand Claravis from 2006 until 2009. She was rushed to the hospital for an extreme case of IBD and had to have her colon removed. Roche, Barr, and Hoffmann-La Roche still deny that there are any studies proving Accutane is the cause for this. In a rare case, Ranbaxy Laboratories actually put out a recall on over 4,000 cartons of capsules used to treat skin infections. The cases above are only two of the hundreds out there.
It needs to be a number one priority for pharmacists as well as doctors to inform patients of side effects and for them to monitor refills and dosages. As stated before, prescription drug abuse is becoming more popular than ever. Over dosing and illegal use are at the top of a deadly list. Not only are adults taking and abusing these drugs, but prescription drugs have also made their way into the hands of children and teenagers everywhere. Accidental and uneducated use has also become a serious problem and doctors and pharmacists, as well as companies, need to take responsibility.
This article was written by Alyssa Jacobs. Alyssa has had a lot of experience with identifying skin care issues, different treatments, and ways to cope with them. She writes for www.acnecentre.com, a website that offers the latest skin care products including Clear Skin Max.
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