Prescription Opioid And Illegal Drug Abuse Essay - 2170 Words

The amount of individuals who die annually from accidental overdose is extremely unnerving. One of the biggest issues the world is facing in the 21st century is prescription opioid and illegal drug abuse. Unfortunately, this lethal dilemma is not publicized in the media as much as other things such as celebrity drama, cancer prevention, or the newest fitness craze. The notorious opioid epidemic is in full swing and has effected individuals from all religions, cultures, and genders. Although it may seem like a collective issue, adolescents are in the most danger. If one could prevent a disease, wouldn’t they? The World Health Organization has classified processed meats, such as hot dogs, as possible carcinogens, meaning that they have the potential to cause cancer (Hà ¤rtl). Even with evidence such as this, these cancer-causing foods can still be purchased at a local grocery store. However, some individuals have chosen to avoid processed meat. Some avoid meat entirely by becoming vegetarian, or even vegan, for health and ethical purposes. Viewing drug abuse as a serious health issue, just at the world views cancer, could open the eyes of others, invoking mass change in the way drug abuse is handled in society. The best way to combat this lethal issue is to start at its core: the opioid epidemic. Once the fuel behind drug abuse is understood, then the idea of addiction itself needs to be rethought along with the strategies used to educate youth about the issue. This threatShow MoreRelatedPrescription Drug Abuse : Drug And Free World1508 Words   |  7 Pagesaged 12 to 17 abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – Overdoes Deaths – Drug-Free World,†n.d.) A 2007 survey in the United States found that 3.3% of 12 to 17 years olds and 6% of 17 to 25 year olds had abused prescription drugs in the past month (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – Overdoes Deaths – Drug-Free World,†n.d.) Prescription drug abuse causes the largest percentage of deaths from drug overdoses (â€Å"Prescription Drug Abuse StatisticsRead MoreThe Drug Policy Of Opioids1229 Words   |  5 Pages To: Micheal Botticelli, Director Of National Drug Control Policy From: Shimira Gardner National Drug Policy Date: December 2, 2015 Subject: Opioids â€Å"More than 16,600 people a year, die from overdoses of drugs, including Methadone, Morphine, and Oxycodone (OxyContin) and Hydrocodone combined with Acetaminophen (Lortab and Vicodin)† stated Consumers Report. The drugs listed above are all examples of Opioids. They are individual drugs that launch endorphins to the central nervous system whichRead MoreThe Misuse Of Opioids For Intrathecal Anesthesia1706 Words   |  7 PagesIn 2014, more people died from drug overdoses then in any other year on record. A substantial amount of deaths were due to drug overdose on opioids, according to the CDC. (2015:64). In 1901, surgeon Racoviceanu-Pitesti published his first report on opioids for intrathecal anesthesia. In 1979, a report on the use of morphine as a treatment for pain was made, by Behar and his colleagues. Epidural and spinal opioids are today part of a routine regimen for intra- and postoperative anesthesia, accordingRead MorePrescription Drug Abuse And Prescription Dru gs1487 Words   |  6 PagesPrescription Drug Abuse Prescription Drug Abuse has increased in an alarming rate over recent years! Prescription drug related deaths now outnumber those from heroin and cocaine combined. The abuse in prescription drugs in America goes back more than a hundred years ago. Prescription drug abuse is the use of a medication without a prescription, in a way other than prescribed, or for the experience or feelings elicited. Although prescription medications are intended to help individuals, they canRead MoreOpioid Abuse Over The Past Decade Essay1166 Words   |  5 PagesThe Problem In the United States, there has been upward swing of opioid abuse over the past decade. Overdose deaths involving opioids – both prescription pain relievers and heroin – almost quadrupled between 1999 and 2014. Well-intentioned efforts to curb prescription opioid abuse have yielded new policies with unfortunate, unforeseen consequences for the 15% of the US population that suffer from chronic pain – nearly 45 million people. Persistent pain has psychological and social implicationsRead MoreEvery Day, Millions Of Americans Take Some Form Of Prescription1670 Words   |  7 PagesEvery day, millions of Americans take some form of prescription drug to treat anything from an anxiety disorder to severe physical pain. They are not getting these drugs off of the streets, from a dark alley, or from a drug dealer; they are getting them from people that are supposed to help you feel better: doctors. â€Å"Roughly one in five Americans are prescribed an opiate every year, for treatment of an acute injury, for example, or dental work or for chronic pain.† (McCarthy) Obviously, some of theRead MoreShining A Light On The Dark Side Of Drugs728 Words   |  3 Pagespeople around the state of Florida are trying to change Legislature to make the availability of illegal drugs for use of medicine, other people in the sunshine state are turning a prescription drug into a frequently deadly narcotic. In the article Sheriff Grady Judd talked about eight people from Polk County who had died this year alone after overdosing on heroin-laced fentanyl, a powerful prescription which its potency is similar that of morphine, and long considered the crà ¨me de la crà ¨me of painkillersRead MoreFactors Contributing To The Opioid Epidemic1529 Words   |  7 PagesContributing to the Opioid Epidemic in America If you watch the news it should come as no surprise that drug abuse and overdoses have increased dramatically in the United States. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, as many as 36 million people abuse opioids throughout the world with 2.1 million in the U.S. who currently suffer from opioid abuse disorders (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014). These astonishing numbers are only marginalized when comparing them to opioid related deathsRead MoreCauses Of Drug Addiction836 Words   |  4 PagesDrug addiction continues to be a major social problem in any country. Despite all efforts of trying to control the manufacturing and trading of these illicit substances, drug traders still somehow find a way to continuously distribute these drugs around and destroy thousands of lives through various clandestine laboratories that have sprouted from different parts of the world. More than seeing the amount of money being spent on something as unnecessary as taking illegal substances is how it hasRead MoreDrug Use And Addiction Among Teenagers Essay1231 Words   |  5 PagesHard drugs have been around for hundreds of years. It is a reoccurring problem in society that is increasing dramatically among adolescence and young adults. The actual drug can change he structure and function of the brain. It can do great harm to the human body psychically, emotionally, and socially. Often times, young adults have a greater risk of addiction when they become older and the addiction can transfer to adulthood. There are many way to prevent drug use and addiction amongst teenagers