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High blood pressure medications Were the fourth most prescribed (1 1 percent) and vaccines Were fifth (1 1 percent). With the exception of medications for high blood pressure, the drugs were prescribed to both men and women across all age groups. For example, one in four teens now abuse or misuse a prescription drug at least once in their lifetime. We will write a custom essay sample on Hero or any similar topic only for you Order Now However, there is no completely accurate way to measure prescription drug abuse. The number is not that important, but the fact that many people suffer from addiction to prescription drugs is. According to the findings of some research that this paper will examine, some of the prescription medicine can cause negative effects such as pain, physical penitence, addiction, tolerance, and death. A woman by the name of Judy Tomato was prescribed a strong antibiotic in t†. ‘ice a day for five days to shift her chest infection. Her doctor didn’t mention any possible side-effects. Three days later Judy woke up with an all-pervading tight feeling in the backs of both calves. Her pain was so sharp even she could barely walk. After visiting a hospital, a local doctor suspected a ruptured Achilles tendon. She didn’t realize that tendon rupture can be a side-effect of taking antibiotics. Five years later, she is still suffering persistent lower leg pain and other unexplained symptoms, including pain and burning in her lower legs. ‘ PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE ABUSE AND TENDS Every year millions of prescription pills enter the illicit drug market. Enormous amounts of people in the U. S. Use prescription drugs for the wrong reasons. Nationally, the federal government spends about $13. 5 billion on the drug war, but only $70 million goes to investigate prescription drug offenses. By having an accurate dosage, a high purity level, and a lower price, prescription pills have established a place next to regular street drugs. Medical offices and pharmacies help supply a large amount of these drugs. There is no glory in catching doctors and pharmaceutical companies involved in this illegal drug trafficking. Media coverage is small due to the fact there are no guns and no bundles of case for the world to see. Sometimes action is taken, but the results are usually small. Very few doctors, dentists, and pharmacists are prosecuted annually for prescription fraud. The evidence now conclusively points to the fact that Whitney Houston has been killed by the pharmaceutical industry. ‘Whitney Houston death must serve as an urgent reminder that pills are not the answer, and that those who seek to alter their moods, physiology or biochemistry through Big Pharmacy deadly drugs are only playing Russian roulette with their lives† said coroner officials. In a research of an estimated 10 prescription frauds, one doctor received a short sentence; the other nice pleaded guilty and were put on probation. Part of the problem is that medical practitioners are usually charged under laws carrying low prison penalties. The laws are written allowing health care professionals to escape serious drug trafficking charges, no matter how fraudulent. About 75% of physicians convicted Of prescription rug crimes got to keep their license. Medical and pharmacy board investigators are seeking more court orders to suspend licenses after someone is arrested. 3 Addiction to prescribed drugs or to those used in treatment is term iatrogenic. The most common drugs susceptible to addiction are those prescribed for psychological problems. Some act on the mind, having low potential for abuse and dependence. Examples are anti- psychotics, anti-depressants, and lithium salts. Other, like barbiturates and amphetamines, has high potential. Amphetamines Amphetamines raise mood, increase the sense of energy and alertness, and crease appetite. A few users react oppositely, becoming drowsy, anxious, and irritable. Some people feel the need to Stay awake for long periods Of time. Medical interns and long-distance truck drivers sometimes use amphetamines for this cause. The effects wear off after a couple of hours, leaving the abuser exhausted, drowsy, and depressed. The highly addictive methamphetamine is a chemical is a chemical similar to amphetamines, but it is much more potent, longer lasting, and more harmful to the central nervous system. Methamphetamine can be prescribed medically for ADD, extreme obesity, and narcolepsy. However, because of its high potential of abuse, it is legal only by a one-time, no refillable prescription. Most methamphetamine that sells on the street is made by small illegal labs from household materials. Methamphetamine can be synthesized easily. Intravenous use of methamphetamine is usual and tolerance occurs quickly. Larger and more frequent doses become required to achieve the desired effect. A very negative outcome could be that a paranoid type Of psychosis would develop. This would cause a loss of reality and delusions of persecution. Painlessness’s Painlessness’s are medications commonly prescribed to treat anxiety and anis attacks. They were first marketed in the sass and have become the depressant of choice in many medical practices. Considered safer and less addictive than barbiturates, they now account for about one in every five prescriptions for controlled substances. They are most commonly used to sedate, induce sleep, relieve anxiety and muscle spasms, and help prevent seizures. More than a dozen painlessness’s are approved for use in the United States, including Lorena (Divan), laboratory (Asana), disappear (Valid), modally (Versed), and kaleidoscope’s (Labium). Symptoms of chronic use include memory loss, irritability. Appetite Suppressants Most appetite suppressants are stimulants. Patters of use and abuse vary greatly. A therapeutic dose may result in chronic daily ingestion, while use of larger quantities may cause an individual to binge or spree. The more amphetamine, like the appetite suppressant, the greater the chance is of abuse. Stopping the use of appetite suppressants can be difficult for abusers because of withdrawal symptoms like tiredness, discomfort, or depression. These problems have caused many doctors to Stop prescribing them. COMMONLY ABUSED DRUGS Prescription drugs help patients manage pain, restore balance, control sleep crosiers, and fight obesity. However, when abused they can be incredibly dangerous. Three commonly abused prescription drugs are depressants, stimulants, avoids. Barbiturates are some of the mostly commonly prescribed CANS depressants. Some like Membrane and Nebula are prescribed to treat anxiety, tension, and sleep disorders. Painlessness’s like Valid and Asana are prescribed to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions, and panic attacks. Other painlessness’s like Halcyon and Promos are used for short- term treatment of sleep disorders. All of these depressants produce a beneficial drowsy or calming effect. Else over a long period of time will result in tolerance. Larger doses will then be needed to attain the original effects. Continued use can also lead to physical dependence and withdrawal. Both barbiturates and painlessness’s have the chance of being abused and should be used only as directed. Amphetamines and caffeine are stimulants used primarily to delay the onset of mental and physical fatigue. Students studying long hours for exam, like athletes who feel the drugs will improve their performance, and workers who want to stay awake on the job often use stimulants. These drug compounds are often found in diet pills which, if issued to anorexia nervous. Anorexia nervous is a pathological loss of appetite thought to be psychological in origin that is manifested in extreme dieting and excessive thinness. Caffeine is also found in many beverages, pain medications, and allergy and cold remedies. Unusually high doses, or excessive use of stimulants over long periods Of time can lead to anxiety, hallucinations, severe depression, or psychological dependence. From a strong stimulant such as cocaine to nicotine in cigarettes and caffeine in coffee and cola drinks, stimulants are an intimate part of our lives. Avoids attach to proteins in the brain, spinal cord, and gastrointestinal tract and block the perception of pain. They can also induce euphoria by affecting the brain region responsible for our perception of pleasure, Morphine is often given to patients before or after surgery to alleviate severe pain, shares codeine is used for milder analgesia (pain relief) or serious coughs. When taken as directed, prescription avoids can manage pain effectively. Side effects can include drowsiness, nausea, and constipation. If taken in a large enough doses, however, prescription avoids can result in respiratory depression or even death. The medications are not meant to be used with other substances that depress the central nervous system such as alcohol, antihistamines, barbiturates or painlessness’s, as the combinations increase the risk of life-threatening respiratory distress. Long-term use or misuse can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms if use is suddenly stopped. Withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and involuntary leg movements. Canada and Mexico both have less Of a problem with prescription drug abuse than the US. Canada did have about the same level of prescription opiate abuse as it did heroin abuse n 2009, while Mexico prevalence of prescription drug abuse remained low. PAIN MEDICATIONS, ADDICTION AND MISUSE What is the most common reason people go to the doctor? It is pain. Doctors all over the country wonder how they can prescribe accurate medications so the patient is relieved of pain without becoming addicted to that medication. Many doctors under-prescribe powerful painkillers. They overestimate the potential for patients becoming addicted to painkillers such as morphine and codeine. When doctors limit pain medication, thousands of patients suffer needlessly. Misuse of prescription and over-the counter (ETC) drugs can often lead to psychological and physical dependence. People use increased amounts of drugs to ensure a sense of well-being while treating unrelated illnesses or health problems, or for non-medical purposes. Many medications contain alcohol and narcotics such as codeine, which can be addictive and life-threatening. Use of alcohol, a depressant, with some prescription and over-the counter drugs may inhibit or increase the drugs effectiveness and cause a loss of coordination. Combining ETC drugs with some prescription drugs can cause the similar effects or even more harmful types of reactions. 4 Deficits in cognition, vision, hearing and strength, all of which commonly occur with the aging process, could increase the likelihood of medication misuse. For example, an elderly person who is forgetful may overuse or underused medications. Similarly, an elderly individual who has difficulty with reading the instructions on the vial or has difficulty hearing verbal instructions may take medications in a manner that deviates from the original intention. Finally, an elderly person with diminished strength, or one who has painful arthritis, may overuse (to minimize the number of painful attempts to obtain medication) or underused (avoid taking medications) because of difficulties with the medication vial. 5 FUTURE INCREASE Medication misuse and/or substance abuse is a complex problem among elderly populations. There continues to be a perception that substance abuse and misuse in the elderly is not an important public health problem for society. Most of the emphasis has been placed on the study of younger populations without an appreciation of the unique problems presented by the elderly substance user. There is a need to develop a treatment infrastructure that is sensitive to problems of older substance users. This would include education of professionals as well as that of the public at large. CONCLUSION Prescription medicine abuse is a modern-day disease that affects millions of our population. Sometimes people become addicted to painkillers and then start abusing them. Some even lie to their doctors to get more medication. A few of the drugs being abused are barbiturates, painlessness’s, amphetamines, and appetite suppressants. If people are not careful, overdose of these drugs could kill them. Even though there is little coverage of prescription drug abuse, it is continually happening. It can and does affect many in various ways. Sometimes doctors, dentists, or pharmacists are involved in illegal drug trafficking. However, if caught they receive small sentences. The elderly are also involved in medication misuse. When they take the medicine, they don’t always take the right amount at the right time due to loss of sight, hearing, and strength. How to cite Hero, Papers