Today, we are facing a greater epidemic than just illicit drug addiction. We are dealing with a legal drug problem known as prescription Rx medication. How many times has a friend or co-worker asked you if you had extra pills you aren't using? People feel, because these are legally prescribed meds, they cannot be abused or rather, it's not consider abuse, even though they originally were not prescribed to you? I've known friends and co-workers who had a medical procedure done and were prescribed some pretty hard hitting Rx. Some of them became addicted to these within the first 3 weeks of taking them. I know of one, who is still addicted to them and has gone to great lengths to get his hands on them. It's an unfortunate thing and we really need to change this by enforcing tough regulation by all parties… Government, Doctors and Pharmacies need to be on the same sheet of music. They also need to be utilizing the same database between all three to keep track of what is being prescribed to patients and how often.
Let's start out by listing the most highly addictive prescription Rx medications currently being abused.
1. Vicodin – This opiate-based painkiller is abused in order to obtain its euphoric effects. The drug carries strong withdrawal symptoms however, which leads to a Vicodin addiction for thousands of people every day.
2. OxyContin – Also known as the "Hillbilly Heroin", OxyContin is a time-release prescription painkiller that produces intense euphoria when crushed and snorted or injected. Misuse of OxyContin in this manner has led to many overdose cases across the country.
3. Demerol – Another addictive opiod drug that inhibits the part of the brain that controls pain and produces feeling of euphoria among users. Can also bring about serious withdrawal symptoms including depression, chills, fever, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
4. Percocet – One of the first notorious prescription drugs used for its euphoric effects instead of its intended use as a painkiller. Percocet is highly addictive and has been linked to heart failure in many individuals who have taken excessive amounts of the drug over a prolonged period of time.
5. Darvocet – Another opiod originally created to help individuals suffering from pain following injury or surgery. Because of the presence of acetaminophen in Darvocet, those who take the drug for an extended period of time can develop disorders of the liver.
6. Ritalin – Can cause increases or decreases in blood pressure as well as psychotic episodes. Prescribed to help children with Attention Deficit Disorder, the drug has been used as a substitute for cocaine.
7. Amphetamines – These drugs produce euphoric effects similar to those found during cocaine use. The individual experiences a "rush" for a limited amount of time, generally followed by periods of exhaustion, anxiety and depression. It is the strong need to avoid these adverse effects of the amphetamines that lead individuals into addiction. These drugs are commonly used by truckers, students or other individuals who need to stay awake for long periods of time.
Hydrocodone -This belongs to the class of drugs called opioids, which are used for pain control in individuals who have moderate to severe pain. Opioids can be taken by mouth, crushed and snorted or injected. A number of deaths have been reported with injection of drugs intended for slow release in the body such as OxyContin, which is a derivative of hydrocodone. Opioids may cause constipation and drowsiness and can depress the rate of breathing and lead to death.
Codeine – is another opioid. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), codeine may cause respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation and coma. The Drug Enforcement Administration says codeine is the most widely used narcotic in medical treatment and is one of the starting materials used to develop hydrocodone. It is usually taken in pill form and can be found in combination with acetaminophen or aspirin or as a cough suppressant in liquid form.
Fentanyl – is a strong narcotic. The only legal prescription use is for pain control in people who have cancer. The danger with fentanyl is there is no margin for error when increasing the dose. The body develops a tolerance to the drug, so more of the medication is needed over time to get the same effect. Because of the low margin for error, increasing the dosage can be deadly. Fentanyl can be used as a skin patch, injected, smoked or snorted. Street names include China white, China girl, dance fever, murder 8 and Tango and Cash.
Morphine – is another medication in the opioid family, used to treat moderate to severe pain. Side effects may include shallow breathing, seizure, confusion, dizziness or weakness and fainting. People taking morphine may also experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, memory problems, constipation and sleep problems.
Valium – is the registered brand name of diazepam. It is an anti-anxiety drug that changes the chemical balance in the brain and is often prescribed for alcohol withdrawal, shakiness, agitation and muscle pain. According to Prescription Drug Abuse, it is very common and easy to obtain. The body builds up a tolerance over just one month. Symptoms of abuse depend upon how long and at what level the person has been using the drug.
Xanax
Xanax – is used for anxiety disorders, panic disorders and anxiety caused by depression. Drinking alcohol with Xanax increases the effects of the alcohol. According to drugs.com, Xanax is habit forming and should never be prescribed for people with a history of abuse or addiction to prescription drugs. Side effects can include risk-taking behavior, depression, hyperactivity, light-headedness, seizures, muscle twitching, jaundice and less frequent urination.
Ambien – is a sleep medication used by people who have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ambien is moderately psychologically and physically addictive. People can also develop a tolerance to this medication and may require help in stopping use.
Lunesta – is a relatively new sleep aid that is a central nervous system depressant and a non-benzodiazepine. According to NIDA, it has a lower risk for abuse and addiction because of the method of action. However, any central nervous system depressant should not be mixed with other medications because the cumulative effect can slow the heart and respiration, which can be fatal.
Ritalin – is a stimulant designed to increase alertness, attention and energy. It is commonly prescribed to children who have attention deficit disorder but is now a drug of choice among college students who are interested in staying up longer and studying harder. According to NIDA, the medication is usually taken orally, but people also dissolve it and inject the solution. However, it contains insoluble fillers that can block small blood vessels and cause tissue death.
Adderall – is another stimulant that gained national attention when the son of former Vice President Al Gore was arrested for possessing Adderall, marijuana, Xanax and Valium. Adderall is used to get a speedy high or "pull an all-nighter" to study.
Well our government plans to bring awareness up and reduce the number of addicts by 15% within the timeframe of 2015. I remember them saying the same thing on the war on drugs, do you? Where has it gotten us? No where. What needs to happen is heavy regulation. States such as Florida do not have any Rx regulation at this time. You could go to a host of pharmacies that operate these pill farms and receive multiple fills to your Rx. You could then drive down the street to another and do the exact same thing. The most alarming and most disturbing fact about this is, out of 180 pending pharmacies applying to open across the United States, 150 of them have applied in the state of Florida alone. Does that scare anyone here?
Medical Marijuana is proven to work as a natural medicine in many patients suffering chronic and terminal illnesses. The use of the CBD portion of the plant is the healing medicine which comes in natural formula. You can get this either by breeding hybrid high strains of CBD or cooking the actual bud flower with isopropyl alcohol and allowing it to be burned off, creating an oil, which could then be orally ingested. It's proven to work, yet more people fight medical marijuana then the LEGAL abuse of prescription Rx medications that are SYNTHETIC. The long term effects on your body from these drugs is scary.
Another problem with Rx abuse is, there is no standardization from what one pharmacy see's from another. Or, what one doctor is prescribing from another. Their databases are not connected and it's the blind leading the blind show. This makes abusing these medications so easy, yet the drug themselves are legal. If you really want to break this down, consider this the new gold rush. Oil companies are posting billion dollar profits in today's bad economy. However, so are these pharmaceutical companies. They are giving huge payouts to their top executives while increasing the cost of the drugs. Meanwhile, your co-pays continue to increase from your insurance company and no one is putting a stop to this.
When celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Heath Ledger, and Anna Nicole Smith die from Rx medication abuse, people stop for a moment and point blame. Yet, in all of these cases, nothing is done to stop it from happening in the future. When it's our loved ones who die, no one even blinks an eye about it. Who are these people? Stars obviously get more attention then the normal people in the world. Everyday people are dying from abusing prescription medication and we all need to put a stop to it!
I hope we can get something done here. Its an unfortunate crisis for many Americans. I would love to hear what you have to say about it. I'll be working on a part two with what is being done and things we can do to kickstart this cause!
References
Medline Plus: Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription Drug Abuse: Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction
Let's start out by listing the most highly addictive prescription Rx medications currently being abused.
Most Highly Addicted Prescription Rx Today:
1. Vicodin – This opiate-based painkiller is abused in order to obtain its euphoric effects. The drug carries strong withdrawal symptoms however, which leads to a Vicodin addiction for thousands of people every day.
2. OxyContin – Also known as the "Hillbilly Heroin", OxyContin is a time-release prescription painkiller that produces intense euphoria when crushed and snorted or injected. Misuse of OxyContin in this manner has led to many overdose cases across the country.
3. Demerol – Another addictive opiod drug that inhibits the part of the brain that controls pain and produces feeling of euphoria among users. Can also bring about serious withdrawal symptoms including depression, chills, fever, anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
4. Percocet – One of the first notorious prescription drugs used for its euphoric effects instead of its intended use as a painkiller. Percocet is highly addictive and has been linked to heart failure in many individuals who have taken excessive amounts of the drug over a prolonged period of time.
5. Darvocet – Another opiod originally created to help individuals suffering from pain following injury or surgery. Because of the presence of acetaminophen in Darvocet, those who take the drug for an extended period of time can develop disorders of the liver.
6. Ritalin – Can cause increases or decreases in blood pressure as well as psychotic episodes. Prescribed to help children with Attention Deficit Disorder, the drug has been used as a substitute for cocaine.
7. Amphetamines – These drugs produce euphoric effects similar to those found during cocaine use. The individual experiences a "rush" for a limited amount of time, generally followed by periods of exhaustion, anxiety and depression. It is the strong need to avoid these adverse effects of the amphetamines that lead individuals into addiction. These drugs are commonly used by truckers, students or other individuals who need to stay awake for long periods of time.
The Most ABUSED prescription Rx today:
Hydrocodone -This belongs to the class of drugs called opioids, which are used for pain control in individuals who have moderate to severe pain. Opioids can be taken by mouth, crushed and snorted or injected. A number of deaths have been reported with injection of drugs intended for slow release in the body such as OxyContin, which is a derivative of hydrocodone. Opioids may cause constipation and drowsiness and can depress the rate of breathing and lead to death.
Codeine – is another opioid. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), codeine may cause respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation and coma. The Drug Enforcement Administration says codeine is the most widely used narcotic in medical treatment and is one of the starting materials used to develop hydrocodone. It is usually taken in pill form and can be found in combination with acetaminophen or aspirin or as a cough suppressant in liquid form.
Fentanyl – is a strong narcotic. The only legal prescription use is for pain control in people who have cancer. The danger with fentanyl is there is no margin for error when increasing the dose. The body develops a tolerance to the drug, so more of the medication is needed over time to get the same effect. Because of the low margin for error, increasing the dosage can be deadly. Fentanyl can be used as a skin patch, injected, smoked or snorted. Street names include China white, China girl, dance fever, murder 8 and Tango and Cash.
Morphine – is another medication in the opioid family, used to treat moderate to severe pain. Side effects may include shallow breathing, seizure, confusion, dizziness or weakness and fainting. People taking morphine may also experience nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, memory problems, constipation and sleep problems.
Valium – is the registered brand name of diazepam. It is an anti-anxiety drug that changes the chemical balance in the brain and is often prescribed for alcohol withdrawal, shakiness, agitation and muscle pain. According to Prescription Drug Abuse, it is very common and easy to obtain. The body builds up a tolerance over just one month. Symptoms of abuse depend upon how long and at what level the person has been using the drug.
Xanax
Xanax – is used for anxiety disorders, panic disorders and anxiety caused by depression. Drinking alcohol with Xanax increases the effects of the alcohol. According to drugs.com, Xanax is habit forming and should never be prescribed for people with a history of abuse or addiction to prescription drugs. Side effects can include risk-taking behavior, depression, hyperactivity, light-headedness, seizures, muscle twitching, jaundice and less frequent urination.
Ambien – is a sleep medication used by people who have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Ambien is moderately psychologically and physically addictive. People can also develop a tolerance to this medication and may require help in stopping use.
Lunesta – is a relatively new sleep aid that is a central nervous system depressant and a non-benzodiazepine. According to NIDA, it has a lower risk for abuse and addiction because of the method of action. However, any central nervous system depressant should not be mixed with other medications because the cumulative effect can slow the heart and respiration, which can be fatal.
Ritalin – is a stimulant designed to increase alertness, attention and energy. It is commonly prescribed to children who have attention deficit disorder but is now a drug of choice among college students who are interested in staying up longer and studying harder. According to NIDA, the medication is usually taken orally, but people also dissolve it and inject the solution. However, it contains insoluble fillers that can block small blood vessels and cause tissue death.
Adderall – is another stimulant that gained national attention when the son of former Vice President Al Gore was arrested for possessing Adderall, marijuana, Xanax and Valium. Adderall is used to get a speedy high or "pull an all-nighter" to study.
What's being done?
Well our government plans to bring awareness up and reduce the number of addicts by 15% within the timeframe of 2015. I remember them saying the same thing on the war on drugs, do you? Where has it gotten us? No where. What needs to happen is heavy regulation. States such as Florida do not have any Rx regulation at this time. You could go to a host of pharmacies that operate these pill farms and receive multiple fills to your Rx. You could then drive down the street to another and do the exact same thing. The most alarming and most disturbing fact about this is, out of 180 pending pharmacies applying to open across the United States, 150 of them have applied in the state of Florida alone. Does that scare anyone here?
Medical Marijuana is proven to work as a natural medicine in many patients suffering chronic and terminal illnesses. The use of the CBD portion of the plant is the healing medicine which comes in natural formula. You can get this either by breeding hybrid high strains of CBD or cooking the actual bud flower with isopropyl alcohol and allowing it to be burned off, creating an oil, which could then be orally ingested. It's proven to work, yet more people fight medical marijuana then the LEGAL abuse of prescription Rx medications that are SYNTHETIC. The long term effects on your body from these drugs is scary.
Another problem with Rx abuse is, there is no standardization from what one pharmacy see's from another. Or, what one doctor is prescribing from another. Their databases are not connected and it's the blind leading the blind show. This makes abusing these medications so easy, yet the drug themselves are legal. If you really want to break this down, consider this the new gold rush. Oil companies are posting billion dollar profits in today's bad economy. However, so are these pharmaceutical companies. They are giving huge payouts to their top executives while increasing the cost of the drugs. Meanwhile, your co-pays continue to increase from your insurance company and no one is putting a stop to this.
When celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Heath Ledger, and Anna Nicole Smith die from Rx medication abuse, people stop for a moment and point blame. Yet, in all of these cases, nothing is done to stop it from happening in the future. When it's our loved ones who die, no one even blinks an eye about it. Who are these people? Stars obviously get more attention then the normal people in the world. Everyday people are dying from abusing prescription medication and we all need to put a stop to it!
I hope we can get something done here. Its an unfortunate crisis for many Americans. I would love to hear what you have to say about it. I'll be working on a part two with what is being done and things we can do to kickstart this cause!
References
Medline Plus: Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription Drug Abuse: Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction