Dangers Of Prescription Drug Addiction
Author: Gareth Grazier
In recent years, we have seen a growing trend, a dangerous
trend that has unfortunately, cost people's lives. While years
ago drug addiction was related to street drugs such as cocaine,
methamphetamine, or heroin, we now see the dangers of
prescription drug addiction. In fact, trips to hospital
emergency rooms for prescription drug abuse from 2000 to 2002
rose a staggering 56%. Because of the huge problem, a number of
new programs have been established to help educate doctors,
parents, and even children.
Unfortunately, doctors find themselves in a very difficult
position, especially when it comes to treating chronic illness.
For instance, treating people with painful illnesses such as MS,
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, or Arthritis often requires
narcotics to keep the pain at bay. For these people, pain
medication allows them a chance to live a relatively normal
life. However, the problem arises when someone has a temporary
injury and finds narcotics more of a stimulant than a treatment
for the pain. With narcotics being addictive, it is easy to
understand why people with temporary injuries become hooked.
The good news is that for people taking prescription medication
for the excitement and the high rather than for the illness,
addiction is a treatable disease of the brain. As more and more
doctors become educated about the dangers of prescription drug
addiction and the signs to watch for, the problem is being
better addressed. The truth is that for people, who truly need
prescription drugs, the situation is frustrating but as doctors
gain more knowledge and confidence associated with drug abuse,
they play a vital role in separating the real needs from the
false ones.
Today, as much as 95% of all psychiatry residency programs
throughout the United States are now offering education
associated with prescription drug addiction. On the other hand,
less than 30% of medical fields such as pediatric address the
potential problem. Obviously, as more and more children are
learning that they can get hold of parent or grandparent's
prescriptions, educating these families, as well as doctors is
vital.
Currently, the United States has more than 19 million regular
prescription drug users. For many of these people, the
prescription drugs treat a chronic illness, again giving them
quality of life but for others, the prescription drugs were
administered as a solution for a temporary condition that has
lead to addiction. In this case, doctors need to play a huge
role in intervention for patients who do not need long-term
care and those who have not yet become addicted to them.
To combat the problem of prescription drug addiction, the
federal government is putting programs in place for
intervention, screening, referral, and even treatment. Many of
these programs are being incorporated into businesses to help
employees get through the addiction. The key really falls back
to the doctors in taking the time to know their patients, to
understand the illness, and then to work closely with the
patient when prescribing the medication. For example, someone
with a rare disease or illness that is extremely painful would
require the doctor to educate him or herself on this problem so
that proper treatment could be provided and then monitored. The
bottom line is that ongoing education is the key to the dangers
of prescription medication, which takes time and persistency.
About The Author: Gareth Grazier is the webmaster for Fed
Addiction http://www.fedaddiction.com which is a comprehensive
research center containing a ton of material addiction related.
Feel free to add your own contribution at:
http://www.fedaddiction.com/articles
trend that has unfortunately, cost people's lives. While years
ago drug addiction was related to street drugs such as cocaine,
methamphetamine, or heroin, we now see the dangers of
prescription drug addiction. In fact, trips to hospital
emergency rooms for prescription drug abuse from 2000 to 2002
rose a staggering 56%. Because of the huge problem, a number of
new programs have been established to help educate doctors,
parents, and even children.
Unfortunately, doctors find themselves in a very difficult
position, especially when it comes to treating chronic illness.
For instance, treating people with painful illnesses such as MS,
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, or Arthritis often requires
narcotics to keep the pain at bay. For these people, pain
medication allows them a chance to live a relatively normal
life. However, the problem arises when someone has a temporary
injury and finds narcotics more of a stimulant than a treatment
for the pain. With narcotics being addictive, it is easy to
understand why people with temporary injuries become hooked.
The good news is that for people taking prescription medication
for the excitement and the high rather than for the illness,
addiction is a treatable disease of the brain. As more and more
doctors become educated about the dangers of prescription drug
addiction and the signs to watch for, the problem is being
better addressed. The truth is that for people, who truly need
prescription drugs, the situation is frustrating but as doctors
gain more knowledge and confidence associated with drug abuse,
they play a vital role in separating the real needs from the
false ones.
Today, as much as 95% of all psychiatry residency programs
throughout the United States are now offering education
associated with prescription drug addiction. On the other hand,
less than 30% of medical fields such as pediatric address the
potential problem. Obviously, as more and more children are
learning that they can get hold of parent or grandparent's
prescriptions, educating these families, as well as doctors is
vital.
Currently, the United States has more than 19 million regular
prescription drug users. For many of these people, the
prescription drugs treat a chronic illness, again giving them
quality of life but for others, the prescription drugs were
administered as a solution for a temporary condition that has
lead to addiction. In this case, doctors need to play a huge
role in intervention for patients who do not need long-term
care and those who have not yet become addicted to them.
To combat the problem of prescription drug addiction, the
federal government is putting programs in place for
intervention, screening, referral, and even treatment. Many of
these programs are being incorporated into businesses to help
employees get through the addiction. The key really falls back
to the doctors in taking the time to know their patients, to
understand the illness, and then to work closely with the
patient when prescribing the medication. For example, someone
with a rare disease or illness that is extremely painful would
require the doctor to educate him or herself on this problem so
that proper treatment could be provided and then monitored. The
bottom line is that ongoing education is the key to the dangers
of prescription medication, which takes time and persistency.
About The Author: Gareth Grazier is the webmaster for Fed
Addiction http://www.fedaddiction.com which is a comprehensive
research center containing a ton of material addiction related.
Feel free to add your own contribution at:
http://www.fedaddiction.com/articles
