Prescription Drug Abuse

Prescription drug abuse has been making headlines since celebrities such as Rush Limbaugh, Michael Jackson and U. S. Representative Patrick Kennedy, D-Rhode Island have brought the issue to the forefront by checking into rehab to kick their habits. But, prescription drug abuse is not only affecting the rich and famous as it is taking a bite out of the middle class and lower socio-economic classes as well. Abusing prescribed medication often leads to prescription drug addiction.

A recent study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that 20-percent of the U. S. population or 48 million people have at one time used prescription medication for non-medical uses. Our youth and our elderly populations are particular susceptible to prescription drug abuse.

The elderly tend to take more medications than the general population. Besides prescription drugs, the elderly also take a higher percentage of over the counter (OTC) medication and dietary supplements, which sometimes lead to severe drug interactions. Those 65 and older account for only 13-percent of the U. S. population, but ingest one-third of all prescription medication.

Besides the elderly, another alarming trend has been prescription drug abuse in the youth population. According to the NIDA in a 2004 survey, 9.3-percent of 12-graders reported using Vicodin for non-medical uses within the past year. Another 5-percent reported using Oxycontin without a prescription.

But, prescription drug abuse among youths is not confined to painkillers such as Vicodin and Oxycontin. Tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives are also among the most abused prescription drugs for those 12 - 17 years old. In addition, the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is now reporting that prescription drug abuse for this age group with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is at an all-time high.

In 2004, there were 8,000 trips to the emergency room just for those taking methylphenidate (Ritalin or Concerta) and additional trips for those taking other ADHD drugs (stimulants) as well. Of those trips to the emergency room, 32-percent were for the ADHD stimulant alone and 68-percent were for the prescription medication in combination with either alcohol, illicit drugs or other prescription medication.

Another alarming trend in prescription drug abuse that covers all segments of the population is the misuse of opioid prescription painkillers. In 2002, overdoses of painkillers such as oxycodone (OxyContin), methadone, morphine, hydrocodone and fentanyl killed more than 16,000 people surpassing for the first time those who have overdosed from either cocaine or heroin.

Many physicians caution that prescribed painkillers serve a valuable purpose and their use should not be curtailed. They point to the fact that many who abuse prescription drugs will steal the medication from clinics, doctor shop, buy it on the streets or even buy it off the Internet.

Drug addiction treatment for prescribed medications is similar to that for illicit drugs as both are treated as a brain disease. Two typical methods of treating prescription drug addiction is with behavioral therapy and pharmacological therapy.