Millions of teens with aspirations have died prematurely in the United States due to painkillers, antidepressants, and opioid addiction. According to SAMHSA, prescription drugs are among the most commonly abused drugs, with 9 million people, prescription drug abuse 12 and older, using prescription pain relievers in 2019. This epidemic can significantly affect the mental and physical state of the person if it isn’t stopped. Unfortunately, many people do not realize that prescription drug abuse can lead to addiction.

Benzodiazepine Addiction Recovery Steps

While treatment options are available, including detoxification and various forms of therapy, success often requires a comprehensive approach tailored to the individual’s specific needs. Preventive measures, such as secure storage of medications and open discussions about their risks, are vital to reducing the incidence of prescription drug addiction in communities. The CDC 3 reports that prescription opioids were involved in nearly 24% of all opioid overdose deaths in 2020, a 16% increase in prescription opioid-involved deaths from 2019 to 2020.

• Nonetheless, diversion of medications is common; studies suggested that approximately 1/4 of those with prescribed stimulants will divert their medications at some time (Poulin, 2007; Rabiner et al., 2009; Wilens et al., 2008).
• These numbers highlight the widespread abuse of prescription drugs and the concerning consequences it poses to public health.
• The prevalence of prescription drug abuse escalated rapidly beginning in the late 1990s, requiring a significant increase in research to better understand the nature and treatment of this problem.

The Social and Economic Consequences of Prescription Drug Abuse

Additionally, as our brains are becoming hardwired during adolescence, the pathways being reinforced are the ones that stick. If those pathways include addiction, the impact may lead to life-long challenges. People who are addicted to CNS depressants often have coaddictions, such as alcoholism, so approaches to treatment must address all addictions. Support groups and twelve-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous also can help with the treatment of addiction to CNS depressants.

Prescription Medication Availability

• During adolescence, the pre-frontal cortex further develops to enable us to set priorities, formulate strategies, allocate attention, and control impulses.
• Although regularly prescribed by doctors, prescription medications can be just as harmful as illicit drugs when misused.
• Millions of teens with aspirations have died prematurely in the United States due to painkillers, antidepressants, and opioid addiction.
• In fact, from November 2011 to November 2012, there were over 3 million mentions of prescription drug terms on Twitter alone.
• The damage doesn’t stop with the individual—it spreads outward through healthcare costs, lost jobs, and broken relationships.
• The result is a society where we have spent a good 40 years dealing with things seeming to get constantly worse.

To answer why is prescription drug abuse on the rise, it’s necessary to examine what drives it. Prescription medications became more available, and social attitudes often dismissed the risks. People facing depression and addiction turned to drugs as quick solutions.

Cedar Oaks Wellness Center Offers Detox and Therapy for Prescription Drug Abusers

If a person https://fsc.ub.gov.mn/how-to-detox-from-alcohol-at-home-safely/ comes to you with a bruise on their hand, you do not put them in a full body cast. But for some practices, particularly in inner city hospitals, it’s either take the powerful opioids or deal with the pain. This means there is a whole online industry of essentially forged prescriptions.

Because doctors prescribe them, the impression is that they can’t cause any harm. Young people (teens and young adults) are the larger consumers of prescription drugs. While there are several contributing factors, below are some of the most common reasons why prescription drug abuse is on the rise today. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to prescription drugs, there is help available. One of the biggest reasons why prescription drug use is currently rising is the opioid crisis.

• This category includes dozens of hormones, synthetic hormones, and hormone derivatives.
• When misused, have high misuse and addiction risk, despite all their benefits.
• It is essential to emphasize that substance use disorders are treatable conditions.
• However, prevention and intervention strategies, such as prescription drug monitoring programs and government initiatives, also play crucial roles in combating this issue effectively.
• For individuals struggling with addiction, remember that help is available.

These strategies aim to promote responsible prescribing practices, increase awareness about the risks of misuse, and ensure the safe use of prescription medications. To combat the widespread issue of prescription drug abuse, various prevention and intervention strategies have been implemented. These strategies aim to address the root causes of abuse and promote responsible use of prescription drugs. Two key approaches in this regard are prescription drug monitoring programs and government initiatives and guidelines. Understanding the scope of prescription drug abuse and the factors contributing to its rise is crucial in developing strategies to combat this problem.

Programs like residential drug treatment in Pennsylvania can help mitigate these impacts by providing structured recovery solutions. Prescription drug abuse and mental health problems are also intrinsically linked. Around half of all people who are diagnosed with a mental illness during their lives will also experience a substance use disorder and vice versa (7). Research suggests that people with mental, personality and substance use disorders are also at an increased risk for nonmedical use of prescription opioids (8). The number of NHS prescriptions has doubled over the last ten years with three types of antidepressants among the 20 most commonly prescribed medications (4). It stands to Halfway house reason that with more prescriptions comes a greater chance of an increase in abuse.

Helping Those Suffering from Substance Use Disorder

People dealing with depression and addiction suffer both mentally and physically. Asking why is prescription drug abuse on the rise shows us the depth of the problem. The damage doesn’t stop with the individual—it spreads outward through healthcare costs, lost jobs, and broken relationships. The consequences highlight the urgent need for prevention, education, and treatment that address both addiction and mental health.