Drug addiction and drug abuse are not limited to illegal substances. Many people become inadvertently addicted to prescription medications. While some steal these medications, many start out as legitimate prescriptions for a variety of issues. Statistics show that in the United States more than 115 people die from overdosing on opioids each day. While some of these opioids are made illegally, many are prescriptions. This is both dangerous and costly. Though when many of the now addictive drugs were introduced into society they were considered completely safe, it is now known that the medications are in fact addictive. Prescription Mediation Abuse, even when prescribed by a physician, can easily occur.

Prescription Medication Abuse

To further back this up, statistics for the United States show that between 20 and 30 percent of patients who are legally prescribed opioids for chronic pain, abuse them or misuse them in some manner. Of these individuals an average of ten percent develops an opioid disorder. This abuse often leads to more serious heroin abuse for those individuals. This creates a public health crisis that can have devastating consequences for not just the users but families, health care professionals, and law enforcement. The effects of drug abuse, even that of legal medications, are far reaching.

Opioid Addiction

The response to this crisis is varied, but there are several major areas that are being focused on to battle the ever growing epidemic. These include improved access to treatment and recovery services, promoting the use of overdose reversing medications by paramedics and other medical staff, strengthening the understanding of the epidemic, providing alternative to pain management prescriptions, and supporting research for pain management and addiction. While each of these areas is important, the abuse of prescription medications is still a huge issue.

Pain Medication Addiction

If you are addicted to pain medication or have concerns that you may be addicted then seek help. If your loved one is having issues then try to talk to them respectfully about your concerns. Regardless it is always worth looking into alternatives for possibly addictive medications. There are always non-medication alternatives to pain treatment and while they may not completely take away the pain they may help the person to wean off of medication over time.


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