Prescription Drug Abuse

Drug abuse has been a problem for centuries and people all over the world know about it. However, when the word drug abuse comes into conversation, most people think of illegal drugs--heroin, weed, etc..But what about prescription drug abuse?

I have learned a lot about prescription drug abuse during my education here at Purdue. It is a dirty little secret in the medical community that nurses are often the ones abusing prescription medication. During a class a couple weeks ago, we had an in-depth discussion on the matter. However, in class, we just discussed the occurrences of prescription drug use in USA. It got me to think--what about the rest of the world?

According to this website-http://www.narconon.org/drug-abuse/prescription-drugs-worldwide.html- The USA has the most prescription drug abuse rate worldwide. That does not mean that other countries do not have the same problem.
"In Central and South American countries, amphetamine type prescription drugs are frequently abused, and prescription opioids are heavily abused in Costa Rica, Brazil and Chile.
In Europe, Denmark, Finland and Estonia have plenty of opioid painkiller abuse, as does Northern Ireland. Scandinavia has a high treatment demand for sedatives and tranquilizers. Among those receiving treatment in Europe, between 11% and 70% are addicted to benzodiazepines, according to the World Drug Report.
Even in Africa, there are problems with prescription drugs. In Mauritius, abuse of the drug buprenorphine is prevalent - this is a drug used to treat opiate addiction. Madagascar has a treatment demand for tranquilizers that is second only to its demand for cannabis treatment.

Across Asia, barbiturates, sedatives, opioids and tranquilizers are abused. Countries standing out as having greater problems are Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Afghanistan. Stimulants are preferred in Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines. Even in Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait, sedatives and tranquilizers are causing demand for treatment.

Australia has problems with amphetamines and opiates, and its students are abusing tranquilizers, amphetamines and opiates."

Some medical professionals that I have talked to state that part of the reason patients become addicted to prescription pain medication is related to the large dose they are given when they enter the hospitals. Others say that it occurs because instead of helping a patient work through chronic pain management, it is easier to write a script for a pill.

Regardless of how an individual becomes addicted to the prescribed medication, the patient is addicted. Therefore, a large effort needs to be made to help aid and stop the addiction all together. There are countless smoking and alcohol cessation labels and programs made for the public. Have you ever seen the same campaign for prescription drugs? I haven't. Perhaps this is an issue that the public health industry should begin to address.