Prescription Drug Abuse Case Study
Problem: Prescription drug abuse is any use of prescription medications in a way that is not intended by the prescribing medical professional. Prescription drug abuse and misuse involves taking shared medication, as well as over consumption of medications in order to experience elicited feelings. Inappropriate or excessive drug use may become compulsive and ongoing despite negative consequences (https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs/what-prescription-drug-abuse).
Canada is the second-largest per capita consumer of prescription opioids in the world, trailing only the United States. In addition, the rates of prescription medication consumption, and the harms associated, have increased more steeply than those in the U.S. from 2000-2010, which can be seen by a 203% increase of opioid prescribed Standardized Defined Daily Doses (S-DDD) (International Narcotics Control Board, 2013). Though many Canadians rely on these prescriptions for normal daily functioning and behave responsibly with medications, the harms associated with prescription drug abuse can be profound and permanent, such as addiction, overdose, and suicide. Therefore, the aim of this exploration is to illustrate which Canadians are most frequently abusing …show more content…
Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program show that 898 opioid prescriptions were dispensed per 1,000 First Nations individuals aged 15 and older in Ontario in 2007, with 119 prescriptions for oxycodone tablets alone (Health Canada, 2010). Furthermore, the study goes on to say that from 2000 to 2010 there was a stable number of patients receiving opioid prescriptions, such as OxyContin. However, it is also the case that the amount of OxyContin tablets being prescribed to those patients has increased within those same ten
Canada is the second-largest per capita consumer of prescription opioids in the world, trailing only the United States. In addition, the rates of prescription medication consumption, and the harms associated, have increased more steeply than those in the U.S. from 2000-2010, which can be seen by a 203% increase of opioid prescribed Standardized Defined Daily Doses (S-DDD) (International Narcotics Control Board, 2013). Though many Canadians rely on these prescriptions for normal daily functioning and behave responsibly with medications, the harms associated with prescription drug abuse can be profound and permanent, such as addiction, overdose, and suicide. Therefore, the aim of this exploration is to illustrate which Canadians are most frequently abusing …show more content…
Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program show that 898 opioid prescriptions were dispensed per 1,000 First Nations individuals aged 15 and older in Ontario in 2007, with 119 prescriptions for oxycodone tablets alone (Health Canada, 2010). Furthermore, the study goes on to say that from 2000 to 2010 there was a stable number of patients receiving opioid prescriptions, such as OxyContin. However, it is also the case that the amount of OxyContin tablets being prescribed to those patients has increased within those same ten