Prescription Drug Abuse Research Paper

Prescription drug abuse is a fast-growing, nation-wide epidemic in the United States. Although millions of Americans receive medically prescribed drugs for their illnesses, which is considered legitimate usage, abusing prescription drugs means either a) someone is taking prescription medication that were not prescribed to them or b) someone is taking prescription drugs in a manner the drug was not intended for or is taking too much of the recommended doses. Common examples of such abusive behavior include people who take prescription medication for recreational purposes or people who are under heavy emotional distress and use drugs to relieve the pain.

Prescription drug abuse is a serious concern because it can easily and quickly lead to addiction or death. Every day in the United States, it is estimated that 2000 teenagers use a prescription drug for the first time without the approval of a doctor. In fact, roughly 7.4 percent of teens from the ages of 12 and 17 in America reported nonmedical use of prescription medications in the past year alone. Many believe that this new drug epidemic is affecting a large portion of the youth population (teens between the ages of 12 and 19) because prescription medications are not found in the streets, but at home-on kitchen counters, bathroom
The chances of overdosing become higher because the user develops a strong desire to receive the same high as they did when they first used it; as a result, they become more tolerant. For example, it is common for narcotic pain relievers to no longer satisfy the user, and in response, the user consumes larger doses in order to receive an equal effect. Many addiction specialists highly recommend catching the abuse early-on, and not wait for physical dependence to grow too strong. Choosing addiction treatment is the best possible option in preventing death of an