How this medication killed 60,000 people and no one went to jail

By rjoachim | April 28, 2023

Prescription drug abuse is the use of a prescription medicine in a way not intended by the prescriber. Prescription drug abuse, also called prescription drug misuse, includes everything from taking a friend’s prescription painkiller for your backache to snorting or injecting ground-up pills to get high. Prescription drug abuse may become ongoing and compulsive, despite the negative consequences.

An increasing problem, prescription drug abuse can affect all age groups, including teens. The prescription drugs most often misused include opioid painkillers, anti-anxiety medicines, sedatives and stimulants.

Early identification of prescription drug abuse and early intervention may prevent the problem from turning into an addiction.

Opioids

  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Feeling high
  • Slowed breathing rate
  • Drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Poor coordination
  • Increased dose needed for pain relief
  • Worsening or increased sensitivity to pain with higher doses

Anti-anxiety medicines and sedatives

  • Drowsiness
  • Confusion
  • Unsteady walking
  • Slurred speech
  • Poor concentration
  • Dizziness
  • Problems with memory
  • Slowed breathing

Stimulants

  • Increased alertness
  • Feeling high
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • High blood pressure
  • High body temperature
  • Reduced appetite
  • Insomnia
  • Agitation
  • Anxiety
  • Paranoia
  • Forging, stealing or selling prescriptions
  • Taking higher doses than prescribed
  • Being hostile or having mood swings
  • Sleeping less or more
  • Making poor decisions
  • Being unusually energetic, high or revved up
  • Being drowsy
  • Requesting early refills or continually “losing” prescriptions, so more prescriptions must be written
  • Trying to get prescriptions from more than one prescriberTalk with your health care provider if you think you may have a problem with prescription drug use. You may feel embarrassed to talk about it — but remember that medical professionals are trained to help you, not judge you. It’s easier to face the problem early before it becomes an addiction and leads to more-serious problems.
  • https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/symptoms-causes/syc-20376813
Posted in Health & Wellness