“There’s a pill for what ails you” is the mantra of 21st century American culture. You’ve seen the commercials. There’s a pill to take away your sniffles Sexual performance pills, take-away-my-pain pills, keep-me-from-killing-myself pills, even pills to keep your kids from being overly excited when it’s not “socially appropriate” have all found footholds among the Westernized medical community. Pill popping is second nature in our country, as American as blue jeans and pro sports leagues.

Medical Endorsements Make Prescription Drugs Seem Harmless

Side effects of medications are spoken of with a faint mumble and wave of the hand to persuade patients and prescribers that every new drug is the panacea to cure the very ill that ails you. Doctors are quick to write a prescription instead of referring a patient to physical therapy or psychological counseling. Insurers, too, would rather see drugs given freely because the bottom line says it’s more profitable to keep patients drugged than invest in the necessary resources to find practical, long-term, win-win solutions.

Easy  Accessibility Makes Prescription Painkiller Abuse Widespread

With the right complaint, and no database of patient medical history to confirm or deny the use of prescription drugs, they’re readily available. Doctors profit by selling written prescriptions illegally, and addicts don’t have to risk being seen or keeping company with hardcore drug dealers. It couldn’t be easier.

Widespread Acceptance Makes Prescription Painkiller Abuse Common

It’s a recipe for disaster, says Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. We are more likely to view prescription drugs as safer than their illicit counterparts because they are legal and are prescribed by a doctor with advanced medical training. “That comfort level,” says Volkow, “facilitates the abuse.”

The Need for Drug Rehab among Prescription Drug Abusers

Prescription medications are quickly becoming America’s number one drug of choice. One third of kids and young adults between the ages of 12 and 25 have used prescription drugs for the sole purpose of getting high. Medications most often at the root of addiction include painkillers, tranquilizers, and stimulants.

It’s not just today’s youth that are finding these drugs irresistible. One out of every 20 Americans aged 50 to 59 also use prescriptions drugs for nonmedical use.

The addiction that users develop with prescription drugs is much more acute than with other types of street drugs. As a result, detox can be longer and more intense. Tolerance continues to build with these drugs, until an overdose shuts down the targeted systems — a stark contrast to other illegal drugs that often bring unwanted physical side effects into the picture, forcing users to be held personally accountable for their actions.

Tons of people have commented here about their prescription painkiller addictions. It’s clear that for some, this is a serious and overwhelming problem. But how widespread is it, do you think? Addiction is an isolating disease, so it’s hard to be objective when you’re in it. Do you feel like you’re going through this alone?

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"Prescription Painkiller Addicts Avoid Drug User Stereotype" posted in Painkillers, Prescription Drug Addiction.
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