Prescription Drug Abuse

Government Information Service ^ | August, 2005 | US Department of Health and Human Services

[ronearth]

Prescription Drug Abuse If you've ever had a nagging feeling that you need to cut down on your use of prescriptions drugs or you use them as you choose and not as they were prescribed, you may be one of the estimated 9 million people abusing prescription drugs in the United States.

"This is a dangerous new drug abuse trend," says Alan I. Leshner, Ph.D., director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. "While prescription drugs can relieve a variety of medical problems and improve the lives of millions, they can be dangerous, addicting and even deadly when used non- medically. We're trying to fend off what could become another public health crisis."

Indeed, the number of new abusers of prescription medications has increased 300 percent since the 1980s. Seventeen percent of Americans 60 and older are believed to be abusing prescription drugs, while the most dramatic increase in new users is among young people aged 12 to 25. Although men and women have similar rates of non-medical use of prescription drugs, young women aged 12-17 are more likely than young men to abuse psychotherapeutic drugs (such as pain killers, tranquilizers, sedatives, and stimulants).

The misuse of prescription drugs is particularly worrisome in women. Studies suggest that women are more likely than men to be prescribed an abusable prescription drug, particularly narcotics (such as pain killers and analgesics) and anti-anxiety medications.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has developed a major public awareness campaign to educate women and their families about how to use medicines properly.

[ronearth]

Nine-million people in the United States are abusing prescription drugs, a 300% increase since the 1980's. The National Institute on Drug Abuse is trying to fend off what could become another public health crisis

[Snoopers-868th]

My foot, they are trying to reduce prescription costs.

[ladyinred]

Oh good grief, more of the nannies are at work again.