Prescription drugs are very strong medications. That is the reason why you need a written prescription by a medical practitioner to buy them. These drugs are considerably more potent than those sold over the counter (OTC) and have more side effects when people use them in the wrong way. That is the reason pharmacists only sell these when you have a doctor’s prescription. The pharmacist usually counsels you on how to use them. Prescription medicine misuse has become a very major problem in the public health sector. We all know misusing or overusing a drug leads to addiction and maybe overdose death (OD).
Why are prescription drugs so harmful?
Teenagers abuse prescription drugs because they require less of hassle to obtain as compared to street drugs. We find prescription drugs in our household cabinets, obviously making no attempts to hide them. So, it is easy for them to grab some and start using them. Teens believe that prescription drugs are safer than street drugs because doctors themselves recommend them. The current opioid epidemic is growing at an astounding rate. Parents must keep an eye on their child and treat it very seriously if they find their child abusing prescription drugs.
Drugs that are commonly abused
Here are some of the common drugs,
· Opioids
Doctors use it in treating pain, these medications containing oxycodone — such as Percocet and Oxycontin, those containing hydrocodone; such as Norco
· Anti-anxiety medications and sedatives
Xanax and Valium and hypnotics are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders
· Stimulants
Methylphenidate and Adderall, and dextroamphetamine, used to treat certain sleep disorders and ADHD.
How do people misuse these drugs?
- The drug abuser takes someone else’s prescription drugs for reasons like pain relief, to stay awake, and/or to fall asleep. A doctor prescribes you a drug, and he also tells you how and how much you need to take. Taking the drug in any other way like taking a very large dose or taking it too frequently or by changing its form like breaking it, crushing it, and snorting or injecting it.
- Now even if the prescription is yours, if you are misusing it in any way like taking it in large amounts or too frequently, it is still illegal.
- Taking the prescription drug to get “high” is illegal.
- Mixing the medicine with any other drug or mixing it with alcohol.
The danger of abusing these drugs
Like every other drug abuse, abusing prescription drugs has serious risks,
- If you abuse opioid drugs, it may lead to vomiting and decreased ability to think. Furthermore, mood changes, decreased body functions like the respiratory system, and in worst cases, coma or even death can happen. The risk is even higher if you mix these drugs with something like alcohol, CNS depressants, and antihistamines.
- The abusing of CNS depressants is a very risky and life-threatening thing to do. If you abruptly stop or reduce taking the drug too quickly, it will most likely lead to seizures. Now taking the drug with other medicines like cold or allergy medicines can slow down a person’s heartbeat and even kill them.
- Abusing stimulants, like some ADHD drugs, can lead to heart failure or seizures. These risks amplify when people consume it with other drugs like OTC. Taking copious amounts of these drugs can cause high body temperature and irregular heartbeat. Taking high doses over short periods also causes paranoia and aggressiveness.
- Authorities consider prescription drugs as controlled substances. In some countries, it is clear in law that owning a prescription drug without a prescription is illegal and punishable.
- In some nations, it is illegal to own prescription drugs like carrying drugs without a label on it is illegal. The authorities will consider it that you are carrying these drugs this way to sell them or using them. And will force you to take a drug test and show it at court. So, to avoid getting caught in the drug test, use quick fix 6.2, the best synthetic urine.
The most common hazard of prescription drug abuse is addiction. Punishments and fines are necessary in these cases so that the rate of drug abuse decreases. People get away by using synthetic urine or Terminader Yellow Snow and not just some ordinary kinds, the ones verified and that have good reviews. Similarly, doctors should take care of their patients and be wary of any changes in their patients’ behavior and mood. Parents should keep a close eye on their prescription drugs as teens nowadays are looking to do drugs just for fun, and it all starts from there; it just goes downhill. The likelihood that someone will commit a crime and break the law while under the influence of a drug increases. This puts that person and everyone around him in danger. Authorities should take proper action again to ensure the safety of the community.
