The rise of prescription drug misuse is a topic that hits close to home for so many out there – after all, prescription drugs are meant to help, so what happens when they are used in the wrong way? The consequences can be severe. In this article, we will explore why prescription drug misuse is on the rise and how we can prevent prescription drug misuse in the U.S.
What Is Prescription Drug Misuse?
Prescription drug misuse refers to using prescription medication in any other way than prescribed – this can be consuming them in higher doses or more frequently than prescribed, or it also involves taking someone else’s prescription. Before we go any further, let us first have a look at what the numbers are saying:
- 24.9% or 70.5 million aged 12 and above have used illicit substances or misused prescription drugs in 2024.
- 6% or 16 million Americans over the age of 12 misuse prescription drugs each year, and 12% or 2 million of prescription drug users struggle with a substance use disorder.
- 5.3 million or 90.0% of those who misuse opioids use prescription pain relievers.
- Hydrocodone is the most popular prescription opioid, with nearly 3.6 million people who misuse it.
- The opioid prescription rate peaked in the year 2012 with more than 255 million prescriptions, which is an average of 81.3 prescriptions per 100 persons.
- 4 out of 5 pharmacy-filled prescriptions happen to be opioids.
- 2.08% Americans misuse prescription sedatives, with 1.7% misusing benzodiazepines alone.
- 1.73% Americans misuse prescription stimulants, such as Adderall, used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Numbers do not lie, and these numbers reflect a growing prescription opioid crisis within the broader context of a public health crisis.
Why Is Prescription Drug Misuse Rising?
You might wonder, with the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in the U.S., have we not made prescribing medications safer? Yes, indeed – it is safer, but unfortunately, easier access has made it easy for those who misuse them as well.
There are some reasons why prescription drug misuse is rising:
- Accessibility: While advancing technology is good for the world, on the flip side, it has increased access to many dangerous things, including prescription drugs. One can access anything from anywhere.
- Prescription Practices: Prescription practices are meant to provide powerful medication for those who need it. Unfortunately, it can also ease access to those who misuse it.
- Teenagers and Senior Citizens: Teenagers and senior citizens are among those populations who highly misuse prescription drugs. Teenagers may try them out of curiosity, not knowing the exact consequences, while senior citizens misuse them in the hope of relief from age-related ailments.
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Prescription Drug Misuse Prevention – How Can We Do It?
Three classes of prescription drugs most commonly misused in the U.S. are:
- Opioids – used to treat pain.
- Depressants – refer to central nervous system (CNS) depressants like sedatives, tranquilizers, and hypnotics, which are used to treat sleep disturbances and anxiety disorders.
- Stimulants – CNS stimulants, which are often prescribed to treat conditions like ADHD.
The good news is that each of these substance use disorders can be effectively treated, but prevention is always better than a cure. Some of the ways for prescription drug misuse prevention are:
- Stricter prescription policies at the local, state, and national levels need to be implemented.
- Education and awareness are important in identifying prescription drug misuse. This can begin from school and even at the community level. If you are a parent, ensure that your child is getting the drug education they need and deserve.
- The public must be made more aware of how potent prescription drugs must be disposed of.
- As teenagers and senior citizens are more likely to misuse prescription drugs, parents and caregivers must ensure that the prescriptions and prescription medications are safely locked up.
- Prescription drug misuse must not be discriminated against or stigmatized as a moral failing; in fact, it must be recognized as a condition that needs professional treatment.
How Is Prescription Drug Abuse Treated?
Prescription drug abuse, like other substance use disorders, can seem like a pernicious cycle out of which there is no escape. However, on the other side of this vicious cycle, there is a hope for recovery with holistic, personalized treatment plans.
- Licensed and trained mental health practitioners use diagnostic measures and conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations to identify and diagnose prescription drug misuse.
- Following diagnosis, the person will collaborate with their clinical team to craft a personalized treatment plan involving therapy, peer support, and aftercare. Medications such as methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone can also be prescribed to treat opioid use disorder.
- Once the treatment is completed, an aftercare plan will be crafted to provide ongoing structure and support in order to prevent relapse. This will involve sober living, supportive counseling, medical monitoring, and peer support groups.
Let Us Break Prescription Drug Misuse Today!
Prescription drug misuse has become highly prevalent in the U.S. – the medications that are meant to support your health can become unpredictable and dangerous when misused or mixed with other substances. If you or a loved one is struggling with prescription drug misuse, do not delay your recovery any longer.
Reach out to Sober Living West today – we connect you with treatment centers and also provide premier sober living services to strengthen your recovery. Please contact us at (310) 218-5158 to begin healing now!
Frequently Asked Questions
Prescription drug misuse refers to using prescription medication in any other way than prescribed or using someone else’s prescription to obtain and use prescription drugs.
Taking higher doses, running out of medications early, mood changes, and secrecy about use are some of the signs of prescription drug misuse.
Yes, misusing prescription drugs, especially opioids, depressants, and stimulants, can escalate to addiction and dependence.
When prescription drugs are mixed with alcohol or other substances, they can lead to unpredictable drug interactions, overdose, or even death.
It refers to control, education, and healthcare practices that stop prescription drug misuse before it starts.
Teenagers and senior citizens are most at risk for prescription drug misuse; however, this can affect anyone.
Local clinics, recovery centers, peer support groups, and sober living, such as Sober Living West, offer holistic support tailored to a person’s unique needs and goals.
Specialists often use monitoring programs, prescribe smaller doses, therapy, and explore non-addictive options.
Yes, the U.S. FDA recommends putting prescription drugs in a plastic bag with something undesirable, like cat litter, and throwing them in the garbage.
Yes, treatment for prescription drug misuse is private and protected by confidentiality laws, just as any other kind of substance use treatment option.