| America's war on drugs, which has been fought in the | | | | may exist. |
| opium fields of Afghanistan and the cocaine plantations | | | | The next battle in America's war on drugs must draw |
| of Columbia, will have to reinvent itself to combat what | | | | a bead on pharmaceuticals. The ONDCP must be |
| is set to be America's biggest drug abuse problem, | | | | willing to launch the same type of hard hitting ad |
| pharmaceuticals. One in five American's, nearly 48 | | | | campaigns against prescription drug abuse as it has |
| million, have used prescription drugs for non-medical | | | | against, marijuana, ecstasy and cocaine. The FDA |
| purposes at least once in their lives. The current past | | | | must not be afraid to sanction drug manufacturers |
| month misuse rate among Americans is 6.2 million. | | | | who continue to make unsafe drugs where safe |
| According to a recent white paper by Carnevale | | | | alternatives exist. Pharmaceutical manufactures must |
| Associates, this rate of use is already higher than the | | | | become better citizens and spend the research and |
| historical highs of both cocaine and heroin epidemics. | | | | development dollars to make safe and effective drugs, |
| For some, the road to illicit use of prescription | | | | rather than taking the easy way out. |
| medications starts innocently. After a car accident, | | | | This new phase of the war on drugs, without easily |
| back injury, or, even, a mental/emotional breakdown a | | | | targeted foreigners to blame for America's drug abuse |
| physician prescribes medication for a legitimate use. | | | | problems, will take unwavering political resolve, |
| Over time, tolerance builds up so that more and more | | | | corporate citizenship and ingenuity. Even then it is likely |
| of the drug is needed until a state of dependence is | | | | to take years before the trend of increases in |
| reached. At this point, there is no easy way to get off | | | | prescription medicine abuse and addiction can be |
| the drug, and stopping can involve painful withdrawal | | | | reversed. |
| symptoms. Some doctors have been known to | | | | Common Prescription Drugs of Abuse: |
| become afraid and cut their patients off at this point. | | | | Opioids: these are synthetic versions of opium. |
| Patients have been known to steal prescription pads, | | | | Intended for pain management opioids are the most |
| or visit numerous doctors to get the drugs they have | | | | commonly abused prescription drugs. OxyContin |
| become addicted to. | | | | (oxycodone), Vicodin (hydrocodone) and Demerol |
| However, contrary to popular belief, it is not older | | | | (meperidine) are the most popular for abuse. |
| adults or any adults who are most likely to abuse | | | | Short-term side effects can include pain relief, euphoria, |
| pharmaceuticals. In the past decade, abuse of | | | | and drowsiness. Overdose can lead to death. |
| prescription meds among youth has been growing at | | | | Long-term use can lead to dependence or addiction. |
| an alarming first-time use rate of more than fifty | | | | Depressants: These drugs are commonly prescribed |
| percent each year. In 2002, the latest year for which | | | | to treat anxiety; panic attacks, and sleep disorders. |
| there are statistics, approximately 2.5 million American's | | | | Nembutal (pentobarbital sodium), Valium (diazepam), |
| misused prescriptions for the first time and 44% of | | | | and Xanax (alprazolam) are just three of the many |
| them were under the age of 18. | | | | drugs in this category. Immediately slow down normal |
| Unfortunately, as the media fixes its gaze on the | | | | brain functioning and can cause sleepiness Long-term |
| methamphetamine problem; and the Office of National | | | | use can lead to physical dependence and addiction. |
| Drug Control Policy spends much of its time focusing | | | | Stimulants: Doctors may prescribe these to treat the |
| on Marijuana the opportunity to address the | | | | sleeping disorder narcolepsy or attention-deficit |
| pharmaceutical addiction and abuse is being missed. | | | | hyperactivity disorder, ADHD. Ritalin (methylphenidate) |
| While certain steps have been taken they have been | | | | and Dexedrine (dextroamphetamine) are two |
| tentative. The ONDCP has drawn up a strategy for | | | | commonly prescribed stimulants. These drugs enhance |
| addressing synthetic drugs, but no serious media | | | | brain activity and increase alertness and energy in |
| campaign to educate Americans about the problem | | | | much the same way as cocaine or methamphetamine. |
| has been undertaken. Nor has any pharmaceutical | | | | They increase blood pressure; speed up heart rate, |
| company been brought to heel for manufacturing | | | | and respiration. Very high doses can lead to irregular |
| drugs with high abuse potential even when alternatives | | | | heartbeat and hyperthermia. |