Scope Of Problem Essay

Mike Alstott knows first-hand how opioids, when used correctly, can play an important role in managing pain and helping people to function, but he is also keenly aware of the growing crisis of opioid misuse and overdose. More American adults are dying from misusing prescription narcotics than ever before. An estimated 35 people die every day in the U.S. from accidental prescription painkiller overdoses resulting from things like not taking a medication as directed or not understanding how multiple

This article provides information about the misuses of ADHD medication and how college students who do not have ADHD consume these medication to help improve their academic performances. Some individuals believe that consuming these medication are not a form of cheating but others believe so. The article also discusses how colleges must develop specific programs to address the misuse of prescription stimulants for academic, not recreational purposes. Even though these medication can improve students academic performances; however, it can lead to many side effects in the long run. I used this article to provide an idea of how ADHD medications could easily be misused which can lead to severe side

Substances are placed in their respective schedules based on whether they have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, their relative abuse potential, and likelihood of causing dependence when abused.? All of this information has been confirmed by the FDA.

Substances are placed in their respective schedules based on whether they have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, their relative abuse potential, and likelihood of causing dependence when abused.? All of this information has been confirmed by the FDA.

The first study conducted by Teter, McCabe, LaGrange, Cranford, & Boyd (2006) found that there were no differences in the illicit use of Adderall between men and woman. The second study was led by Sean McCabe et al. and was designed to study the non-medical use of prescription stimulants by college students in the United States. In the study, Sean McCabe et al. found past-year Adderall abuse rates to be 5.8% amongst males and 2.9% amongst females. The results also showed past-month abuse rates of 2.8% for males and 1.6% for females (McCabe et al., 2005). After adjusting for other factors, McCabe and his colleagues determined that college men were almost two times more likely than women to report non-medical use of Adderall. The two studies found conflicting results; however, the study conducted by McCabe et al. was done on a sample that was twice as large as the sample collected by Teter et al. and collected from 119 four-year universities, making it more reliable and a better representation of the Adderall abuse scene throughout American

Summary: This article covers a wide variety of factors that result from the over abundant use of prescription stimulants on campuses around the United States. This includes the consequences of taking said drugs, specifically the medical, mental, and academic effects of stimulants. The author also points out four main reasons behind stimulant use on campuses. The first being the pressure of college life. Many students come into college thinking that it will be simple like high

Opioids are being over prescribed in the United States resulting in increased deaths by drug overdose. Pain medication strategies are being looked into as substitutes for pain management. Over decades, the amount of medicine being prescribed has more than tripled. State policies regarding the medication were implemented and who'd a small decrease in the likelihood of opioid prescriptions. Nationally, death rates are on the rise. Studies monitoring prescription drugs do not account for illegal opioids and manufactured fentanyl. While not mentioned in this article, there is a possible correlation between young people prescribed opioids and illegal drug use seeing that overdoses are common in patients already abusing their prescription medication, yet overdose death being most common after

Analysis: Opioids are a class of drug that are medically used as very effective painkillers, like fentanyl and morphine, however, they are highly addictive and produce a feeling of euphoria (“Opioids”). This combination leads do a lot of abuse and dependency, where people take more than prescribed in order to feel better. People start off taking the opioid painkillers in order to not feel pain as prescribed by their doctors. Then, they end up getting addicted to them. There are also illicit opioids, such as heroin, that are also highly addictive and also lead to dependency and death (“Opioids”). These illicit versions are taken for recreational reasons, and are also often mixed with other drugs. The combination of taking an unregulated drug in conjunction with other drugs leads to a lot of overdoses.

The United States currently faces an unprecedented epidemic of opioid addiction. This includes painkillers, heroin, and other drugs made from the same base chemical. In the couple of years, approximately one out of twenty Americans reported misuse or abuse of prescriptions painkillers. Heroin abuse and overdoses are on the rise and are the leading cause of injury deaths, surpassing car accidents and gun shots. The current problem differs from the opioid addiction outbreaks of the past in that it is also predominant in the middle and affluent classes. Ultimately, anyone can be fighting a battle with addiction and it is important for family members and loved ones to know the signs. The cause for this epidemic is that the current spike of opioid abuse can be traced to two decades of increased prescription rates for painkillers by well-meaning physicians.

However, opioid addiction is a health problem and its users are unaware of the misconceptions of its safety. “According to the American College of Physicians (ACP), Opioid addiction, and other substance use disorders, should be addressed as a treatable chronic condition -- like diabetes or heart disease -- and not a moral failing or criminal activity”. To be specific, opioid addicts are victims as they are hooked to these prescription drugs as they believe that these chemicals are safer alternatives to other drugs and that it can cure their pain. To illustrate, these misconceptions about the harmlessness of opioids are main factors in the increase of opioid abusers. Because these painkillers are prescribed by doctors, many people believe that they are always safe to use.

As the pressure on students to perform well in school becomes more apparent, students in response have started to abuse ADHD medication not prescribed to them as a way to focus in on their studies. Over 6% of high school seniors abuse these types of drugs, and this number is projected to increase as the number of ADHD (diagnoses’ ???) cases rise in the United States. My county specifically has seen a sharp rise in this type of drug misuse. This summer, I was given the opportunity to work in conjunction with the United Way of Forsyth County as an intern. I was assigned to the youth drug council awareness team with the goal of finding solutions to reduce teen ADHD drug usage in my county.

According to Hanson, Venturelli, and Fleckenstein (2015) opioids are described as the “nation’s fastest-growing drug problem” (p. 276) and are also known as narcotics. Opioids originated from the opium poppy and have been chemically altered throughout the years in order to create more potent drugs such as hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin, Percocet), morphine (e.g., Kadian, Avinza), and codeine. Known for analgesic properties, opioids are seen to be the most commonly used drugs among clinicians. Although these narcotics are legally prescribed to patients, there are many, even adolescents, that not only abuse prescribed narcotics, but also abuse another form of opioid, heroin. In adolescence, the structures of the brain are not fully developed and are therefore more likely to acquire severe consequences for abusing opioids. There are many ways to use and administer narcotics, but misusing opioids may lead to signs and symptoms of drug abuse, annoying side effects, dependency, abuse, and in worse case situations, death.

Stolz explains that college students across the U.S. are taking advantage of the black market from the stimulate and using it as a study drug (2012). With easy access, students have no issue finding a source, whether it’s illegally from someone willing to sell their own prescription for quick cash, or getting it wrongly prescribed from a clinic (Stolz, 2012). Health clinics in colleges are a convenient source of medical care, but they are also providing an effortless opportunity for any student to obtain a prescription through misdiagnosis. Stolz (2012), discloses that students in college are able to simply walk in without an appointment, mention a few key symptoms such as trouble focusing and conveniently acquire a prescription for Adderall. The on-campus clinics eliminate the need for appointments and advanced prolonged testing with psychiatrists allowing the students to receive an ADHD diagnosis easily (Stolz

Opioid drugs are some of the most widespread pain medications that we have in this country; indeed, the fact is that opioid analgesic prescriptions have increased by over 300% from 1999 to 2010 (Mitch 989). Consequently, the number of deaths from overdose increased from 4000 to 16,600 a year in the same time frame (Mitch 989). This fact becomes even more frightening when you think about today; the annual number of fatal drug overdoses in the Unites States now surpasses that of motor vehicle deaths (Alexander 1865). Even worse, overdose deaths caused by opioids specifically exceed those attributed to both cocaine and heroin combined (Alexander 1865).

Lastly, a change in the school policy on drug use could be a more multifaceted solution. School leaders, especially in college, cannot afford to ignore drug abuse. More than half of college students with prescriptions for stimulants to treat their ADHD indicated that they are approached each year by their friends to sell, trade, or give away their medications (West Virginia University 3). This kind of badgering of students with mental disorders should not be tolerated, as college campuses should feel safe for everyone. One way to change the perception of drug use would be to drug test students participating in sports in both high school and college, and to drug test those receiving scholarships in college. Drug abuse, whether prescription or