Prescription drug abuse plagues young adults<\/p>\n
Prescription drug abuse has become a huge problem\u00a0in the United States, particularly for young adults.\u00a0It is easy to blame individuals for abusing these drugs, but\u00a0drug abuse is an issue that needs to be tackled by making\u00a0larger institutional changes.<\/p>\n
American culture is all about instant gratification and\u00a0there is a pervasive belief that there is a pill to solve any\u00a0problem, whether the issue is physical or psychological.\u00a0Instead of dealing with the underlying issues, doctors and\u00a0psychiatrists are quick to prescribe medications.<\/p>\n
The number of children being prescribed amphetamines\u00a0to deal with their attention deficit hyperactivity disorders\u00a0has been increasing steadily for children ages 4 to\u00a017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and\u00a0Prevention.\u00a0Even if a child is not prescribed the medication, they\u00a0will likely encounter another child who is, for ADHD\u00a0or a number of other reasons.<\/p>\n
This normalizes the idea\u00a0of drug use from an early age, even if the drug has been\u00a0prescribed by a doctor.\u00a0Young adults ages 18 to 25 are most likely to be abusing\u00a0prescription drugs, especially opiates and amphetamines,\u00a0like Vicodin and Adderall, according to the National\u00a0Institute on Drug Abuse.<\/p>\n
Many college students use prescription stimulants\u00a0as study aids, especially around midterms and finals.\u00a0Others believe it is all right to use opiates even without a\u00a0prescription to relieve pain and some just want the high,\u00a0but self-medication is risky.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore people in the U.S. died last year of drug\u00a0overdoses than in car accidents, making prescription drug misuse the third leading cause of accidental death,”\u00a0according to the Clinton Foundation.<\/p>\n
The issue is exacerbated by the media\u2019s portrayal of\u00a0individuals who abuse drugs as glamorous and witty,\u00a0whether they are fictional characters or celebrities.\u00a0Reality shows centered around interventions and drug\u00a0rehabilitation have sprung up all over the place.<\/p>\n
On top of that, pharmaceutical companies are given\u00a0free reign to advertise on all media platforms, giving the\u00a0impression that there is a drug to solve every problem.\u00a0These commercials may even plant the idea in a\u00a0suggestible person\u2019s head that there is something wrong\u00a0with them when there is not.<\/p>\n
In general, the government needs to do a better job\u00a0regulating the pharmaceutical industry and the media.\u00a0Prescription drug advertisements should be banned\u00a0entirely. If a person is ill, his or her doctor should be\u00a0competent enough to prescribe the right medication.<\/p>\n
Doctors should also stop prescribing children under\u00a0a certain age stimulants and, when they do, parents can\u00a0refuse to give them to their kids. Brain development lasts\u00a0well into young adulthood, so prescription drugs should\u00a0be the absolute last resort.<\/p>\n
Until those larger institutional changes are put in\u00a0place, we as individuals can make healthier choices\u00a0when dealing with our problems. Instead of\u00a0procrastinating and taking Adderall to study for a final,\u00a0you could spend time developing better time management\u00a0and study skills.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the drug of choice, medication is always\u00a0a crutch and never a solution. It is time to get in touch\u00a0with what is really behind this epidemic, so we can begin\u00a0the process of healing our wounds holistically.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Prescription drug abuse plagues young adults Prescription drug abuse has become a huge problem\u00a0in the United States, particularly for young adults.\u00a0It is easy to blame individuals for abusing these drugs, but\u00a0drug abuse is an issue that needs to be tackled by making\u00a0larger institutional changes. American culture is all about instant gratification and\u00a0there is a pervasive…<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"staff_name":[],"class_list":["post-9136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion"],"yoast_head":"\n