In a current interview Stephen Pasierb, President and CEO of the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, referred to prescribed drugs as the brand new gateway medication. Youngsters and younger adults who would not think about taking heroin or cocaine are taking prescribed drugs like they are going out of favor. Whereas it is true these medication might encourage folks to take unlawful medication, prescription drug habit and abuse is harmful sufficient in itself.
The statistics on prescription drug habit and abuse are astounding. These youngsters, and younger adults, say they would not dream of taking medication, however one in 5 youngsters admit to having abused prescribed drugs, these medication are tried for the primary time greater than unlawful medication, as many if no more individuals are going into drug habit therapy facilities for prescription drug habit and abuse, and the overdoses outnumber these brought on by unlawful medication.
Till folks understand that prescribed drugs and unlawful medication are equally harmful – in some instances these medication are even worse, this is not prone to cease.
Ritalin, for instance, taken by faculty college students all around the U.S. to ‘enhance their focus,’ is similar to cocaine. You aren’t getting the identical speedy impact – the ‘rush’ – as a result of it is delivered into the physique otherwise. However as soon as it is in there, it does the identical factor.
Equally, the prescription painkiller Köp smärtstillande piller, which might be probably the most steadily abused drug, is pharmaceutical heroin. It is simply as addictive, and simply as harmful. However, once more, it is not going straight into the vein so it does not really feel like heroin.
Additionally, the youngsters taking these medication are in a darkish alley or residing in some hovel with mattresses on the ground, they’re our youngsters! They’re in faculty finding out, they will events with their associates, they’re athletes working arduous to realize one thing. Prescription drug habit and abuse has actually modified the face of the drug addict or abuser.
And, as Mr. Pasierb factors out, the medication are made in a sterile surroundings, you already know what’s in them, they’re accredited by the FDA, and given to folks by their docs. Certainly there cannot be something unsuitable with them.
Properly, there’s something very unsuitable with them. And there’s something very unsuitable with a system – maybe a number of methods – which have allowed the sector of medication to betray the folks it serves.
Prescription drug habit and abuse is one thing it is advisable find out about. It is worse than world warming, it is worse than the struggle in Iraq, it is worse than all the opposite issues we have now. These medication are wolves in sheep’s clothes.
Find out about it, train others about it, and, for many who do have an issue, get assist by way of a drug habit therapy middle.
Gloria MacTaggart is a contract author that contributes articles on well being.