What are Pain Prescription Drugs
Pain prescription drugs, known as opioids or narcotics, can provide individuals with relief from severe discomfort. However, the use of these medications comes with a high risk of addiction. In fact, prescription drug abuse has been on the rise over the past several years. Learn more about the facts and figures behind this growing problem.
Commonly Abused Types of Prescription Pain Meds
Although you can take too much of an over-the-counter medication, abuse of prescription pain medications is more common. Opioid drugs are much more potent, which leads to intense effects and more pronounced euphoria, such as feeling “high.” Some common types of prescription pain opioids include the following:
What are the Risks of Pain Prescription Drugs
While it is possible for any person to become addicted to prescription opioids, some individuals are at higher risk, than others. If you have one or more of the following risk factors, you might have an increased risk of developing an opioid addiction. These risk factors include the following:
- Past or current addictions to other substances, including alcohol.
- Psychiatric or emotional conditions.
- A family history of substance abuse.
- Easy or convenient access to prescription pain medications.
- Exposure to peer pressure especially among teenagers and adolescents.
- Lack of understanding of the potential harm associated with opioids.
Signs and Symptoms of Pain Prescription Drugs Addiction
When you become addicted to prescription pain medications, you might experience physical and cognitive symptoms in addition to shifts in behavior. Signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse include the following:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Coordination problems
- Euphoria or a “high” feeling
- Slower respiratory rate
- Confusion
- Feeling drowsy
- Lack of sound judgment
- Mood swings
Abuse of prescription drugs might also lead to the following behavior changes and consequences:
- Thoughts or questionable actions to acquire more opioids.
- Seeing more than one prescribing doctor, simultaneously.
- Taking increasingly higher doses of prescription pain medications to experience the original effects.
- Engaging in risky behaviors, due to poor judgment.
- Intolerance with relationships.
- A decrease in professional or academic performance
Statistics of Pain Prescription Drugs Overdoses
The abuse of prescription opioids in the U.S. has led to a steep increase in the number of drug overdoses per year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that opioid overdoses caused 33,000 fatalities in 2015, not to mention this number rose to 42,000 in 2016. Among these deaths, roughly 40 percent involved the use of prescription opioids. Moreover, approximately 91 people in the U.S. die each day due to opioid overdoses. Those between 25 and 54 years old had the highest overdose rates related to prescription opioids.
Cases of Prescription Drugs Misuse and Abuse
How many people in the U.S. have misused prescription opioids? The CDC reports that between 21 and 29 percent of those who take prescription opioids for chronic pain end up abusing them. Roughly 1,000 people or more end up in emergency rooms for treatment each day after misusing these medications. This drug abuse puts these patients at a higher risk of developing an addiction. In 2014 alone, close to two million people in the U.S. struggled with abuse or dependency on prescription pain medications.
The Real Cost of the Opioid Epidemic
Prescription opioid abuse in the U.S. comes at a high financial price. According to the CDC, this epidemic costs an estimated $78.5 billion per year. This figure includes costs associated with treatment and rehabilitation, a loss of productivity in the workplace, healthcare services for related physical ailments and legal fees. But is that the real cost? What is the cost of all the lives lost or the broken families? There is no way to quantify all the suffering opioid addiction has caused so many; all human lives are priceless.
History of the Prescription Opioid Crisis
In 1995, Oxycontin was aggressively introduced in the pain management market. In that same era, pain doctors and clinics begin to surface in large numbers. While prescription painkiller sales were hitting record numbers, drug companies kept claiming that their drugs were safe and patients were not at risk of developing addiction as a consequence. The need for instant pain relief was expected by patients and doctors were merely focusing on the symptom while disregarding the risks. Consequently, doctors began writing more and more prescriptions until a link between the opioids and the surge of dependent patients was undeniable.
May 2007, the federal government files criminal charges against pharmaceutical giant Purdue Pharma, in connection with the false and misleading marketing efforts in relation to Oxycontin. Consequently, Purdue and three of its top executives pleaded guilty on criminal misdemeanor charges and agreed to pay $634.5 million for criminal and civil fines.
May 2015, the DEA announced the arrest of 280 people in its most extensive prescription drug sting operation, including 22 doctors and pharmacists.
Statistics of the Past Two Years
March 2016, the Center for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) publishes new guidelines and recommendations for prescribing medications for pain management.
March 2017, President Trump calls for an executive establishment order for a Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis.
September 2017, CVS pharmacy chain implements restrictions on filling prescription opioids.
October 2017, President Trump declares the opioid crisis a National Public Health Emergency.
Finally, in the last two years, we have seen a number of efforts to solve this crisis. Sadly, between prescription drugs, illicit fentanyl and heroin the number of overdoses and fatalities involving prescription opioid abuse have continued to rise. As a result, the latest data shows that drug overdose fatalities in the US rose by nearly 21 percent between 2015 and 2016. These tragic deaths went from a record high of more than 52,000 to a new unseen record of 64,000- most of the overdoses were a result of opioid addiction.
What is the Solution for Prescription Drug Abuse?
Some might believe that prescription drug abuse is what ignited the crisis, but we believe it’s really a combination of factors. There is not a one-step solution. Instead, there is a combination of efforts needed from many different people, starting with:
- More efficient and accessible drug treatment.
- Individualized and comprehensive mental health care.
- Responsible medical practices.
- Stronger administration and control of prescribing practices and pharmaceutical products.
- Tighter border control to block the importation of heroin and Fentanyl.
- Pharmaceutical companies’ accountability.
- Dependency and mental health treatment starting in emergency rooms.
- A “no stigma” national campaign involving substance abuse and mental illness.
All of these steps will come with a tremendous amount of effort and definitely with a cost. The number of opioid deaths for 2017 is very likely to set another record, but in 2018 we can make a change. Therefore, we need to unite and protect our children. In conclusion, we have the science and the resources, now we need to implement it wisely and start saving lives.
Published on Jan. 17, 2018
Reviewed by Clare Waismann, CATC, Founder of Waismann Method® Advanced Treatment for Opiate Dependence
All topics for the Opiates.com blog are selected and written based on high standards of editorial quality, including cited sources. Articles are reviewed by Clare Waismann, CATC and founder of Waismann Method®, for accuracy, credibility and relevancy to the audience. Clare Waismann is an authority and expert on opioid dependence, opioid use disorder, substance dependence, detoxification treatments, detox recovery, and other topics covered on the Opiates.com blog. Some articles are additionally reviewed by one of Waismann Method®’s specialists, depending on their field of expertise. For additional information and disclaimers regarding third-party sources and content for informational purposes only, please see our Terms of Service.
