Factors contributing to the rise in prescription medication abuse in the United States

Misuse of Prescribed Medications

Misuse of prescribed medications refers to ingesting medications in a manner different from that indicated by the doctor. Persistent aches and pains are some of the causes of this issue, which encourage people to abuse prescription medicines. For instance, a sizable proportion of young Americans use medicines to treat their insomnia and muscle discomfort. NIDA estimates that 2.1 million young Americans misuse prescription sleep aids, especially those who work long-distance driving jobs (NIDA, 2016). It is a hazard for public safety because the rise is attributable to inaccurate information about the issues these medications bring about.

The Accessibility of Medicines in Regular Retail Stores

The accessibility of medicines in regular retail stores is another aspect. In this case, shopkeepers end up giving wrong medications to patients, given that most of them are not trained pharmacists; a clear indication that most of them do not know the right prescription for a particular medical condition. In this aspect, this factor is a public health problem and concerns the ministry of public health, which needs to ensure that only medical practitioners handle drugs.

Government Response and Public Awareness

The government of the United of America has responded by ensuring that medical practitioners offer medical services to the right health disorders, determined through laboratory examination (Heskett, 2017). Particularly, retail shops that used to sell drugs have been closed to inhibit misuse of medications due to their availability. Also, medical surveys have been conducted to provide the public with information on the harmful effects of misusing drugs. In this regard, the general public and the ministry of health need to ensure that drugs are consumed for the correct purpose and in their recommended prescriptions.

References

Heskett, J. (2017). What Is the Government’s Role in US Health Care? Retrieved Nov 15, 2017, from Harvard Business School: https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/what-is-the-governments-role-in-u-s-healthcare

NIDA. (2016). Misuse of Prescription Drugs. Retrieved Nov 15, 2017, from National Institute on Drug Abuse: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/summary