Ways of Preventing Misuse of Prescription Drugs

Methods for Preventing Prescription Drug Abuse

Among the preventative measures are the following:

Evidence-based screening

Health practitioners should utilize evidence-based screening methods in routine medical visits to ensure that nonmedical use of prescription medicines is recognized in time and victims are assisted before it is too late. Furthermore, such instruments will aid in spotting sudden increases in the amount of medication required by patients as well as unscheduled refill requests.

Monitoring programs

Monitoring programs, such as prescription drug monitoring via computerized databases, may aid in tracking the prescription and administration of such drugs, thereby discovering potential drug misuse.

Formulations that discourage abuse

The government can control the activities of drug manufacturers through the application of new formulations such as ADF. This regulatory measure will adopt technology that seeks to bar people from drug misuse through injection or snorting.

Creating awareness

The most at-risk population for misuse of prescription drugs are teenagers and young adults. There is need to create awareness on the dangers of misusing drugs like opioids hence enabling them to make rational choices regarding opioids and other related drugs.

Although health policymakers and health professionals argue that misuse of prescription drugs can be better prevented by the formulation of laws that seek to punish those who violate the prescribed druse, it is clear that physicians, pharmacists, and parents play a vital role in ensuring that nonmedical use of prescription drugs are controlled. According to CDC (2013), more than 80% of the population come into contact with healthcare professionals hence making clinicians in a better place to implement measures geared towards prevention of prescription drug misuse among the most at-risk population. During hospital visits, physicians can take the opportunity to explain to the patients that a real problem exist thus misuse of prescription drugs can only escalate the conditions.

Question Two

The Most-At-Risk Population to Prescription Drug Misuse

Young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 years are considered the most at risk population for misusing prescribed drugs. According to Hu, Griesler, Wall & Kendell (2017), more than 1700 death of young adults in 2014 were attributed misuse of prescribed drugs. This particular population tends overdose on drugs such as opioids and others like heroin and cocaine. Netemeyer, Burton, Delaney & Hijjawi (2015) state that the most common prescription drugs abused by young adults are ADHD stimulants, opioid pain relievers, and anti-anxiety medications. Some of the reasons why they abuse the drugs are because they want to be high, relieve stress, or due to the perception that stimulants will help them study better.

Misuse of prescription drugs has been prevalent among the young adults and adolescents over the past decade. Illicit use psychotherapeutics, marijuana, alcohol, cocaine among other drugs are reported to be common among the youths. However, opioid pain relievers are most commonly misused prescription drugs by this population (CDC, 2013). Women are considered more at risk compared to men of the same age group. Netemeyer, Burton, Delaney & Hijjawi (2015) report that the number of deaths associated with the overdose of opioids among females at the ages of 18-24 years is twice higher than in young adult males. Moreover, women between these ages record almost three times higher hospital visits (visit emergency department) with drug-related suicide cases compared to their male counterparts.

Some identifiable characteristics of this population are as follows:

Low education level/ academic achievements- Majority of young adults who are at risk of misusing prescription drugs are either school dropouts or have high school qualifications.

Depressive symptoms- Young adults and adolescents are more exposed to depressors and stressors which make them misuse opioids and pain relievers to withstand the pressure.

Low socioeconomic conditions- Majority of youths from low socioeconomic conditions engage in drug and substance abuse.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC. (2013). Vital signs: overdoses of prescription opioid pain relievers and other drugs among women--United States, 1999-2010. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 62(26), 537.

Hu, M. C., Griesler, P., Wall, M., & Kandel, D. B. (2017). Age-related patterns in nonmedical prescription opioid use and disorder in the U.S population at ages 12-34 from 2002 to 2014. Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Netemeyer, R., Burton, S., Delaney, B., & Hijjawi, G. (2015). The legal high: factors affecting young consumers’ risk perceptions and abuse of prescription drugs. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, 34(1), 103-118.