Prescription Medications: The Silent Threat to Middle-Class, Middle-Aged America
When you think about prescription drug abuse, what comes to mind? Maybe the latest celebrity overdose, or university students using ADHD meds to study for exams? But, do you picture a nice middle-aged lady from the English countryside? Probably not, yet she might just be mixing prescription painkillers with her gin and tonic without batting an eye.
Prescription drug abuse is becoming a big issue in both the UK and the US, but it doesn’t get nearly as much attention as illegal drugs. However, there’s a growing effort in both countries to take the problem seriously and come up with solutions.
**The UK Situation**
In the UK, Health Minister Anna Soubry points fingers at general practitioners (GPs) for the issue. She believes that it’s much easier for GPs to write a prescription than to spend time understanding the real problem. This might lead to overprescribing drugs like tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety medications. According to Public Health England, this long-term overprescribing has led to many people over the age of 40 developing drug abuse problems. The most commonly abused drugs in this age group are those related to anxiety.
Given that anxiety and depression are becoming more common, one can only imagine what the statistics will look like in a decade.
**The US Situation**
A study from Quest Diagnostics highlighted by dailymarkets.com reveals that in 2012, three in five Americans misused prescription drugs. It’s crucial to note that misuse is not the same as abuse. Misuse can include combining various medications or failing to take prescribed drugs correctly.
In the US, students are particularly vulnerable to prescription drug abuse. Former President Bill Clinton even said that it’s one of the biggest issues among college students, alongside debt. The combination of prescription drugs with alcohol is extremely dangerous and a significant concern. Students often misuse drugs thinking they will help them study longer and remember more.
It’s essential to recognize that prescription drug abuse is often a hidden problem, making it hard to gauge its full scope. What we do know is that it affects all age groups, from students to the elderly, and requires serious action similar to the efforts against illegal drug abuse. Unfortunately, we’re not there yet.
