Prescription Drug Abuse And Addiction Past, Present And...

This week I chose to further explore the article Prescription Drug Abuse and Addiction: Past, Present and Future: The Paradigm for an Epidemic written by P. B. Hall MD, DABAM, AAMRO, Denzil Hawkinberry II, MD, DABA, Pam Moyers-Scott, PAC, MPAS, DFAAPA as more and more individuals are abusing and becoming addicted to prescription medications. The article provides a great amount of statistical data for the US but is primarily focused on the population in West Virginia where Governor Joe Manchin III states, â€Å"Substance abuse affects a broader segment of West Virginia’s citizens and their state and local governments than any other single issue confronting us today† (Hall, Hawkinberry, II, Moyers-Scott, 2010). West Virginia is far from the only state facing the prescription drug epidemic as it is becoming more and more prevalent across the US each year. â€Å"It is estimated that in 2009, the number of adolescents and adults with a substance abuse and/or dependence pro blem has reached 23.2 million in the US† (Hall, Hawkinberry, II, Moyers-Scott, 2010). In the past, addiction has been thought of as the disease of the weak, but with advancement in brain imaging technology to accurately measure neurotransmitters addiction is now recognized as a disease. Prescription drug abuse and addiction has enormous socioeconomic costs in the areas of medical expenses, drug related crime, and unemployment. â€Å"Current estimates of the financial burden to society due to substance abuse exceeds half aShow MoreRelatedOpioid Abuse Over The Past Decade Essay1166 Words   |  5 PagesThe Problem In the United States, there has been upward swing of opioid abuse over the past decade. 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