Study Conducted By UGA Discovers Patterns of Prescription Drug Abuse

A University of Georgia study has discovered that individuals who have recently consumed illegal drugs have a higher susceptibility for misusing prescription pain medications as well. The nationwide study also revealed that there’s a significant age difference in how prescription drug users obtain these prescription painkillers.

According to the study, older adults were more likely to admit to obtaining prescription pain medications by visiting multiple physicians for prescriptions, also know as “doctor shopping.” On the other hand, younger adults were more likely to obtain prescription pain medications from friends, family members, or drug dealers.

Abuse of prescription pain medications has grown into a majornationwide issue. According to Northwest Georgia News, between the year 1999 and 2013, the amount of opioid painkillers which were prescribed and sold in the United States nearly quadrupled. More than 16,000 people died in the U.S. from opioid painkillers including hydrocodone, oxycodone, and codeine in 2013 alone. However, the CDC reported that in 2012 there was a national drop in prescription overdose deaths for the first time since the 1990s. The drop in overdose deaths just so happened to coincide with a similar drop in the prescribing of pain pills across the nation.

Researchers from UGA’s School of Social Work discovered individuals of any age who consumed illegal drugs including marijuana, cocaine, or heroin within the past year had a higher susceptibility for misusing prescription pain medications.

The research was based upon over 13,00 responses collected through the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The survey is conducted annually and is taken by individuals aged 12 and older. The survey collects data on the use of tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription drugs, in addition to mental health problems.

Northwest Georgia News quotes Neil Campbell, executive director of the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse shared his sentiments on how to combat the prescription drug abuse epidemic in a statement,

“Honest conversations between healthcare providers and patients about the risk of prescription drug misuse would not only increase awareness about the potential of addiction but could also lead to a reduction of the long-term effects of this problem,”

It has also been suggested that better oversight of drug prescribing patterns could help combat against the epidemic, in addition to people who are prescribed painkillers better monitoring their prescriptions and keeping them away from potential abusers.

What do you suggest could help combat against the prescription drug abuse epidemic?

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The post Study Conducted By UGA Discovers Patterns of Prescription Drug Abuse appeared first on Harbor Village Florida.

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