Prescription Drug Abuse: A National Epidemic
February 13, 2012
The United States leads the world in the number of people taking addiction prescription drugs. The financial cost to the nation from prescription drug abuse and dependence is in the billions. The infographic below gives you a brief look at the profound degree of this epidemic. Indeed, according to Government reports, an estimated 20 percent of U.S. citizens have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons.
There is a growing movement to regulate prescription drugs, track prescriptions written, monitor clinics that prescribe prescription drugs and to educate physicians as to the dangers of narcotics, stimulants, and central nervous system medications.
There are three age groups that have been profoundly impacted by the availability and increased use of prescription drugs-teens, mid-thirties to mid-forties, and seniors. Admissions into drug rehab facilities for prescription drug abuse have increased dramatically as a result. The graphic demonstrates the need for all of us to alter our use and storage of prescription drugs.
