Argument Paper

Bear 1
Nicole Bear
Prof. Gates
ENGL 111
11 Apr. 2017
Prescription Drug Abuse
Every day in the US, 2,500 youth (12 to 17) abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first
time. In the US alone, more than 15 million people abuse prescription drugs, more than the
combined number who reported abusing cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants and heroin (The
Truth About). Prescription drug abuse has come to an all-time high. This does not just hurt the
abuser but also the prescriber. Prescription drug abuse goes back for years. We have all seen the
outcome of prescription drug abuse with the deaths of some of Americas most beloved stars
some of which include Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Heath Ledger and Elvis Presley.
With these deaths and the continuance of prescription drug abuse among celebrities that we look
up to, how are we supposed to put a stop to this horrifying outcome? How can we preach to the
world that this needs to come to an end when the people our children, friends, and selves look up
to make it look like it is a good thing? Is this drug abuse a choice or a disease? Prescription drug
abuse is definitely a disease.
For most people, they get introduced to prescription drugs for their severe pain. Some
may ask why these people would not just go to a pain specialist and start physical therapy. The
reasoning behind this is because many insurers will not cover physical therapy but they will
cover your dangerous pain killers (Estren). The painkiller known as Oxycontin is as powerful as
heroin and affects the body in the same way (Prescription Drug Abuse, The Truth About).
Given this information doctors and pharmacists still give out this drug knowing it is a highly
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addictive substance. They may have made some regulations to where people cannot make
another prescription on their own but this is not enough. Just because prescriptions are called in
now does not mean drug abuse is impossible, considering they still get prescribed with some
doctors knowing that their patients are addicted.
According to Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, a leading global specialty pharmaceutical
company, will be providing drug deactivation pouches to Indiana and across the U.S. These
pouches will be a safe way to get rid of prescription drugs in which people no longer want or
need. A potential 7.2 million prescription drugs could be destroyed if each one of these pouches
are used. The pouches are also biodegradable, making them safe for our environment. The
companys main focus is on the issues of opioid abuse and finding ways to address these issues.
Doctors, pharmacists, and pharmacy companies play a role in patients drug abuse. Our
health care providers give us the resources to these substances. There needs to be more
restrictions on how much these addictive drugs get prescribed and it needs to become a last resort
to a solution of someones pain instead of the first. In 2016, the Drug Enforcement
Agency(DEA), made cuts to the making of opioid painkillers. The DEA is hoping to reduce the
making of many forms of opioids by 25 to 34 percent during 2017 (DEA Puts Quota).
The Attorney General of New Jersey filed fifty disciplinary actions to revoke, suspend or
restrict prescribers, pharmacists, or pharmacies who had allegedly put the public at risk by
prescribing and giving out painkillers and other addictive prescription drugs (New Jerseys
Abuse). "The only way to make progress against opiate abuse is to fight it on multiple fronts at
the same time," Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said. "Even as we pursue criminal
cases against heroin rings and pill distribution mills, we also must take strong action against
prescribers and dispensers who make pills available for abuse. By putting doctors and
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pharmacists who illegally peddle this mayhem into prison, and/or by revoking or suspending
licenses or CDS registrations for non-criminal matters, we are sending a clear message to other
practitioners who may be tempted to let greed or negligence corrupt their practice" (New
JerseyAbuse).
The use of these drugs obviously help people with their pain but what is it that makes
them so addicting? To answer this simply it would be that within prescription drugs there are
endorphins that eventually tell the brain to stop making natural endorphins so that the only way a
person gets that feeling to feel good is by taking more and more of these drugs. There are also
negative feelings from these drugs and if someone starts feeling this way then that is another
reason they get addicted. They do not want to feel weak so the only way to get rid of that is by
taking more drugs (What Makes Prescription). Some consider this to be a disease because it is
affecting the brain and how it works. The drugs change the brains circuits and chemical balances
by affecting how one learns, makes decisions, memory and behavior. Over time a person has to
take more of the substance to feel the same high they had felt when they first started taking the
drug.
The reversed side of this is that drug abuse is a choice. Once a person is addicted it is
their choice to stay addicted. They chose to use the drug and to continue to use it but is this really
in their control? They may have chosen to treat their pain with drugs but they did not choose to
become addicted. When a person is addicted their decision-making skills are blinded making it
harder to make the right decision. An addict thinks they need the substance because their body is
so dependent on it.
The reason addiction is considered a disease is because it is like any other sickness that
can be treated. The knowledge we have on a condition influences how we treat people with that
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condition so it is important that we understand addiction as a disease. When we learn this, three
truths about addiction become clear, addiction is not all about choice or willpower, treatment can
actually work, and relapse is expected, normal and manageable (Gould). Getting clean and
staying clean can be very hard but rehab facilities can help with getting a person through
treatment. Talking to professionals and becoming a part of groups that keep someone away from
their habits can also help with their process of rehabilitation.
With drug abuse continuously being on the rise, we need to be aware of how it affects the
ones we care for and love. We need to understand what makes it become a choice but also what
turns it into a disease. There are ways to end this terrible fight so take a stand and let us put an
end to prescription drug abuse.

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Bear 1

Prescription Drug Abuse

abuse is definitely a disease.

doctors knowing that their patients are addicted.

According to Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, a leading global specialty pharmaceutical

their habits can also help with their process of rehabilitation.

end to prescription drug abuse.

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