Addiction to pain killers: Opioids
The word addiction, according to the Merriam – Webster dictionary means, a strong and harmful need to regularly have or do something. For example, taking drugs, gambling, alcohol, sex and more. This specific essay gives information about being addicted to pain killers (opioids). Chronic pain is a major issue and one third of Americans suffer from it, that is thirty percent of the world’s population (Angres et al., 2015). Addiction to pain killers caused by the intake of opioids is the reason for many deaths in the nation and we must also take precautions by supplying Naloxone to people who are addicted and also to the first responses in case of an emergency. More than 38,000 people die due to overdose, this is more than the death caused by …show more content…
This being the case, opioid prescription had increased three hundred percent in the last twenty years. Numerous patients get addicted to pain killers after it has been prescribed by the doctors. Some people are addicted, whereas some people are depending on it to either sleep at night or be relieved of pain. But these are two very different positions when it comes to over using the drug. The problem is that there is easy access to pain killers and it is major cause for drug overdose. The use of prescribed drug for anything other than for its use is called NMUPD (nonmedical use of prescription drugs). NMUPD has developed due to the growth of over – prescribing. The people who are at most danger are the adolescents and the young adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during the period between 1999-2013 most people ranging from age 25 to 54 died from prescription opioid overdose. However, ages from 55 to 64 has increased seven times more than the others. “An opioid overdose is life – threatening and demands a life – saving intervention” (Angres et al.,
The word addiction, according to the Merriam – Webster dictionary means, a strong and harmful need to regularly have or do something. For example, taking drugs, gambling, alcohol, sex and more. This specific essay gives information about being addicted to pain killers (opioids). Chronic pain is a major issue and one third of Americans suffer from it, that is thirty percent of the world’s population (Angres et al., 2015). Addiction to pain killers caused by the intake of opioids is the reason for many deaths in the nation and we must also take precautions by supplying Naloxone to people who are addicted and also to the first responses in case of an emergency. More than 38,000 people die due to overdose, this is more than the death caused by …show more content…
This being the case, opioid prescription had increased three hundred percent in the last twenty years. Numerous patients get addicted to pain killers after it has been prescribed by the doctors. Some people are addicted, whereas some people are depending on it to either sleep at night or be relieved of pain. But these are two very different positions when it comes to over using the drug. The problem is that there is easy access to pain killers and it is major cause for drug overdose. The use of prescribed drug for anything other than for its use is called NMUPD (nonmedical use of prescription drugs). NMUPD has developed due to the growth of over – prescribing. The people who are at most danger are the adolescents and the young adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during the period between 1999-2013 most people ranging from age 25 to 54 died from prescription opioid overdose. However, ages from 55 to 64 has increased seven times more than the others. “An opioid overdose is life – threatening and demands a life – saving intervention” (Angres et al.,