Drug overdose

Phenobarbital is a commonly prescribed drug, in the class of barbiturates that has been used for over 100 years. Phenobarbital is used as a sedative for the treatment of anxiety and tension. This drug can also be used for treating insomnia and for control of certain seizures. The DEA has classified phenobarbital as a Schedule IV controlled substance due to its potential for abuse. Abusers of this drug have the potential to develop tolerance and dependence especially with chronic use. The effects…

Painkillers have been around for thousands of years, used in all different ways for many different reasons. Recently, there has been a rise in the abuse of painkillers throughout our country making it now one of the fastest growing addictions in the world. Because of this rise in addiction more people have been killed by painkillers than by heroin and cocaine. This has spiked a controversy on who is to blame for this rise in abuse of opioids and other painkillers. Many think it’s the fault of…

hospitalized briefly with flu-like symptoms. On April 21, 2016, American musician Prince died at his home in Chanhassen, Minnesota. Reporters say this was a drug related death and was an overdose on painkillers. Many people were devastated by this shocking news. Who would've thought that this iconic superstar that everyone knows would turn to drugs for a simple escape? In fact, many…

taught not to do drugs. Drugs can harm us, drugs can make us do things we wouldn't normally do, and drugs can kill us. With this information people still do drugs, people still get addicted to illegal substances that can affect their brains and cost them their lives. With all the thousands of types of drugs what is truly the worst? Is it meth, heroin, or cocaine? Studies and statistics can show the answer to this question clearly the worst illegal drug is meth. While all illegal drugs are at…

Every year, approximately $600 billion dollars is spent on illegal drugs. All of that money could match Bill Gate’s fortune 7 times. While there are thousands becoming addicted each day, about 200,000 addicts will die each year of an overdose. Drug addiction is becoming a bigger problem as each day passes by. Treatment plans for this epidemic continue to fail. Only 23% of addicts that go through these treatment plans fully become drug free. The question of why treatments are failing is yet to be…

Introduction Unintentional poisoning is now the leading cause of injury death in the United States affecting those age 15-64 (CDC WISQARS, 2014). Unintentional poisoning includes all drug overdoses; however, of particular concern currently in the United States is prescription opioid overdose. Opioids are a class of drug that are designed to relieve pain. Prescription opioids include brands such as Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, Duragesic, Demerol, and Dilaudid, amongst others. Illicit opioids…

Everyday 91 people die from an overdose in the United States. These deaths are not all from street drugs. Since 1999 prescription related opioid overdoses have resulted in the death of 183,000 people. Many people develop opioid addiction from being prescribed an opioid for common injuries, accidents, or illnesses. Along with opioids, stimulants and depressants are commonly abused and misused and it becoming a growing problem. Prescription drugs are drugs designed to treat a specific illness,…

Alcohol plays a big part in prescription drugs because the person who is taking them may not get the "high" they want to achieve a better high then the last time. Some may decide to add alcohol in the mix. Alcohol is a legal drug within its self because the more the consumer drinks, their driving ability is impaired, it is hard to walk/talk, it can make the person sad or angry. The relationship between prescription painkillers and alcohol goes hand and hand because they both give you the same…

Which drug is better to use? Alcohol is legal but marijuana is not, how is that possible? Previous research states that marijuana causes more danger to one’s health. However, many people are starting to realize that the disadvantages of alcohol surpass the so called dangers of marijuana. In fact, according to Pew Research Center, about seven-in-ten (69%) of Americans believe alcohol is more harmful to a person’s health than marijuana (6 facts about Marijuana). Over twenty states around the…

abuse is a nation-wide phenomenon – with an increase in both drug users and manufacturers in Canada, effective harm reduction strategies are in high demand (Howlett, Giovannetti, Vanderklippe, & Perreaux, 2016; Kerr et al., 2009; Lunn & Zimonjic, 2016; CBC News, 2009). With the highest rate of drug related crimes committed in British Columbia, Vancouver's Downtown Eastside is home to one of the country's largest populations of illicit drug users (Kerr et al., 2009; Cotter, Greenland, & Karam,…