Enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for a month, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If this was five years ago, what could it be today? “In 2005, 4.4 million teenagers (aged 12 to 17) in the US admitted to taking prescription painkillers.” (Drug Free World). Prescription drug abuse is when a person uses a medication that has not been prescribed for them. However, in some cases, a person may be prescribed medication that is intended for temporary use, but they begin to abuse the drug, which means they take more pills than recommended. Prescription drugs are one of the leading causes of teen drug abuse in this country. The easy access and availability of prescription medications is the number one reason why it is the drug of choice for young adults. Most teens are first introduced to prescription drugs from their parents at a young age. They witness their parents taking a variety of medications for their daily aches and pains. By the time they reach their teens, a variety of issues lead them to experimentation. They obtain these drugs in …show more content…
Their behavior can range from mania to extreme fatigue. A parent will also notice differences in their school work, friends, and general attitude (Live science). Some of the short term effects of drug abuse are drowsiness, slowed breathing, constipation, unconsciousness, nausea, or possibly a coma (Drug Free World). “Long term impacts of excessive drug abuse are physical dependence and addiction. The body adapts to the presence of the drug and withdrawal symptoms occur if use is reduced or stopped. These include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, and cold flashes. Tolerance can also occur, meaning that long-term users must increase their doses to achieve the same high” (Drug Free