Prescription Drug Abuse Essay

With the prevalence of prescription drug abuse among adolescents in the United States, nurses and other healthcare providers play a huge part in combating this issue. There is a broad range of factors and motivations associated with the abuse of prescription drugs, and oftentimes teens and young adults have a misconception that prescribed medications are safe, even when used illicitly. Nurses can aid this epidemic through the education of adolescents, forming trusting relationships with patients, and advocating for this issue.

Background

Prevalence Since the 1990s, prescription drug abuse, specifically among adolescents, has been a widespread obstacle in the healthcare community. In 2007, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Methadone and Buprenorphine are examples of pharmacotherapy as they prevent withdrawal and reduce the effects and cravings for other opiates. There are many other medications used to aid drug addiction, however, it is important for healthcare providers to first acknowledge and diagnose patients with addictive disorders before they can begin treatment. In addition, people with these disorders often have co-occurring mood or anxiety disorders, and therefore behavioral and psychological therapies are helpful interventions. This includes family therapy, drug counseling, and twelve-step facilitation therapy. Family therapy can improve family relationships which directly addresses a main risk factor associated with drug abuse. Both drug counseling and twelve-step facilitation therapy focus on establishing problem-solving skills for addictive tendencies, identifying triggers, and preventing relapse (McGovern et al., 2003, pg. 993). These evidence-based practices can occasionally not be offered to those with drug abuse disorders because they are too costly and not economically supported. Thus, nurses have a vital job in advocating for low-cost health coverage, especially because those suffering from drug abuse disorders are oftentimes

Until adolescents are living on their own, healthcare providers work to inform parents of their role and impact on their child’s drug and alcohol abuse tendencies. The World Health Organization found that living in dysfunctional families might lead to lower supervision and protection, ultimately leaving adolescents at a greater risk of drug use (Mirlashari et al., 2020). By engaging nurses in the field of addiction prevention, training them in this regard, and changing their attitude toward their role in addiction prevention, adolescents will be better educated and less likely to engage in drug abuse