Over-the-counter Drugs
In my opinion, prescription and over the counter drugs are very addictive, and in most cases, they are abused by the users. Drugs such as the painkillers (Opioid) are prescribed to ease someone from pain, but some people use them for the wrong purpose. In cases where the doctor correctly prescribes the painkillers, they become beneficial. However, there people who prescribe for themselves until they become very ineffective, but they cannot do without them.
Other commonly used over-the-counter medications are stimulants. These drugs are prescribed to increase the activities of the nervous system. They can also be used to treat asthma, obesity, and respiratory problems. When the prescription is done in the right way, they are very safe. However, some people abuse stimulants for their beneficial reasons hence leading to addiction. Another commonly abused type of medication is the sedatives, which are the depressants of the central nervous system. The doctor can prescribe the sedatives to relieve anxiety and help in the sleeping problems of the patient. However, if bought for the wrong purpose other than having the right prescription from the doctor, they become very addictive.
Role of drug therapies in the treatment of addiction and mental health problems
In my opinion, the proper drug therapies in treating addiction and mental health problems are the appropriate prescription of the doctor. However, some pharmaceutical industries are increasing their sales through the wrong presentation of the drugs. They do not bring out the side effects of these drugs; instead offer so many benefits that might be false. For example, women are being encouraged daily to adopt family planning methods, but no one explains the side effects on their health. Also, according to Healy, some drugs such as Prozac and SSRI cause people to commit suicide (Healy): which is correct as it has been found that some deaths are a result of consuming these drugs. Therefore, as much as the pharmaceutical companies need to make a lot of sales from their drugs, they should make it to people the side effects of consuming such drugs.