Prescription Drug Overdose

Prescription Drug Overdose

Introduction

Prescription drug overdose is one of the health problems not just locally but nationally. Overdose of prescription drugs has significantly increased the rate of mortality in the US for the last ten years. Between the period beginning 1999 to 2004, deaths resulting from an overdose of non-suicidal opioid prescriptions increased by a hundred and forty-two percent. However, deaths resulting from heroin usage decreased for the same period. Incidences were frequent among persons with a history of misusing drugs without prescription. The deaths also occur as a result of accidental overdoses that arise due to multiple toxicities resulting from individuals mixing drugs or failing to use medicines as prescribed.

Background

Opioid deaths have increased outnumbering both illicit drug deaths caused by a combination of cocaine and heroin. Currently, the deaths have outnumbered deaths resulting from motor vehicle accidents. In the US, prescription drug overdose incidences and fatalities are increasingly becoming a significant public health concern. Concerns have been raised, and some stakeholders have even proposed stringent measures to reduce the death spikes resulting from prescription drug abuse. Prescription drug abuse, just like any epidemic, needs comprehensive national treatment. The interventions must be based on proper research and application of data by stakeholders at different levels of government to put it under control.

General problem statement

From the year 2009, the situation has gotten worse with an estimate of 30% drug overdose death in the year, increasing to 60% by 2010 (Subcommittee, 2013). The center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported through its monitoring program that deaths that result from painkiller medications and opioid prescriptions like hydrocodone and oxycodone have increased significantly from the year 1999 to date. Another alarming statistic has been published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, putting daily deaths from an opioid overdose at 115 people (Douglas, 2019). The study thus focuses on the reasons behind the rising rates of prescription drugs in the United States. The research further establishes factors behind the low rates of deaths in some states as opposed to other states which have the same prescription drug abuse healthcare interventions.

Specific problem statement

Despite the steep increase in the prescription drug overdose and deaths, the most populous states like New York, California, and Texas experience lower rates of opioid and overdose mortality as compared to other states. In New York City alone seven times, the total deaths in 1990 was recorded in 2006 with the record showing Opioid Overdose caused these deaths (Tane & Hopkins, 2013, p. 1). It is even more alarming than the problem that affects youths more than any population group across the country. The statistic shows that one out of six teenagers in the US has taken drugs that are prescribed for a different person (Staurus et al. 2013, p. 65). The drugs are mainly acquired from friends or close family members who also are not aware of its dangers. The study thus analyses the rising rate of prescription drugs among the young in the US. The research further tries to establish why some states are most affected, yet similar National-state intervention programs have been established in all the states across the country.

Purpose statement

Previous researches show that prescription drug overdose is a complex and multifaceted public health concern due to multiple drivers (Subcommittee, 2013). Such drivers include a lack of sufficient oversight to prevent prescriptions that are not appropriate, policies guiding insurance and pharmacy benefits, as well as the assumption by larger population disregarding the dangers of prescription drugs. The approaches used have been and to current date unsustainable and ineffective. The other complication arises from balancing legitimate access by patients to pain medications and limiting the abuse of the same drugs. The research sorts to establish regional trends in prescription drug overdose and why the problem majorly affects young people.

Research questions

1. Why do the three most populous states, including California, New York, and Texas, have lower incidences of a prescription drug overdose?
2. What are some of the contributing factors to increasing prescription drug overdose?
3. Why do prescription drug abuse and deaths common among teenagers in the United States?
4. What interventions are the local and federal governments implementing to control prescription drugs problem in the US?
5. How effective are prescription drug overdose interventions?