Painkiller
addiction is an ever present problem in the US. With Americans using
pills to get rid of their pains, the unforeseen problem of addiction
often occurs with users. With pill overdoses killing around 15,000
the FDA would like to see companies making safer drugs. According to MarketPlace.org, the FDA is considering a proposal to restrict access to those dangerous prescription painkillers and also want to see companies reformulate drugs. The FDA wants to see the new formulations cause less of a high feeling, be harder to crush, and more testing to fully see the drugs effects.
The
FDA needs to follow through with these possible regulations because
painkiller abuse cases have soared in the last few years. WebMD has
looked into the subject saying, “Experts
don't know exactly how many people are addicted to prescription drugs
today, but all agree it's on the rise. 'It's partly an issue of
availability,' says Robert Jamison, PhD, associate professor of
psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "Vastly more people have
access to these medicines today than 15 or 20 years ago”. They also
mention how doctors are currently more open to giving out the opiates
to those who complain of pain.
Another problem associated with the out-flux of painkillers is how easy it is for teens and even children to get their hands on the potent drugs. With the drugs being overly prescribed some bottles may end up collecting dust in medicine cabinets, within easy reach of children and teens. They can take the pills without your knowledge or even sell them.
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| Abuse of painkillers is ever prevalent in the U.S. |
