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Mario Pereo
English 101
Dr. Elliott
September 13, 2021
The Prescription Drug Epidemic
Prescription drug use in the United States is a very normal thing. On any given day you
can see someone taking any type of medication and not think anything of it. With that being said
there is a very large issue with the misuse and dependence of prescription drugs in the United
States. Many individuals use prescription drugs recreationally or become dependent on them and
don’t fix the underlying issue. Prescriptions have their place in medicine, but they come with
multiple issues that should be looked into.
There are two main types of prescription drugs given, opiates and opioids. Although they
are almost categorized as the same thing there are two differences between them. “Opiates are
natural opioids like heroin, morphine, and codeine. Opioids are all natural semisynthetic, and
synthetic opioids” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Opiates are some of the main
causes of drug addiction. Their overuse is what causes many people to become reliant and
oftentimes overdose on the drugs.
A study run by The National Institute of Drug Abuse found that overdose from
antidepressants alone has risen from 1,749 in 1999 to 5,175 in 2019. Antidepressants are so
commonly used and prescribed that it is oftentimes the first step for people who have symptoms
of depression. In many cases, individuals going through these depressive episodes can find peace
with alternative medicines. Meditation, physical activity, and counseling are only three examples
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of things that can help before getting medicated. Although there are people who need the
medication since they have more severe depression, a medical professional could closely monitor
the use of the prescription prescribed.
Not only is the public prescribed a multitude of antidepressants but military personnel
make up a huge amount of individuals consuming the drug. “According to a 2013 Military Times
report, an investigation of records showed $1.1 billion was spent by the Defense Logistics
Agency on common psychiatric drugs and pain medications from 2001 to 2009” (Abimbola).
The military is made up of a vast amount of people. All of these individuals are constantly in
high-stress environments whether it’s physical or mental. Although they are prescribed the
medication by licensed professionals, oftentimes the amount of medication is not monitored and
you can find many people with unnecessary amounts of medications.
