Misusing Medications

The issues of medication abuse and overdose are getting a lot of attention lately. And with August 31^st being National Overdose Awareness Day, we knew we wanted to highlight this epidemic. From popular fiction novels, to moving series on streaming services, to Hollywood stars speaking out, discussion about overdose is everywhere. The hype is for good reason; opioid overdose deaths in particular nearly quadrupled between the years of 2010 with 21,089 deaths reported, and 2021 with 80,411 deaths reported. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate over 109,000 overdose deaths from all drugs from February 2022 to February 2023.

There is a silver lining of these grim statistics. Thanks to the efforts of the National Drug Control Strategy, namely by the seizing of drugs domestically and at national borders, the most recent statistics reflect a halting of a years-long trend of more dramatic overdose increases. From March of 2022 to February 2023, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly 245,000 pounds of drugs were seized at the US borders, and nearly 258,000 pounds of drugs were confiscated domestically.

On a more personal level, even if you’re not involved with opioids, you could also be at risk for medication overdose. The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics states that 16.3 million people misuse prescriptions every year. Also, 18.4% of people over the age of 12 report deliberately misusing prescriptions at least once in their lifetime.

Some reasons that adults may knowingly misuse prescriptions include wanting to amplify the medication’s effect, using the medication for a reason other than what it was prescribed for, choosing to stop the medication without their doctor’s approval, help with sleeping or weight loss or studying, unmitigated negative symptoms, or addiction. Misusing any medication is never a good idea, even if you think you’re being perfectly safe. Here’s why:

Prescription drugs are only safe for the people who have prescriptions for them. That’s because a doctor has examined these people and prescribed the right dose of medicine for their body type, other medications being taken, and medical condition. The doctor is also watching for possible negative side effects for the patient. Taking a prescription that’s not yours takes away the assurance and security of having a professional’s clearance.
The effectiveness of many medications depends on properly taking it for a designated length of time. For example, taking antibiotics without following a doctor’s order about duration can not only negate its effectiveness, but it can make your body less receptive to antibiotics in the future.
Letting someone else use your prescribed medication can mean you won’t be able to get a refill when it’s needed, and can cause mistrust from your doctor. Not only that, giving a prescribed medication to someone else, or being found with another person’s prescription with the intent of personal use, are considered crimes in Arizona.
On the most serious note, misusing prescriptions can a coma, or even death, when overdosed or taken in combination with other medications. Taking medication outside of a physician’s order can also lead to addiction.

For prescriptions in Fountain Hills, your medical team at Fountain Hills Medical Center promises to not prescribe any medication until we’ve thoroughly considered your symptoms, body type, other medications being taken, your personal concerns, and much more. We’re here for your questions, your struggles, and your successes.

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