Understanding Prescription Drug Abuse Misuse

Most people are aware that illicit drug experimentation and prescription drug misuse is a common practice within the young adult population. Data suggests that at least half of the teenage population will experiment with illegal drugs before they graduate from high school. Despite this accepted realization, most individuals fail to recognize the harmful issue of elderly drug misuse. Statistics indicate that prescription drug abuse is a widespread problem within the elderly population. Whether done intentionally or through accidental misuse, a large portion of the elder population has partaken in prescription drug abuse or drug misuse.

These improper uses of drugs can have extremely damaging effects on an individual's mental and physical health. Despite the severe consequences associated with substance abuse, many medical professionals fail to confront elders about their behavior. Some elderly individuals will employ extraordinary techniques in order to ensure that they are able to obtain desired prescriptions and continue their drug misuse. If this habit is not addressed, it may result in serious medical complications and possibly death.

In many cases, elders are partaking in drug misuse without the conscious knowledge that they are doing so. Elderly individuals are often left to their own devices when it comes to regularly taking their prescription medications, and what's more, it is common for elders to loathe the thought of asking for help. In most cases, they have already been stripped of a substantial portion of their rights and privileges. Maintaining control of their day-to-day activities is one way in which elders preserve a small portion of their independence and control.

However, the reticence to ask for help may be detrimental to an individual's well-being, especially when it comes to ingesting prescription drugs. One common complication that often results in elder drug misuse is the failure to follow the specified instructions. Whether an individual has purposely disregarded the instructions or has misread them, this mistake may be fatal. For example, if an elder overdoses on medication used to treat high blood pressure, his/her heart may slow and may eventually stop beating, and he/she may stop breathing.

Overdosing on this and similar medication can cause an individual to go into shock. Mixing various forms of medications may also result in adverse medical consequences for the user. It is essential for an individual to consult his/her physician before mixing any types of medication. Likewise, if an individual is unsure about specified instructions, he/she should ask for assistance.

Though accidental drug misuse is a widespread problem within the elder population, prescription drug abuse is also a common and extremely dangerous practice that is plaguing elders. The reasons that elders choose to engage in prescription drug abuse vary a great deal depending on an individual's specific circumstances.

Regardless of the factors that lead to this dangerous behavior, prescription drug abusers will often undertake extreme measures to generate the means necessary to continue this practice. An individual may visit numerous doctor's offices in order to obtain multiple prescriptions to fuel his/her prescription drug abuse problem. In many cases, physicians may expect an elder is abusing drugs and fail to address the situation.

Often, physicians feel uncomfortable confronting elderly patients about drug abuse and they often maintain the mentality that elders should be permitted to do what brings them joy or comfort, regardless of the harm they may cause. However, allowing this behavior to continue may result in more severe medical complications, extensive

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