“Prescription drugs, when misused, become silent destroyers and complicate lives with each misguided dose.”
Prescription drug misuse has become the leading public health threat, with medications being used carelessly, similar to how one would use a knife mistakenly for self-harm. Though these potent pharmaceutical substances are authentically helpful in tackling multiple complications, their abuse has ramifications, including addiction, complications, and societal problems, among others.
Prescription Drug Misuse in India
Prescription drug misuse has turned into one of the public health concerns for India, and it is proving difficult to justify the general safety of drug use in the country. The impact is also evident on opioids, stimulants, and depressants that are the cause of the abuse to thousands of people. As per the report by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) entitled “National Study on Magnitude of Substance Use,” there has been a rise in addiction to prescription drugs over the years. Prescription drugs are the most misused drugs worldwide, followed by opioid drugs, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Recognizing the significance of the problem, the government report said that more than 60 lakh Indians currently suffer from opioid use disorders, and around 2.6 crores of Indians who have used or are presently using opioids fall in the category of drug misusers. Heroin is the most commonly used drug, and opium, as well as pharmaceutical opioids, are the second most consumed ones. States that cumulatively account for almost 50% of opioid-addicted people include Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh. These states have the highest number of people struggling with severe opioid abuse.
As per the data collected by a survey provided by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment along with the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC) in the year 2019 to analyze the global pattern of substance use in India, roughly 1% of people aged 10 to 75 was caught abusing prescription opioids and around 2.5 million people, suffered from pharmaceutical opioid-related drug use disorders.
Factors Contributing to Prescription Drug Misuse
Understanding the factors contributing to prescription medication use disorders is crucial for implementing effective prevention and intervention strategies.
Easy Access to Prescription Medicine
Prescription drug abuse is exacerbated by easy access to them. Using valid prescriptions, sharing medicine, and acquiring it from friends or family are the significant causes. This ease of access can reduce the obstacles to getting prescription medications, increasing the potential for abuse. People may decide to share prescribed drugs with others or obtain them from non-prescribed sources.
Overprescribing by Healthcare Providers
Apart from self-overdosing, overprescribing of such medicines by healthcare practitioners is another factor that fuels prescription drug addiction in the country. Sometimes, patients receive the medications at higher doses and for more extended periods than prescribed limits, which leads to drug misuse, and even patients become dependent on them. These behaviors may result from pressure to meet patients’ perceived requirements or expectations, lack of information, and not thoroughly evaluating the condition or proper treatment for the patient.
Lack of Education and Awareness
There is a lack of understanding among people about the negative impacts of overusing prescription medications, which is another primary factor leading to abuse. Many people may be unaware of the possible adverse effects, pharmacological interactions, or addictive nature of prescription drugs. Individuals who lack fundamental understanding may unknowingly abuse medicines, resulting in adverse health effects or dependence concerns. Improved education and awareness campaigns are critical for empowering people to make educated decisions about medicine usage and identify overuse symptoms.
Mental Health Condition
People who are battling anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can turn to abusing prescription medicine in an attempt to relieve their symptoms. This self-medicating activity may be motivated by a desire to cope with emotional pain or manage mental health problems on their terms. Individuals may get addicted to prescription drugs if they do not receive help or treatment for underlying mental health disorders.
Peer Pressure
Prescription drug use disorders are heavily influenced by peers, especially among teenagers and young adults. Social pressure or influence from friends who abuse prescription medications might normalize this behavior and encourage experimentation among those who would otherwise avoid drug usage. This peer-driven dynamic has the potential to sustain a cycle of abuse and contribute to the spread of prescription drug usage in social circles.
The Drastic Consequences of Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug addiction is among the most disastrous problems of public health, with youth not being the only ones affected but also their families and communities. Prescription drugs are intended to alleviate symptoms or to improve overall health. Still, if this medication is overused or used carelessly, it can cause severe consequences for physical health, emotional well-being, and social functioning.
The Unavoidable Effects on Physical Health
The quickest and the most apparent sign of prescription drug misuse is the effect it has on the addict’s physical health. If medical drugs exceed the recommended limit, it can lead to several ill effects. These adverse effects include respiratory depression, cardiovascular issues, convulsions, and overdose. The overuse of opioids, in particular, has resulted in a significant increase in overdose deaths, adding to the global opioid epidemic.
Impact on Mental Health
The overuse of medication not only brings serious health issues at the physical level but also the cognitive level. People who use any prescription medicine for non-medical reasons are likely to suffer from underlying mental health issues such as PTSD, stress, anxiety or depression. Many times, mental health problems are the reason behind a person’s addiction. As a result, the addiction progresses in a vicious cycle and remains permanent.
Severe social Ramifications
Other than personal consequences, prescription medication abuse can have social and economic implications, too. Addiction may damage relationships, either professional or personal relationships, with children, friends, and especially partners. Prescription drug misuse may have a destructive impact on a person’s relationship with his loved ones, causing conflict, isolation, and, ultimately, depression. The social consequences of prescription drug addiction are very devastating in terms of healthcare expenses, criminal justice involvement, and less productivity of workers. Thus, they also affect communities and governments similarly, significantly burdening them.
Addressing the Prescription Drug Misuse Epidemic
Comprehensive solutions for prescription drug abuse are multi-dimensional and include the combined efforts of different stakeholders, including the medical community, politics, education, and the pharmaceutical industry.
Education and Guidelines
Addiction doctors and healthcare professionals play an essential role in reducing prescription substance abuse. Proper education on pain management, addiction, and alternatives to conventional medical treatments will help prescribers make informed decisions. Implementing careful guidelines for prescribing opioids and monitoring patients closely to catch errors and potential misuse is a vital instrument for doctors’ responsible practice.
Public Awareness Campaigns
Targeted awareness campaigns need to change how the public sees prescription drugs. These campaigns should ensure that the public does not consider prescription drugs as another source of pleasure or entertainment. These campaigns should focus on the potential risks of misuse, the importance of adhering to prescribed doses, and the consequences of obtaining medications without a legitimate medical need. Learning at the community level may change the population’s perception of prescribed medications, thus bringing a more responsible attitude toward the safe use of prescription drugs.
Improved Access to Treatment
Individuals who are struggling with prescription drug abuse must have easy access to effective therapy services. This treatment option includes medication-assisted treatment, counseling, and support groups. By simplifying the path to treatment that generally includes hindrances like stigma and lack of resources, many people with an addiction can seek recovery and enjoy a life of sobriety for a long time.
Technological Solutions
Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) can help ensure controlled medication prescribing and possession. Such interventions help medical service providers screen suspected cases of drug abuse and provide assistance on time. The introduction of technology into healthcare systems could increase the communication flows between providers and pharmacists, creating a much closer and watchful healthcare system.
Policy Reforms
Policymakers seeking to avert the national crisis caused by opioid misuse and drug use disorders must enact legislation that deals with the underlying causes of the misuse of such substances. This includes monitoring pharmaceutical marketing, prescription tracking systems, and supporting programs that promote responsible prescribing. Additionally, legislation should focus on expanding access to mental health services that help in addressing the underlying causes of substance abuse.
Unveiling the Shadows: The Alarming Rise of Prescription Drug Misuse
Prescription drug misuse is not an easy deal; it is multidimensional and calls for a holistic approach or cooperation from many different parties. Patients and clinical practitioners are not the sole cause of the rise in overprescription of medicines and the wide acceptance of misuse. This situation takes place in different life spheres. Our mission is to tackle the problem of prescription drug abuse by creating a responsible medication use culture through implementing evidence-based prevention strategies and making sure that people have access to treatment, which will help to minimize the effects of prescription drug usage both on individuals and society. We can only navigate a path toward a safer and healthier future through collective efforts, informed policies, and a commitment to holistic health care.
