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Kristen Snyder
Mrs. Aughenbaugh
English 12
23 May 2014
Prescription Drugs
Every nineteen minutes an American citizen dies from prescription drug abuse
(Jameson). This proves that prescription drug abuse is becoming a huge problem for the people
of the United States. Prescription drugs are more than thirty to fifty times more powerful than
heroin (Statics of Prescription Drugs Abuse). In the year 2007, it was found that the abuse of
pain killers, alone, killed more than one thousand people (Statics of Prescription Drugs
Abuse). When people abuse prescription drugs they are anywhere from twelve to twenty
times more likely to abuse harder illegal street drugs (Statics of Prescription Drug Abuse).
Prescription drugs should be harder to obtain to eliminate usage, dependency, and illegal drug
trade.
Drug distribution and trafficking is the illegal transportation and illegal import of
unlawful controlled substances. Drug trafficking and distribution is a felony. If the police find an
offender with a large amount of money and any possession of drugs, they can charge the
offender with drug trafficking if the police have any reason to believe that there is intent to sell
them. More often it is the lower level dealers that get caught and prosecuted. The federal and
state governments both have power over drug laws. They have to follow the federal laws but
they can put their own twist on it to make it their own. Such as some states can sell marijuana
that is their own choice but it has to be regulated by federal laws. Controlled is the use and
distribution of a substance governed by law. They are also classified and looked at by different
levels. The sentencing for drug trafficking can range from anywhere between three to five years
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in prison, some offenders even have to serve life in prison (Drug Trafficking/Distribution).
Every day, at least 2,500 people ranging from the ages of twelve to seventeen years old abuse
prescription drugs for their first time according to the FDA. Fifty to sixty percent of teens believe
that prescription drugs are much safer to use than illegal street drugs. The age for first time users
usually range from thirteen to fourteen years old. Many teens who abuse prescription drugs are
more likely to abuse alcohol. They are five time more likely to abuse marijuana, and twelve to
twenty times more likely to use and abuse harder illegal street drugs. At least 2.3 million people
have taken the stimulant most known as Ritalin. There are also 2.2 million people who abuse
over the counter medicines like cough syrup and cold medicine. Sixty to seventy percent of teens
have said that home medicine cabinets are their biggest source for getting them. Out of the 1.4
million drug related ER admissions, there were 598,542 pharmaceutical related admissions. Out
of the 22,400 drug overdoses in 2005, opioids and pain killers were most commonly found to be
used out of all the drugs. Depressants, opiates, and antidepressants are responsible for more
overdoses and deaths in a year than anything else. In 2005, 4.4 million teens, from twelve to
seventeen, admitted to taking prescription pain killers. In 2006 2.6 million people abused
prescription drugs for the first time. In 2007, 3.3% of twelve to seventeen year olds and 6% of
seventeen to twenty five year olds abused prescription drugs within a months period of time.
Every nineteen minutes an American dies prescription drugs; prescription drugs are thirty to
forty times more powerful than heroin.
Drug Dependency, including alcohol, is classified as a medical illness. All medical
treatments and approaches and not properly fixing the problem. Drug dependence also causes
significant and lasting effect on the brain chemistry and functions of the brain. Effective
medicines for treating nicotine, alcohol, and opiate dependence are available for people with a
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problem. There are no treatments for addiction to stimulants like marijuana. Medication
adherence and relapse rates are similar across the illness. Prescription drug abuse is usually
treated as an acute illness, meaning they are not taking it as serious as they should be. Drug
abuse should be insured, treated, and evaluated like other chronic illnesses.
The prescription drug trade is booming; the drug enforcement administration believes
that some rouge pharmacies may be fueling it. The DEA confirmed that Walgreens is under
investigation for selling prescription drugs illegally. In Florida, there were six stores investigated
for red flag; meaning there was a huge spike in the amount of highly addictive pain killers that
the stores were ordering. One of the stores under scrutiny actually bought 95,000 doses in 2009.
Along with over 2.1 million in 2011, that is over thirty times the amount a regular pharmacy
would buy. Two CVS pharmacies were banned from selling any form of prescription pain killer
in Florida; after the DEA determined that there was imminent danger to public health. The
DEAs main concern is that rouge pharmacies could be filling prescription drugs illegally for
greedy doctors, or even selling pain killers directly to an addict or dealer. The estimated number
for prescription drug addicts is about seven million people.
Drug distribution and trafficking includes pain killers and sleeping pills. Illegal drug
distribution also often includes the sale of hydrocodone and other pharmaceutical opiates. Drug
trafficking and distribution is also a felony. If the offender is found with a large sum of money
and possession of drugs, the police can charge the offenders with drug trafficking if they believe
they intend to sell them. More often than not the lower level dealers are the ones that get caught
and prosecuted while the big time dealers are well-kept and hidden. A petty drug dealer can face
a greater sentence than a violent criminal. Drug distribution and trafficking laws penalize the
selling, transportation, and illegal import of unlawful controlled substance. Punishment can
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widely vary sentencing for drug trafficking can range anywhere from three to five years or life in
prison. A controlled substance means that the use and distribution of a substance is governed by
law. Controlled substances are classified at many different levels. Federal and state laws come
into plays on drug trafficking laws, each state is allowed to have their own drug laws. Many of
the state laws are modeled off of the federal laws and provide minimum sentencing to the
offenders.
In conclusion, prescription drug abuse is at an all-time high in this country. People will
take drastic measures to obtain these drugs illegally so that they may get high. Unfortunately,
most people do not understand how detrimental this problem is and do not take it as serious as it
should be. The medical field must step in and treat drug addiction more seriously and this
country must decriminalize drug abuse so that people can get the help they need. Prescription
drugs should be harder to obtain to eliminate usage, dependency, and illegal drug trade.











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Drug Dependence, a Chronic Medical Illness; Implications for Treatment, Insurance, and
Outcomes Evaluations