Prescription Drugs by Simon Pierce

Author:Simon Pierce [Pierce, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Greenhaven Publishing LLC

Another problem that drives up the price of prescriptions is that the FDA approval process takes a long time. The Harvard study found that “[a]pplication backlogs at the FDA have led to delays of three or four years before generic manufacturers can win approval to make drugs not protected by patents.”18 This means that even if a patent has expired, the brand name may remain the only drug on the market for several years while the FDA works through applications to make generic versions.

Consequences to Society

Prescription drug abuse affects the entire community in ways that extend far beyond the suffering of the addicted person or the pain it inflicts on his or her family. Some of the effects are the same as those caused by any drug’s abuse, but some are particular to the abuse of prescription drugs.

One obvious effect is the increase in crime. When their insurance runs out, people who are addicted to prescriptions will often do just about anything to get the drugs they crave. When they run out of money, they often sell their belongings. When they have sold everything they can, they may begin stealing money or things to sell in order to buy more drugs. They may also commit insurance fraud—for example, forging prescription refills. These people may not realize they’re committing a crime because they are not directly affecting an individual, but the truth is that when insurance companies lose money, they raise the rates of their services for everyone. People who are abusing or selling drugs may also become violent. People have been known to assault or even murder each other over drugs.

Prescription drug abuse impacts the health care system of a region. People who are suffering from withdrawal or who accidentally overdose need to visit the emergency room more frequently. People who abuse or sell prescription drugs also use up time that could be spent treating other patients. One reason why doctors sometimes do not take the time to check a patient’s prescription history properly is that they are so busy seeing patients all day, they do not have a lot of time to spend with each individual. Doctor-shoppers add to the number of patients a doctor has to see, which means the doctor may have less time to spend with people who have come in for legitimate medical care.

Not every person who becomes addicted turns to crime or becomes violent, but the possibility exists. Even when they do commit a crime to support their habit, they often feel very guilty about it. Their body’s craving for the drug is so strong that they often feel they have no other choice.

Anybody can become a victim of addiction. It is important to pay attention to friends and loved ones for unusual changes in behavior. Escaping abuse can be a monumental task, and providing support for someone in need often makes the difference between success and failure.

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