Pain Pill Abuse in College
Pain pill abuse in college is increasing at an alarming rate. Many students have already undergone rehabilitation for pain pill abuse and still the numbers increase every year. Commercials are showing kids at a young age the relief that can be received by taking various medications. When baby boomers were kids, there weren’t any commercials for anti-depressants, pain medication and other types of pills.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the states, 20 % of persons aged 12 and above have used pain pills for non-medical reasons. This has become a serious problem and concerned organizations are finding ways to bring the drug abusers to rehabilitation centers, and to create public awareness of the dangers of taking prescription drugs indiscriminately.
What may have prompted these college students to abuse the usage of these pain pills?
The most common reason is ignorance of the effects of these pain pills. They take it in at first for valid medical reasons to ease pain, but they keep taking it in even after the condition has been cured. The pressures brought about by schoolwork, peers and the transition from teenage to adulthood may contribute to the increase usage.
Solution to the problem
People should understand that prescription drugs are as dangerous as marijuana, morphine and the like. The most commonly abused drugs are pain pills. They should also know that pain pills usually contain opioid, which is one constituent of heroin. During school breaks, parents should keep drugs secure. This is to avoid temptations.
Rehabilitation centers have many new programs that help find solutions to cope with the problem of drugs abuse due to benzos and opiates. Bringing a person to rehabilitation centers is the best move for drug addiction. Treat the problem while it is still not late. It is always to stop something at it’s earliest stages, though any stage is still worth treating.
College students should not take pain pills abuse for granted and assume it is harmless as the effects on the body and mind are still being researched. Using the counseling services at the university is a good way to gain skills for dealing with issues due to relationsip breakups, test anxiety and family problems.
My older brother had a back problem from skiing when he went to college and then he got hooked on vicoden. He liked the way it helped him feel relaxed and we thought he was just taking it temporarily but he kept faking the pain longer to get refills.