Abuse of Substances in the United States

Substance abuse and prevention has in the United States have become major issues in our society since the early 1960's. Both youth drug and alcohol use as well as adult abuse. Typically one would assume drug use categorized as something obtained by a shady looking person on a street corner. Unfortunately, in the last decade drug abuse has expanded from the street corner or the crack house downtown right into your very own doctors office.

In 2004, the use of street drugs among teens ages 12 and older took many parents by surprise. A shockingly high 6.8 percent for teens who have used Marijuana. Looking at a broader range other then teens, 0.8 percent of people in the US were current cocaine users. Of the 0.8 percent 0.2 percent had used crack during the same time period. Hallucinogens were used by 0.4 percent and there were an estimated 0.1 percent of current heroin users.

Stepping aside from the illegal world of drugs, the non medical use or abuse of prescription drugs is also a very serious and growing public problem in the United States as well. Statistics show that most people who take prescription medications are talking them responsibly; however, an estimated 48 million people (ages 12 and older) have used prescription drugs for non medical reasons in their lifetimes. This represents approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population!

Also alarming is the fact that the 2004 National Institute on Drug Abuse's (NIDA's) Monitoring the Future survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th-graders found that 9.3 percent of 12th-graders reported using Vicodin without a prescription in the past year, and 5.0 percent reported using OxyContin-making these medications among the most commonly abused prescription drugs by adolescents. While all of the reasons for the increasing abuse of prescription drugs may not be understood, it is understood that the ease of accessibility to various prescription drugs today is likely a contributing factor. In addition to the increasing number of medicines being prescribed for a variety of health problems, some medications can be obtained easily from online pharmacies or prescription drug sales through friends and family.

Studies have shown that consumers seem to be taking more medications today than at any time in history. It seems that more and more prescription medications are promoted by medical practitioners and pediatricians. Many people trust their doctors and believe what they are told when it comes to the many medications available today. Although, many of these prescriptions may help in one area, they may also include various side effects else ware. Safety awareness is more important than