from high-profile cases to everyday issues prescription drugs are
issues prescription drugs are
issues prescription drugs are continually causing problems across the
continually causing problems across the
continually causing problems across the United States
United States
United States welcome to watchmojo.com and
welcome to watchmojo.com and
welcome to watchmojo.com and we’re counting down ten crucial facts
we’re counting down ten crucial facts
we’re counting down ten crucial facts you should know about America’s
you should know about America’s
you should know about America’s prescription drug addiction number ten
prescription drug addiction number ten
prescription drug addiction number ten how bad is America’s prescription drug
how bad is America’s prescription drug
how bad is America’s prescription drug problem for most of us when we discuss
problem for most of us when we discuss
problem for most of us when we discuss drug problems we’re likely thinking of
drug problems we’re likely thinking of
drug problems we’re likely thinking of recreational substances illicit drugs
recreational substances illicit drugs
recreational substances illicit drugs and criminal underworlds however in 2016
and criminal underworlds however in 2016
and criminal underworlds however in 2016 America finds itself suffering from an
America finds itself suffering from an
America finds itself suffering from an epidemic caused by prescription drugs
epidemic caused by prescription drugs
epidemic caused by prescription drugs the number of people routinely using
the number of people routinely using
the number of people routinely using opioids antidepressants and other
opioids antidepressants and other
opioids antidepressants and other pharmacy bought products has steadily
pharmacy bought products has steadily
pharmacy bought products has steadily risen in recent years creating a
risen in recent years creating a
risen in recent years creating a generation hooked on legal accessible
generation hooked on legal accessible
generation hooked on legal accessible drugs according to the Centers for
drugs according to the Centers for
drugs according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the
Disease Control and Prevention the
Disease Control and Prevention the amount of prescription opioids sold in
amount of prescription opioids sold in
amount of prescription opioids sold in the US has almost quadrupled since 1999
the US has almost quadrupled since 1999
the US has almost quadrupled since 1999 and the amount of deaths caused by them
and the amount of deaths caused by them
and the amount of deaths caused by them has also increased fourfold the World
has also increased fourfold the World
has also increased fourfold the World Health Organization has reported that
Health Organization has reported that
Health Organization has reported that the problem threatens quote the
the problem threatens quote the
the problem threatens quote the achievements of modern medicine number
achievements of modern medicine number
achievements of modern medicine number nine what kind of prescription drugs are
nine what kind of prescription drugs are
nine what kind of prescription drugs are being abused a prescription opioid is
being abused a prescription opioid is
being abused a prescription opioid is given as a painkiller and these include
given as a painkiller and these include
given as a painkiller and these include medications such as hydrocodone
medications such as hydrocodone
medications such as hydrocodone oxycodone and codeine according to the
oxycodone and codeine according to the
oxycodone and codeine according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse
National Institute on Drug Abuse hydrocodone is particularly prescribed
hydrocodone is particularly prescribed
hydrocodone is particularly prescribed for injury related pain or dental
for injury related pain or dental
for injury related pain or dental problems
problems
problems codeine use is also common as the drug
codeine use is also common as the drug
codeine use is also common as the drug is given from mild aches and pains and
is given from mild aches and pains and
is given from mild aches and pains and in certain cases is even available
in certain cases is even available
in certain cases is even available without a prescription
without a prescription
without a prescription however while these drugs are effective
however while these drugs are effective
however while these drugs are effective when taken according to the directions
when taken according to the directions
when taken according to the directions these recommendations are increasingly
these recommendations are increasingly
these recommendations are increasingly ignored and the substances are abused to
ignored and the substances are abused to
ignored and the substances are abused to disastrous effect users take more of the
disastrous effect users take more of the
disastrous effect users take more of the drug than they should more often than
drug than they should more often than
drug than they should more often than they should or else take drugs
they should or else take drugs
they should or else take drugs prescribed for somebody else number
prescribed for somebody else number
prescribed for somebody else number eight what are the consequences of
eight what are the consequences of
eight what are the consequences of prescription drug addiction a reason
prescription drug addiction a reason
prescription drug addiction a reason often cited for regular use of
often cited for regular use of
often cited for regular use of prescription drugs is that the user
prescription drugs is that the user
prescription drugs is that the user feels as though it helps him or
feels as though it helps him or
feels as though it helps him or maintain focus however in December 2015
maintain focus however in December 2015
maintain focus however in December 2015 CNBC reported that a National Safety
CNBC reported that a National Safety
CNBC reported that a National Safety Council survey found that as much as
Council survey found that as much as
Council survey found that as much as eighty percent of employers in Indiana
eighty percent of employers in Indiana
eighty percent of employers in Indiana had come into contact with prescription
had come into contact with prescription
had come into contact with prescription drug abuse through their employees a
drug abuse through their employees a
drug abuse through their employees a statistic that’s likely representative
statistic that’s likely representative
statistic that’s likely representative of America as a whole estimates claimed
of America as a whole estimates claimed
of America as a whole estimates claimed that the US economy is hit 460 billion
that the US economy is hit 460 billion
that the US economy is hit 460 billion dollars annually as a result with almost
dollars annually as a result with almost
dollars annually as a result with almost 50 percent of that attributed to
50 percent of that attributed to
50 percent of that attributed to workplace costs such as productivity
workplace costs such as productivity
workplace costs such as productivity loss even more alarming is the
loss even more alarming is the
loss even more alarming is the ever-increasing number of prescription
ever-increasing number of prescription
ever-increasing number of prescription drug related deaths
drug related deaths
drug related deaths Business Insider says that quote these
Business Insider says that quote these
Business Insider says that quote these fatalities now outnumber deaths from
fatalities now outnumber deaths from
fatalities now outnumber deaths from heroin and cocaine combined and drug
heroin and cocaine combined and drug
heroin and cocaine combined and drug watch reports that around 50 Americans
watch reports that around 50 Americans
watch reports that around 50 Americans die daily from prescription painkiller
die daily from prescription painkiller
die daily from prescription painkiller overdoses number seven who are the
overdoses number seven who are the
overdoses number seven who are the biggest abusers of prescription drugs
biggest abusers of prescription drugs
biggest abusers of prescription drugs the older generation accounts for a
the older generation accounts for a
the older generation accounts for a significant percentage of prescription
significant percentage of prescription
significant percentage of prescription drug addicts with experts believing that
drug addicts with experts believing that
drug addicts with experts believing that the problem lies with a misconception
the problem lies with a misconception
the problem lies with a misconception that prescriptions are automatically
that prescriptions are automatically
that prescriptions are automatically safe in 2013 US doctors wrote 55 million
safe in 2013 US doctors wrote 55 million
safe in 2013 US doctors wrote 55 million opioid prescriptions and twenty eight
opioid prescriptions and twenty eight
opioid prescriptions and twenty eight point four million prescriptions for
point four million prescriptions for
point four million prescriptions for depressants for patients over 65 years
depressants for patients over 65 years
depressants for patients over 65 years of age according to the substance abuse
of age according to the substance abuse
of age according to the substance abuse and mental health services
and mental health services
and mental health services administration the number of seniors
administration the number of seniors
administration the number of seniors dependent on or misusing prescription
dependent on or misusing prescription
dependent on or misusing prescription painkillers in 2012 was more than two
painkillers in 2012 was more than two
painkillers in 2012 was more than two and a half times higher than it was in
and a half times higher than it was in
and a half times higher than it was in 2002 increasing from one hundred and
2002 increasing from one hundred and
2002 increasing from one hundred and thirty two thousand to three hundred and
thirty two thousand to three hundred and
thirty two thousand to three hundred and thirty six thousand people number six
thirty six thousand people number six
thirty six thousand people number six what are some high-profile cases of
what are some high-profile cases of
what are some high-profile cases of abuse the problem was thrust into the
abuse the problem was thrust into the
abuse the problem was thrust into the spotlight in April 2016 following the
spotlight in April 2016 following the
spotlight in April 2016 following the death of pop music icon Prince soon
death of pop music icon Prince soon
death of pop music icon Prince soon after his death and prior to the release
after his death and prior to the release
after his death and prior to the release of the official autopsy results it was
of the official autopsy results it was
of the official autopsy results it was heavily speculated that the artist who
heavily speculated that the artist who
heavily speculated that the artist who was 57 when he died had become dependent
was 57 when he died had become dependent
was 57 when he died had become dependent on powerful opioids after having
on powerful opioids after having
on powerful opioids after having corrective hip surgery in 2010 other
corrective hip surgery in 2010 other
corrective hip surgery in 2010 other famous deaths with links to prescription
famous deaths with links to prescription
famous deaths with links to prescription drug addiction include philip Seymour
drug addiction include philip Seymour
drug addiction include philip Seymour Hoffman’s in 2014 Whitney Houston’s in
Hoffman’s in 2014 Whitney Houston’s in
Hoffman’s in 2014 Whitney Houston’s in 2012 and Michael Jackson’s in 2009 a
2012 and Michael Jackson’s in 2009 a
2012 and Michael Jackson’s in 2009 a toxicology report into the 2008 death of
toxicology report into the 2008 death of
toxicology report into the 2008 death of actor Heath Ledger
actor Heath Ledger
actor Heath Ledger concluded that his death was caused by
concluded that his death was caused by
concluded that his death was caused by abuse of prescribed medications while
abuse of prescribed medications while
abuse of prescribed medications while Monika Dannemann the last girlfriend of
Monika Dannemann the last girlfriend of
Monika Dannemann the last girlfriend of legendary musician Jimi Hendrix
legendary musician Jimi Hendrix
legendary musician Jimi Hendrix disclosed that he had taken 18 times the
disclosed that he had taken 18 times the
disclosed that he had taken 18 times the recommended dosage of her prescription
recommended dosage of her prescription
recommended dosage of her prescription sleeping pills before he died in
sleeping pills before he died in
sleeping pills before he died in September 1970 number five our
September 1970 number five our
September 1970 number five our prescription drugs more dangerous than
prescription drugs more dangerous than
prescription drugs more dangerous than illegal drugs reports began to emerge
illegal drugs reports began to emerge
illegal drugs reports began to emerge that prescription drugs post more of a
that prescription drugs post more of a
that prescription drugs post more of a danger to America than illegal
danger to America than illegal
danger to America than illegal substances in the 21st century according
substances in the 21st century according
substances in the 21st century according to the Pew Health Group in 2009 the
to the Pew Health Group in 2009 the
to the Pew Health Group in 2009 the number of people killed by drug
number of people killed by drug
number of people killed by drug poisoning surpassed motor vehicle
poisoning surpassed motor vehicle
poisoning surpassed motor vehicle fatalities for the first time ever due
fatalities for the first time ever due
fatalities for the first time ever due in large part to increased prescriptions
in large part to increased prescriptions
in large part to increased prescriptions in 2009 almost 500,000 emergency room
in 2009 almost 500,000 emergency room
in 2009 almost 500,000 emergency room visits were due to prescription drug
visits were due to prescription drug
visits were due to prescription drug abuse costing between 60 and 80 billion
abuse costing between 60 and 80 billion
abuse costing between 60 and 80 billion dollars and in 2010 more people were
dollars and in 2010 more people were
dollars and in 2010 more people were addicted to painkillers than they were
addicted to painkillers than they were
addicted to painkillers than they were to cocaine heroin stimulants and
to cocaine heroin stimulants and
to cocaine heroin stimulants and sedatives combined in 2014
sedatives combined in 2014
sedatives combined in 2014 Psychology Today summed up the
Psychology Today summed up the
Psychology Today summed up the statistics by stating that quote
statistics by stating that quote
statistics by stating that quote contrary to popular mythology
contrary to popular mythology
contrary to popular mythology prescription drugs are more lethal than
prescription drugs are more lethal than
prescription drugs are more lethal than illegal or street drugs number 4
illegal or street drugs number 4
illegal or street drugs number 4 how did prescription drugs become so
how did prescription drugs become so
how did prescription drugs become so prevalent the prescription drug boom
prevalent the prescription drug boom
prevalent the prescription drug boom happened about midway through the 20th
happened about midway through the 20th
happened about midway through the 20th century valium was introduced in 1963
century valium was introduced in 1963
century valium was introduced in 1963 as one of the first aggressively
as one of the first aggressively
as one of the first aggressively advertised drugs it became the first
advertised drugs it became the first
advertised drugs it became the first ever drug to reach 1 billion dollars in
ever drug to reach 1 billion dollars in
ever drug to reach 1 billion dollars in sales with analysts estimating that more
sales with analysts estimating that more
sales with analysts estimating that more than 2 billion pills were taken by
than 2 billion pills were taken by
than 2 billion pills were taken by Americans in 1978 xanax arrived in 1981
Americans in 1978 xanax arrived in 1981
Americans in 1978 xanax arrived in 1981 as a treatment for anxiety while a
as a treatment for anxiety while a
as a treatment for anxiety while a recent rise in ADHD diagnosis has
recent rise in ADHD diagnosis has
recent rise in ADHD diagnosis has resulted in increased availability of
resulted in increased availability of
resulted in increased availability of further prescription stimulants the
further prescription stimulants the
further prescription stimulants the first antidepressants were introduced in
first antidepressants were introduced in
first antidepressants were introduced in the 50s but the FDA only approved Prozac
the 50s but the FDA only approved Prozac
the 50s but the FDA only approved Prozac in the late 80s in 2010 over 20 4.4
in the late 80s in 2010 over 20 4.4
in the late 80s in 2010 over 20 4.4 million prescriptions for Prozac were
million prescriptions for Prozac were
million prescriptions for Prozac were given in America number 3 how big is the
given in America number 3 how big is the
given in America number 3 how big is the pharmaceutical industry statistics that
pharmaceutical industry statistics that
pharmaceutical industry statistics that the US pharmaceutical industry makes up
the US pharmaceutical industry makes up
the US pharmaceutical industry makes up around 40 percent of the global
around 40 percent of the global
around 40 percent of the global pharmaceutical market as 6 out of the
pharmaceutical market as 6 out of the
pharmaceutical market as 6 out of the planet’s top 11 drug company
planet’s top 11 drug company
planet’s top 11 drug company are based in America pharmaceutical
are based in America pharmaceutical
are based in America pharmaceutical research and manufacturers of America
research and manufacturers of America
research and manufacturers of America describes the biopharmaceutical sector
describes the biopharmaceutical sector
describes the biopharmaceutical sector as quote a major contributor to the US
as quote a major contributor to the US
as quote a major contributor to the US economy valuing it at seven hundred and
economy valuing it at seven hundred and
economy valuing it at seven hundred and ninety billion dollars annually and
ninety billion dollars annually and
ninety billion dollars annually and attributing to it around 3.4 million
attributing to it around 3.4 million
attributing to it around 3.4 million jobs in 2015 Forbes listed Johnson &
jobs in 2015 Forbes listed Johnson &
jobs in 2015 Forbes listed Johnson & Johnson as America’s largest drug
Johnson as America’s largest drug
Johnson as America’s largest drug company closely followed by Pfizer the
company closely followed by Pfizer the
company closely followed by Pfizer the former of which has a market cap at two
former of which has a market cap at two
former of which has a market cap at two hundred and seventy five point seven
hundred and seventy five point seven
hundred and seventy five point seven billion dollars while the latter clocks
billion dollars while the latter clocks
billion dollars while the latter clocks in at 211 point seven billion dollars
in at 211 point seven billion dollars
in at 211 point seven billion dollars number two what role do doctors play
number two what role do doctors play
number two what role do doctors play since 1999
since 1999
since 1999 the number of opioid prescriptions
the number of opioid prescriptions
the number of opioid prescriptions issued by American doctors to adults and
issued by American doctors to adults and
issued by American doctors to adults and children has unquestionably increased
children has unquestionably increased
children has unquestionably increased the rise can be linked to well-meaning
the rise can be linked to well-meaning
the rise can be linked to well-meaning doctors changing their approach in the
doctors changing their approach in the
doctors changing their approach in the 1980s and 90s when more emphasis was
1980s and 90s when more emphasis was
1980s and 90s when more emphasis was given to relieving patients of pain the
given to relieving patients of pain the
given to relieving patients of pain the problem then was all ego analgesia what
problem then was all ego analgesia what
problem then was all ego analgesia what the under treatment of pain is called in
the under treatment of pain is called in
the under treatment of pain is called in the scientific community as more
the scientific community as more
the scientific community as more tolerance was expected from patients
tolerance was expected from patients
tolerance was expected from patients however as medicine advanced the ability
however as medicine advanced the ability
however as medicine advanced the ability to alleviate pain was developed and such
to alleviate pain was developed and such
to alleviate pain was developed and such medications were given out generously
medications were given out generously
medications were given out generously now according to an estimate by the
now according to an estimate by the
now according to an estimate by the National Academy of Medicine formerly
National Academy of Medicine formerly
National Academy of Medicine formerly the Institute of Medicine around 100
the Institute of Medicine around 100
the Institute of Medicine around 100 million Americans have chronic pain the
million Americans have chronic pain the
million Americans have chronic pain the numbers now seem too top-heavy the other
numbers now seem too top-heavy the other
numbers now seem too top-heavy the other way where once too many people were in
way where once too many people were in
way where once too many people were in pain now too many are too readily
pain now too many are too readily
pain now too many are too readily diagnosed as suffering from it number
diagnosed as suffering from it number
diagnosed as suffering from it number one how will this affect future
one how will this affect future
one how will this affect future generations America’s addiction to
generations America’s addiction to
generations America’s addiction to prescription drugs is set to continue
prescription drugs is set to continue
prescription drugs is set to continue for years to come though it will likely
for years to come though it will likely
for years to come though it will likely be routinely put under scrutiny with
be routinely put under scrutiny with
be routinely put under scrutiny with every high-profile victim however
every high-profile victim however
every high-profile victim however Americans and the international
Americans and the international
Americans and the international community as a whole should expect
community as a whole should expect
community as a whole should expect prescription drugs to become
prescription drugs to become
prescription drugs to become increasingly difficult to obtain as
increasingly difficult to obtain as
increasingly difficult to obtain as authorities and health agencies try to
authorities and health agencies try to
authorities and health agencies try to regain control of the situation
regain control of the situation
regain control of the situation in October 2015 President Barack Obama
in October 2015 President Barack Obama
in October 2015 President Barack Obama announced a plan to combat opioid abuse
announced a plan to combat opioid abuse
announced a plan to combat opioid abuse labeling it a national priority there’s
labeling it a national priority there’s
labeling it a national priority there’s a huge emphasis on doctors and their
a huge emphasis on doctors and their
a huge emphasis on doctors and their prescribing painkillers and
prescribing painkillers and
prescribing painkillers and antidepressants appropriately but the
antidepressants appropriately but the
antidepressants appropriately but the general public also has a responsibility
general public also has a responsibility
general public also has a responsibility to recognize the
to recognize the
to recognize the dangers for physicians doing what’s best
dangers for physicians doing what’s best
dangers for physicians doing what’s best for the patient is a balancing act
for the patient is a balancing act
for the patient is a balancing act achieved a little more easily with
achieved a little more easily with
achieved a little more easily with understanding from the other side of the
understanding from the other side of the
understanding from the other side of the desk did these facts get you thinking
desk did these facts get you thinking
desk did these facts get you thinking to vote for which news story is covered
to vote for which news story is covered
to vote for which news story is covered next head over to watchmojo.com slash
next head over to watchmojo.com slash
next head over to watchmojo.com slash suggest and be sure to hit that
suggest and be sure to hit that
suggest and be sure to hit that subscribe button for more newsworthy top
subscribe button for more newsworthy top
subscribe button for more newsworthy top 10s published every week
”
Be First to Comment