Last updated : December 23, 2024
Millions of people rely on prescriptions to maintain health, but that’s not the whole story. Just like illicit drugs, prescribed medication can be hazardous to your health. Research by the Mayo Clinic shows that about 70 percent of Americans take at least one prescription medication regularly. In 2011, the top five most common prescriptions added up to just under $29 billion in spending for U.S. consumers. Even the most useful prescription drugs can seriously harm users if they are not taken according to a doctor’s directions.
The Centers for Disease Control have called prescription drug overdose “an epidemic” in the United States. According to the CDC, deaths from prescription drug overdose occurred once about every 19 minutes in 2007. Not only that, but between 2003 and 2012, certain types of prescription drugs have killed more than heroin and cocaine combined.
Medicine is Not for Sharing
Prescription drug users don’t primarily obtain their fix by stealing from pharmacies, though it does happen. Reports indicate roughly 20 percent of abusers of prescription medications get them from their doctor while about 70 percent may have gotten them from a friend or a relative. A smaller portion get them after they’ve passed from a person with a prescription to a stranger or person dealing in stolen medication.
Law enforcement is raiding more “pill mills” because prescription drug abuse is on the rise. The number of deaths dropped briefly in 2012 before rising again. After a four year period that ended in 2012, law enforcement agencies reported dealing with the abuse of painkillers about 18 percent more often and are concerned that prescription drug users can move on to other more illegal drugs.
It’s not just intentional abuse that’s a danger. Once they’ve gone home with the correct patient, people with prescriptions should be aware of more than just the side-effects and drug interactions.
Overdosing After Failing to Take a Dose
In many cases, the problem starts when prescription users realize they forgot to take a scheduled dose. Panicking, they decide to take two doses at the same time to “make up” for the lapse. This can be extremely dangerous, throwing the body into shock as the liver and kidneys have to process more of a drug than they should.
Forgetting to Take a Dose for an Extended Time
Many “maintenance” medications are intended to be taken over a long period of time while the patient works to resolve an underlying health concern. Some prescriptions, like blood pressure and anti-psychotic medications, might be taken indefinitely for as long as they work. Forgetting to take a dose can lead to dramatic, rapid health consequences.
Taking Medication in Incorrect Ways
Taking a dose incorrectly can be troublesome, too. Many prescriptions have to be taken with food or water, helping the body to process the medication effectively. Others have to be taken at certain times of day. Prescriptions can have unexpected side effects when taken in the wrong ways. These can result in serious accidents or health emergencies.
Listen to Your Doctor and Your Pharmacist
Your doctor tells you how to properly take your medication, but you can also ask your pharmacist. Beyond learning simple things like the color and shape of new medications, you can double check the label, dosage amount, and any special instructions your physician may not have spent time explaining. Some drugs lead to addiction more than others, so being aware before starting your regimen is responsible and reduces accidents. Many medications are designed to be taken until nothing is left. Some, like painkillers, are designed to be used for a short period of time as needed, but not saved. Besides expiration dates and legal trouble, it can be a danger to others, whether found accidentally by a child or sought specifically by a person with an addiction. If the right people use the right drugs in the right way, drugs meant to heal will end up killing fewer of the people who use them.
