*All statistics are cited next to information obtained.
After growing up off and on in Utah County, I came to notice the most common prescription drugs abused by teenagers and adults alike are; Lortab, Percocette, Xanax = (also nicknamed "The Suicide drug") several times I have heard Xanax tends to make people extremely depressed and suicide has been a result. Also Morphine = (oftentimes in the form of a sucker) Oxycontin, Hydrocodone, Klonopin, Methadone, Aderall, etc. I remember being in the grocery lines at Wal-Mart I would over hear conversations regarding "doctor hopping" to find a doctor who would prescribe a certain drug they were craving. Oftentimes, these people will admit themselves to the Emergency room in several different hospitals claiming they are in some sort of pain, in order to be immediately hooked up to an IV containing one of the above drugs.
In my opinion, everyone knows at least one person who has had a problem in the past with prescription drug addiction, or they themselves have struggled with it. Yet what is being done to prevent it, before it begins? Here is some information and overwhelming statistics I found on the subject;
"A large increase in deaths due to opiate prescription pain medications have occurred in Utah." - Health Utah.gov
Most commonly abused prescription drugs; (National Institute on Drug Abuse
Opioids - often prescribed to treat pain
CNS Depressants - used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders.
Stimulants - prescribed to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
An article from uwire.com states; Prescription drug overdoses kill more Utahns than carcrashes and the number of overdose-related deaths is on the rise, according to a 2009 study by the Utah Department of Health released in April.
“After a decrease in 2008, it’s tremendously disheartening to see the number of deaths increasing again,” said UDOH Executive Director David Sundwall in a statement regarding the study. “We have a serious problem in this state. … In fact, I rank this near the top of public health priorities in Utah.”
Utah is a leading state in pain medication abuse, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, but painkillers aren’t the only medications subject to misuse.
According to studies by the Utah SMART coalition; 70 percent of those who abuse pain relievers say they get them from friends or relations, typically without their knowledge. Nordfelt suggests locking medications in a safe, changing their location often or throwing them away.
Utah tops the nation in non-medical painkiller abuse. - U.S. Department of Health (associated press 03/05/2007)
"40% of Utahans have used prescription drugs for non-medical use in their lifetime." (Twice the National average) -The Daily Herald
"Utah prescribes nearly twice as many anti-depressants then the national average." - L.A. Times
This has to make you wonder if this could have anything to do with Utah having more suicides than the national average in age group. - National Center for injury prevention and Control
"In 2006, prescription drug overdoses accounted for more than twice the deaths from illegal drugs." - The Associated Press (3/5/2007)
After growing up off and on in Utah County, I came to notice the most common prescription drugs abused by teenagers and adults alike are; Lortab, Percocette, Xanax = (also nicknamed "The Suicide drug") several times I have heard Xanax tends to make people extremely depressed and suicide has been a result. Also Morphine = (oftentimes in the form of a sucker) Oxycontin, Hydrocodone, Klonopin, Methadone, Aderall, etc. I remember being in the grocery lines at Wal-Mart I would over hear conversations regarding "doctor hopping" to find a doctor who would prescribe a certain drug they were craving. Oftentimes, these people will admit themselves to the Emergency room in several different hospitals claiming they are in some sort of pain, in order to be immediately hooked up to an IV containing one of the above drugs.
In my opinion, everyone knows at least one person who has had a problem in the past with prescription drug addiction, or they themselves have struggled with it. Yet what is being done to prevent it, before it begins? Here is some information and overwhelming statistics I found on the subject;
"A large increase in deaths due to opiate prescription pain medications have occurred in Utah." - Health Utah.gov
Most commonly abused prescription drugs; (National Institute on Drug Abuse
Opioids - often prescribed to treat pain
CNS Depressants - used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders.
Stimulants - prescribed to treat narcolepsy and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
An article from uwire.com states; Prescription drug overdoses kill more Utahns than carcrashes and the number of overdose-related deaths is on the rise, according to a 2009 study by the Utah Department of Health released in April.
“After a decrease in 2008, it’s tremendously disheartening to see the number of deaths increasing again,” said UDOH Executive Director David Sundwall in a statement regarding the study. “We have a serious problem in this state. … In fact, I rank this near the top of public health priorities in Utah.”
Utah is a leading state in pain medication abuse, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, but painkillers aren’t the only medications subject to misuse.
According to studies by the Utah SMART coalition; 70 percent of those who abuse pain relievers say they get them from friends or relations, typically without their knowledge. Nordfelt suggests locking medications in a safe, changing their location often or throwing them away.
Utah tops the nation in non-medical painkiller abuse. - U.S. Department of Health (associated press 03/05/2007)
"40% of Utahans have used prescription drugs for non-medical use in their lifetime." (Twice the National average) -The Daily Herald
"Utah prescribes nearly twice as many anti-depressants then the national average." - L.A. Times
This has to make you wonder if this could have anything to do with Utah having more suicides than the national average in age group. - National Center for injury prevention and Control
"In 2006, prescription drug overdoses accounted for more than twice the deaths from illegal drugs." - The Associated Press (3/5/2007)