One-in-four Americans purposefully misuse prescription drugs
From the article:
According to the survey, the most common form of misuse admitted by survey respondents involved use of a drug by someone other than the person listed on the prescription: as many as 24% of people say they have either taken a medicine that was prescribed to someone else or have given their own prescription medicines to someone else.
Much of the self-admitted drug abuse appears to be attempts to self-medicate a medical condition. Only 5% say they have taken a prescription medicine, whether their own or someone else’s, for the purpose of getting of high.
Approximately 3% of people say that have paid someone to obtain a prescription medicine and 1% of people say that they have stolen a medicine that was prescribed for someone else.
Filed under: General Problems
I don’t believe that chronic pain patients abuse their medicine. It is too hard to get. People who sprain their foot and don’t like the effect may sell or give it away. Maybe their sibling gets hurt and doesn’t have insurance. They might help them out. These are things I hear. I used to hoard medicine so I would have it when I couldn’t get to the Doctor or I dropped some and couldn’t find them(especially in the car) they disappear quickly in the car. I take morphine and they are tiny. If my car broke down I would have medicine. You sign a contract now and they test you to make sure it is in your system. The Doctors are the ones who insist that you abuse your meds. If it is not in my system it means I had a great week, it doesn’t mean I sold it on the black market. I am so tire and feel way older than my years. Living with chronic pain and being subjected to insults and disbelief I would do anything not to have to take pain medicine. I don’t want to abuse it, I just want to get through one more day.
My friends parent passed away.I gave him one of my Ambien to help him sleep.Is that just a kind gesture or a federal offense subject to a fine and or imprisonment?
Per Steve: Here is the statement on all controlled Rxs labels : Federal Law PROHIBITS the transfer of this drug to any person other than the patient for whom it was prescribed