The Effects of Prescription Painkillers on Society

By definition, painkillers or the analgesic are the class of drugs whose administration helps in the achievement of analgesia and relief from severe pain. Markedly, the most potent and sufficient prescription painkillers are known as the opioids (Gill, 2013). Notably, the opioids’ mode of action is through the opioid receptors. These prescription painkillers were introduced in the United States in the early 1800s and were then hailed as the best drugs for use in pain reduction. Moreover, there are several categories of the opioids or prescription painkillers. These include the oxycodone, fentanyl, hydrocodone, as well as the methadone. Despite being essential, the prescription painkillers have been associated with several effects that are both short-term and also a long term in the American society. But since the establishment of these opioids, there has been an increase in mortality rates in the United States. As a result, the higher death rates that result from the effects of these prescription painkillers have raised the alarm among the U.S healthcare sectors and the administration. Additionally, it has been estimated by the center for disease control (CDC) that the addiction to these painkillers and the prescription pills are killers of more than 15000 Americans annually and this effect continues to grow (Eastman, 2001). Therefore, this research summary aims at outlining the impacts of prescription painkillers on society. Moreover, its primary objective is to determine how the American culture is affected by the painkillers.

Problem Statement

The prescription painkillers are characterized by several challenges for teenage youth. These are short and long-term effects such as coma, memory problems, impaired judgment, mood swings on individuals. These challenges vary from time to time and from one individual youth to another. Not surprisingly, teenagers who abuse prescription drugs have highly involved themselves in criminal activities and are also secluded from their families and negated attitude in the families. Worse is the fact that there is a daily increase in the addiction to the prescription painkillers in the youth that is possibly brought about by the negative influence from both the fellow youth and the media that display moral decadence. With such alarming increases in both death rates and addiction rates, what are the effects of the addiction in the youth from a rich background and those from a poor background and the need to bar both groups of youths from the addiction?

Purpose of the Research Study

This study majorly aims at determining the effects of the addiction to the prescription painkillers in the two groups of youth in the American society. Moreover, an evaluation is carried out on the significant sources of opioids as well as the organization or the states that are most affected by painkiller addiction. Furthermore, there is also an establishment of the various methods in which the adverse effects of prescription painkillers would be reduced in this very research. The study would prove that too much consumption of analgesics has a severe impact on the human body and the society and the addiction is mostly acquired in the youth due to negative influence.

Research Objective

The research objective is to determine the adverse effects of addiction to the prescription painkillers on the American society.

Other Goals

To establish and evaluate the significant sources of prescription painkillers on American society. To identify the primary methods by which addiction to painkillers can be prevented. Creating various strategies and policies in which the community can positively encounter the effects of drug abuse. To outline the most states profoundly affected by the addiction to prescription painkillers. To reduce mortality rates that result from painkillers and drug abuse.

Research Methodology

The study employs the use of qualitative methodology in the collection of data that is used in the conclusion and answering of the objective. This qualitative data originates from the American citizens. The study employs open and closed-ended questionnaires in collecting primary and secondary data. The survey is performed after obtaining the consent of an individual. Moreover, data analysis would be done using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS)

Scope/Limitations of the Study

Despite extensive research on painkillers, there is a limitation to the health sector and a significant section of the population used in the study is the American society. Therefore, there is also limited ability to compare the effects of the prescription painkillers in the other youths across the world or other countries since the study exclusively focuses on the United States rather than other nations across the globe.

References

Eastman, P. (2001). New U.S. Campaign Targets Prescription Drug Abuse, Especially Painkillers. Emergency Medicine News, 23(6), 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00132981-200106000-00002

Gill, P. (2013). Prescription painkillers and controlled substances: an appraisal of drug information provided by six US pharmacies. Drug, Healthcare And Patient Safety, 29. http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/dhps.s42508