Can Legal Drug Abuse be Controlled?

By December 24, 2008articles

Much has been said about drugs like cocaine and marijuana and how they’re being abused by people of all ages. Although these drugs have legitimate medical uses, they’re mainly dealt with in the black market and on the streets and advertised as mood elevators. Addiction sets in and there’s no going back from the vicious whirlpool of craving and depravation that you’re dragged into.

But if you thought that the drug problem began and ended with the use and abuse of illegal substances, you’re sadly mistaken. A greater market for abuse lies in legal drugs, both the ones that are prescribed for certain medical conditions and the ones that are available over the counter. Painkillers like Percodan, Vicodin, Oxycontin and Percocet are some of the most commonly abused drugs, followed by cough syrups that contain codeine and dextromethorphan, both of which are psychoactive narcotics that are extremely addictive. Sedatives like Seconal and Amytal and tranquilizers like Ativan, Valium and Librium prescribed for those with insomnia are also available easily and are used without valid prescriptions or beyond the time period set by physicians.

While pot and coke were the scourge of the hippie age and alcohol and nicotine followed all through the 80s and 90s, the new generation is hooked on drugs that are legal and available through prescriptions. Unlike the trafficking industry which can be controlled through rules and regulations to some extent, legal drugs must be made available for those who really need them. So the only way to stop them being misused is through a campaign that educates and increases awareness of the dangers of legal drug abuse.

Negative advertising have helped to control smoking and consumption of alcohol to an extent – with the price of cigarettes becoming dearer and the adverse effects of too much alcohol and tobacco in one’s system – liver failure and cancer to start with – have made people, especially teens, aware of the dangers of addiction to these substances.

The same tactic must be used to address the abuse of legal drugs – the situation of misuse has come about as a result of not enough awareness and education on the subject. People must be told of the negative effects on the system if they use painkillers, sedatives and tranquilizers without any medical reason whatsoever. While the change may not happen overnight, people, if they are smart enough and want to make a positive difference in their lives, will be willing to effect the change.

This article is contributed by Sarah Scrafford, who regularly writes on the topic of Becoming an Ultrasound Technician. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.

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Join the discussion 5 Comments

  • I am a former weed smoker, but have since dropped the recreational habit. For the sake of all those having to deal with daily pain in their lives, I hope that marijuana is legalized.
    Only then can they find some peace without persecution.

  • Legal Drugs says:

    Users should be very responsible in taking the legal drug and not abuse it otherwise they will have to suffer health consequences of intoxication.

  • Anonymous says:

    You know what’s interesting… try watching a handful of episodes of Intervention. I GUARANTEE that at least one person in those episodes will have been abusing prescription pills.

  • Katrina Kitwell says:

    Really great blog. I think the national deficit to include the overall cost of the infamous government bailouts and the stimulous could be wiped out if marijuana was made legal for personal use nationwide. However, I am currently pretty concerned with the whole idea of all of our medical records going live online. Do you know if there is a public poll for this or a contact from for the public to possibly reverse this idea? Thanks, Katrina

  • SweetSkunk says:

    Hey this is a great blog
    Everybody check this one out too!!
    http://www.benefitsofmedicalmarijuana.blogspot.com

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