Introduction
Have you ever heard these words –hillbilly heroin, OC, a-minus, red birds, Vitamin R, and roses? There is no question we have heard some of these words. Yet, what is unexpected is they are all code words used by teens for prescription drugs per the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens (2016). Prescription drug abuse among teens has rapidly increased, and has become a public health concern. Teens who are abusing prescription drugs are at higher risk for other abusive problems (Milner, Ham, & Zamboanga, 2014.) With many other issues going on in today’s world, there is need to provide help and education to decrease the incidence of this issue. This paper will explore the epidemiology of this problem, explaining the web of causation, the role in Healthy People 2020, public interventions used thus far, and lastly, a nursing intervention plan to combat this problem. Epidemiology Problem Prescription drugs such as opioids, stimulants, and sedatives are being used appropriately for medical reasons, however fifty-two million people have used these drugs for non-medical reasons (Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), 2012). Unfortunately, it has been realized that this issue is becoming an epidemic, and that seventy-eight people are dying each day from prescription overdoses setting a record high in 2014 and beating out deaths due to motor vehicle accidents (Center for Disease Control (CDC), 2016a). There are many reasons for the increase in abuse; such as insufficient education, inappropriate prescribing, and pharmacy policies (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). Some reasons teens are abusing prescriptions are to self-medicate, stress, boredom, peer-pressure, parents who abuse, and to just have a high (DEA, 2013). Unfortunately, prescription drug use is the second most commonly abused drug after marijuana (Sham, 2011). Primary care providers and pharmacists are not monitoring the high-risk adolescent populations when prescribing medications. Today, in the changing medical field, there is focus on the adequate treatment of pain; increasing the number of prescriptions for opioids (Fortuna, Robbins, Caiola, Joynt, & Halterman, 2010). Although there are no current practices in how to monitor or screen individuals. The Department of Health and Human Services (2013) is researching what are important risk factors that are causing people to abuse prescription drugs. One astonishing fact from the CDC (2011) that we need to be aware of is: Enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for a month. Although most of these pills were prescribed for medical purposes, many ended up in the hands of people who misused or abused them. (p. 1) Incidence. In 2014, 2.5 percent or 6.4 million people twelve and older, are using prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons (Department of Health and Human Services (DHS), 2014). Furthermore, there were 4.3 million people, who were …show more content…
A study conducted by Viner et al. (2012) found that the structural factors such as access to resources, income, supportive schools and living environments are primary determinants to health of adolescents. Those living in environments with more crime and consider the environment not safe or please were more likely to have poorer health and more long term illnesses including mental illness (Smith et al., 2015). One important fact is parents that are abusing drugs or prescription drugs are likely to have children that experiment and become abusers themselves (“Substance Abuse Concerns”, 2016). Although there are many influences in a person’s life, the environment that a child grows up seems to play an important role on both health and healthy …show more content…
This is an important step for community members to understand the dangers of abusing prescription drugs (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). o Intervention:
3. The community members will verbalize 5 risk factors for the potential to abuse prescription drugs by the end of the presentation. o Intervention: The nurse will observe the community for any potential risk factors. This will provide the necessary information to educate the community about risk factors that affect that specific community (Viner et al., 2012). o Intervention: The nurse will provide information and explanation regarding risk factors that can lead to prescription drug abuse. As adolescents, they are influential and their brain is still developing. It important they have the needed information to understand the situation at their level (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013).
Have you ever heard these words –hillbilly heroin, OC, a-minus, red birds, Vitamin R, and roses? There is no question we have heard some of these words. Yet, what is unexpected is they are all code words used by teens for prescription drugs per the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens (2016). Prescription drug abuse among teens has rapidly increased, and has become a public health concern. Teens who are abusing prescription drugs are at higher risk for other abusive problems (Milner, Ham, & Zamboanga, 2014.) With many other issues going on in today’s world, there is need to provide help and education to decrease the incidence of this issue. This paper will explore the epidemiology of this problem, explaining the web of causation, the role in Healthy People 2020, public interventions used thus far, and lastly, a nursing intervention plan to combat this problem. Epidemiology Problem Prescription drugs such as opioids, stimulants, and sedatives are being used appropriately for medical reasons, however fifty-two million people have used these drugs for non-medical reasons (Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), 2012). Unfortunately, it has been realized that this issue is becoming an epidemic, and that seventy-eight people are dying each day from prescription overdoses setting a record high in 2014 and beating out deaths due to motor vehicle accidents (Center for Disease Control (CDC), 2016a). There are many reasons for the increase in abuse; such as insufficient education, inappropriate prescribing, and pharmacy policies (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). Some reasons teens are abusing prescriptions are to self-medicate, stress, boredom, peer-pressure, parents who abuse, and to just have a high (DEA, 2013). Unfortunately, prescription drug use is the second most commonly abused drug after marijuana (Sham, 2011). Primary care providers and pharmacists are not monitoring the high-risk adolescent populations when prescribing medications. Today, in the changing medical field, there is focus on the adequate treatment of pain; increasing the number of prescriptions for opioids (Fortuna, Robbins, Caiola, Joynt, & Halterman, 2010). Although there are no current practices in how to monitor or screen individuals. The Department of Health and Human Services (2013) is researching what are important risk factors that are causing people to abuse prescription drugs. One astonishing fact from the CDC (2011) that we need to be aware of is: Enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult around-the-clock for a month. Although most of these pills were prescribed for medical purposes, many ended up in the hands of people who misused or abused them. (p. 1) Incidence. In 2014, 2.5 percent or 6.4 million people twelve and older, are using prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons (Department of Health and Human Services (DHS), 2014). Furthermore, there were 4.3 million people, who were …show more content…
A study conducted by Viner et al. (2012) found that the structural factors such as access to resources, income, supportive schools and living environments are primary determinants to health of adolescents. Those living in environments with more crime and consider the environment not safe or please were more likely to have poorer health and more long term illnesses including mental illness (Smith et al., 2015). One important fact is parents that are abusing drugs or prescription drugs are likely to have children that experiment and become abusers themselves (“Substance Abuse Concerns”, 2016). Although there are many influences in a person’s life, the environment that a child grows up seems to play an important role on both health and healthy …show more content…
This is an important step for community members to understand the dangers of abusing prescription drugs (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). o Intervention:
3. The community members will verbalize 5 risk factors for the potential to abuse prescription drugs by the end of the presentation. o Intervention: The nurse will observe the community for any potential risk factors. This will provide the necessary information to educate the community about risk factors that affect that specific community (Viner et al., 2012). o Intervention: The nurse will provide information and explanation regarding risk factors that can lead to prescription drug abuse. As adolescents, they are influential and their brain is still developing. It important they have the needed information to understand the situation at their level (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2013).