OTC and Prescription Drugs Curbing the Power

OTC and Prescription Drugs

Curbing the Power of Drugs

Everyone knows about the enslaving effects of substance abuse and addiction. By now, everyone knows that addiction is a compulsive physical or psychological to take in more and more of a particular substance despite knowing its harm (Alta Mira 2013). Once the use of an addicting substance is begun and continued, it only takes some time to reach a point when quitting becomes difficult. If the use manages to quit, he soon falls back to it if the conditions that precipitated the addiction or dependence are not adequately addressed. Both prescription and non-prescription drugs are at least potentially addictive (Alta Mira).

Narcotics authorities enumerate the most widely known addictive drugs as nicotine, oxycontin, crack cocaine, heroin, metamphetamine, diazepam and Schedule I and II drugs (Alta Mira 2013). Schedule I and II drugs include hallucinogens, dissociative drugs and GHB, opioids, and cannabinoids. They have a high potential for abuse and are thus highly regulated and require special prescriptions.

Over-the-Counter Drugs vs. Prescription Drugs

Prescription drugs require prescriptions from a medical doctor (Terzo 2013). Over-the-counter or OTC medicines do not require prescriptions. They may be bought from the shelves. Both types of drugs are used for the treatment or management of disease from the initial stages up to prevention. Not all drugs, however, are regulated. Regulated ones are also not as accessible as non-regulated, non-prescription drugs. The regulatory body is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or FDA. The FDA uses a new drug application process in regulating prescription drugs. It also controls OTC drugs by determining dosage, ingredients, formulas, and appropriate labeling. Prescription drugs may be reclassified as OTC drugs when they meet certain criteria. Examples are nicotine gum and patches, which were reclassified in 1996 as prescription products into OTC drugs and became available along with other OTC drugs (Terzo).

Risks

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health recently reported that those who abuse both types of drugs rose from 4.7 million to 6.9 million from 2005 to 2007 alone (Terzo 2013). OTC drugs are easily accessible, available and safe when used as directed. But trends showed that not all OTC users take them as directed. A survey conducted by the University of Michigan in 2007 revealed that 6% of high school students admitted getting high by using OTC drugs the preceding year. That is equivalent to one in every 16 students. The real danger is in mixing these drugs with other substances, such as street drugs or prescription drugs taken from home. The combination is often fatal. Other risks are harmful interactions with supplements, foods or drinks, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (Terzo).

Abused Drugs

These are hallucinogens, diuretics and sleep aids (Saar 2013). The most commonly abused OTC non-prescription drugs are many cough suppressants with dextromethorphan as active ingredient. An excess dosage of these cough syrups with this active ingredient will produce the same effects as PCP or Ketamine. When they are taken in abnormally large amounts, they can cause hallucinations, hypoxic brain damage, nausea, vomiting, headache, and loss of consciousness. Anti-vertigo and anti-motion sickness drugs are OTC drugs, which can produce hallucinations, extreme drowsiness and even death when abused (Saar).

Diet pills and laxatives are also abused by those who want to lose weight quickly (Saar 2013). When uses see positive results from their use, it can easily develop into an addiction because of their ephedrine and caffeine content. But the use can be deadly if used too much. The Anti-Drug Organization said that caffeine and the other ingredients of diet pills are totally safe when ingested in moderation or as directed. But when taken to extreme, they can over-stimulate the nervous system. Sleep aids are another group of OTC drugs, which are often mis-used. When taken in extreme, they can lead to narcolepsy, a neurological disorder, characterized by strongly disrupted sleep. Users abruptly fall asleep at dangerous times, such as when driving, climbing the stairs or performing risky tasks (Saar).

Dependence or Addiction

Addiction is a condition of dependence on something for one's normal functioning

(Salmon 2008). It creates a mental state, which later creates physical dependence. In that state, the person relies on the substance for relief to the condition. It develops into an addiction when the drug tolerance reaches a high level. Addiction to prescribed drugs can happen without overdosing. One can become addicted or dependent on any drug according to his perception of addiction or dependence. It is addiction or dependence to rely or become inclined towards any substance or thing in order to function or survive. In such a case, the problem lies in the personality and not on the substance or thing (Salmon).

Drug addiction is the result of the nature of the drug, the personality make-up of the user and the circumstances attending to the abuse (Salmon 2013). It is primarily brought about by the personality weakness of the person. Most often, his emotional response to some personal setback or peer pressure opens him to dependence or addiction to mind-quieting drugs. It is not the drugs themselves that lead to it. Tranquilizers, heroin and alcohol are the major addictives when taken in heavy doses and frequently. Moreover, dependence and addiction are two different things. Dependence occurs when one stops using the substance. It is a tolerance problem. Addiction, on the other hand, means deliberately using the drug, a chronic problem symptom (Salmon).