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Prescription Drug Abuse among Women and Teenagers – What to Look Out for

By: Christy Berger

Prescription drug abuse is far more prominent in the United States then one might expect. Pain killers as the most prevalent drug in society today apart from cannabis, and other drugs such as tranquilizers, sedatives and stimulants are also heavily abused. The supply and consumption of illegal drugs is on the rise among women and teenagers especially, with many non profit groups calling out for stricter measures to be put in place in order to curb this growing problem.

With calls for actions among campaigners, many say they want to make it harder for people to get their hands on prescription drugs that are addictive or have affects which would make people want to take them recreationally. Further more they feel that drugs should be given out in smaller quantities and checks ups should be given following a course of drugs to ensure that no signs of addiction are there. Many campaigners also look at the public health care systems of many countries around the world and feel that they are experiencing fewer problems as a result of the system they have in place. They are of the belief that more attention can be given to a patient when they are not paying a rate for health care, and that those in lower social classes (which are more likely to suffer prescription drug problems) can get the attention that they deserve.

Women and teenagers are more likely to suffer the side effects of prescription drugs than men. The reason for this is that there bodies tend to be less developed, and therefore larger quantities have a greater effect. It is also the case that women are more likely to suffer morbidity problems than men, which tend to be a large side effect of abuse of prescription drugs which is known to weaken ones immune system.

Weight Fluctuations

A weight fluctuation in both directions is a common side effect of prescription drug abuse. Often in the case of teenage boys particularly a parent should watch out for an increase in muscle bulk which could indicate the effects of anabolic steroids. Teenage boys are drawn towards this because it can expatiate puberty, make them look more muscular and enhance performance in sporting events.

Depression

Depression is something which can easily be caused by an abuse of prescription drugs; however it can often be difficult to notice or diagnose effectively. If you suspect your loved one may be depressed as a result of prescription drug abuse it is best that you have them seen by a medical professional.

Sleeping Patterns

Those that are addicted to prescription drugs will have very different sleeping patterns from those are not, depending on the drugs that they are taking. If you notice that they sleep for long periods at a time, or stay up for very long periods at a time then these could both be strong indicators. It is worthy of note that sleeping patterns and weight alterations can be linked to sleeping patterns too.

Prescription drug abuse is far more prominent in the United States then one might expect. Pain killers as the most prevalent drug in society today apart from cannabis, and other drugs such as tranquilizers, sedatives and stimulants are also heavily abused.

This article is written by Christy Berger. A longer version of this article can be found along with other home drug testing and steroids drug tests at Prescription Drug Abuse and Drug Testing and How Does Hair Drug Testing Work?. You can also read some more about drug testing in the frequently asked questions sections about on Teenager Home Hair Drug Testing.

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.


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