23 Astonishing Prescription Drug Facts Right Under Our Nose That No One Sees

Taking prescription medicines is fairly new when considering the home remedies grandma used to make you better.

According to HealthSmart, the first medicinal drugs were from natural sources i.e. herbs, plants, roots, vines, and fungi. And we used these health fixes until the mid-nineteenth century.

We think nothing of filling a prescription, taking the medication--despite side-effect warnings--trusting our wellbeing to a pill. Though sometimes such medication is needed, it's clear that our trust is gravely misplaced.

While researching prescription drugs, I discovered some startling facts about the pharmaceutical that gave me pause. As a result of what I found, I thought it appropriate to title this post "23 Astonishing Prescription Drug Facts Right Under Our Nose That No One Sees."


23 Astonishing Prescription Drug Facts:

1. From 2001 to 2013 overdose deaths from antidepressants, barbiturates, benzodiazepines and opioids increased by 2500 more each year or 32,500 over a 13-year period.
2. From 2001 to 2013 overdose deaths from opioids painkillers i.e. methadone and synthetic narcotics increased by 3000 more each year or 39,000 over a 13-year period.
3. Because of their potential for abuse and addiction, the DEA categorizes many prescription drugs with opium and cocaine. These are the stimulants Ritalin and Dexedrine and the painkillers OxyContin, Demerol, and Roxanol.
4. Heroin, cocaine, LSD, methamphetamine and Ecstasy were once prescribed by doctors or psychiatrists and were later banned because of their harmful effects.
5. Abuse of prescription drugs is riskier than the abuse of illegally manufactured drugs.
6. Overdose deaths due to OxyContin almost tripled in the last five years.
7. When drug dealing results in the buyer's death or serious injury, the dealer can face life imprisonment.
8. Over-the-counter cold and cough medicines containing the drug Dextromethorphan (DXM) are also abused. DMX is sold in syrup, gel and tablet form and over the Internet as a powder.
9. DXM is found in more than 100 products, of which Coricidin and Robitussin are abused the most. Mixed with alcohol, DXM can result in death.
10. Every day in the U.S. 2,500 youth (12 to 17) abuse prescription pain reliever for the first time.
11. More than 15 million people abuse prescription drugs in the U.S.--which is more than those abusing cocaine, heroin, inhalants, and hallucinogens combined.
12. In 2006, more than 2.6 million people abused prescription drugs for the first time.
13. A 2007 U.S. survey reported 3.3% of 12 to 17-year-olds and 6% fo 17 to 25-year-olds had abused prescription drugs within the last month.
14. Prescription drug abuse causes the largest percentage of drug overdose deaths.
15. Of the 22,400 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2005, opioid painkillers accounted for 38.2%.
16. 4.4 million teenagers (12-17) admitted to taking prescription painkillers for recreation.
17. 2.3 million teens abused the prescription stimulant Ritalin.
18. 2.2 million teens abused over-the-counter cough syrup.
19. The average age for first-time users is no 13-14.
20. 70% of teens who abuse prescription drugs say they get them from their home medicine cabinet.
21. Of the 1.4 million emergency room admissions in 2005, 598,542 were associated with abuse of pharmaceuticals.
22. The DEA reported that the painkiller Fentanyl killed more than 1,000 people in 2007.
23. Fentanyl is 50 times more powerful than heroin but is still being prescribed.

The CDC (Center For Disease Control) reports that by 2009, drug overdose deaths outnumbered deaths due to motor vehicle crashes to 2010 as prescribing enough painkillers to medicate every adult in the U.S. around the clock for a month.

Source: CDC and DEA statistics
Article was written by Peggy Hatchet James
Copyright © 2015