PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE AMONG WOMEN By: Brittany Allen

SUMMARY  Focus on prescription drug abuse within women located within the United States  Features a personal story, statistics, side effects, and treatment  Serious issue that needs more attention

STATISTICS  CDC has claimed prescription drug abuse among women an epidemic  Between 1999 and 2010 nearly 48,000 women were killed due to prescription painkiller overdoes  42 women die each day from an overdose  In 2010 over 940,000 women were seen in an E.R. for drug misuse or abuse  “While men are more likely to die of a prescription painkiller overdose, the percentage increase in deaths since 1999 was greater among women.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013)

STATISTICS

WHY IS PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE SO COMMON?  Availability of drugs  Lisa’s story, part 1

SIGNS OF ABUSING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS  According to timberlineknolls.com they say the following are all behaviors associated with prescription drug abuse: 1.Frequent requests for refills from physicians 2.Losing prescriptions and requesting replacements regularly 3.Crushing or breaking pills 4.Stealing or borrowing prescription medications from family members/friends/co-workers

SIGNS OF ABUSING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS CONT. 5. Consuming prescriptions much faster than indicated 6. Visiting multiple doctors for similar conditions 7. Inconsistent answers about prescription usage 8. Stealing or forging prescriptions 9. Ordering prescription medication over the internet

SOME WOMEN SAY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS MAKE THEM BETTER MOMS  ABC News Video 

SIDE EFFECTS  Vary based on each person and prescriptions drugs being abused  Can include different aspects of life such as one’s personality, social life, financial situation, and one’s overall mental health.  3 drugs most susceptible to abuse

STATEMENT ABOUT DRUG ABUSE BY TIMBERKNOLLS.COM “If prescription drugs are taken for emotional problems without the supervision of a medical professional, the only result of the drugs will be to mask or numb the upset feelings. Although a person may not experience her depression for a period of time or she may be temporarily able to stop obsessing about a certain problem, in most cases, the problem is just made worse as the person is not learning how to effectively cope with the particular feelings and issues at hand. The abuse of prescription drugs often results in negative effects on personal relationships, employment difficulties and job loss, financial difficulties, legal issues, and psychological problems.”

SIDE EFFECTS ON LISA  Mental  Socially  Personality  Financially

TREATMENT  Resources and treatment available 

TREATMENT CONT.  Different components needed to find success  Detoxification, counseling, and sometimes the use of addiction medications (NIDA, 2011)  Multiple courses of treatment  Lisa and treatment

CONCLUSION  Importance of following doctor’s prescription perfectly  Educating yourselves and others  Questions?

REFERENCES "New CDC Vital Signs: Prescription Painkiller Epidemic Among Women." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 July Web. 21 Nov "Epidemic." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 21 Nov "Press Release." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 02 July Web. 21 Nov "Prescription Drug Addiction Symptoms and Effects." Prescription Drug Addiction. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov "Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction." Treating Prescription Drug Addiction. N.p., Oct Web. 21 Nov Golding, Lisa B. "My Story." Letter to Brittany Allen. Nov MS. N.p.