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Danielle Daiger

Mrs. Palcko

English 112

24 May 2017

Doctors Turn Patients Into Drug Addicts

A frequently asked question around the world: What is drug addiction and how does one

become addicted? Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use

that is compulsive, despite harmful consequences (NIDA). One does not wake up one morning

and decide to become a drug addict. The user normally has no intentions on getting fixated on

drugs. Many people become addicted because of the medication doctors prescribe to them after a

surgery, serious injury, or for chronic pain. In 2014, almost 50,000 people died from overdosing

on drugs both legal and illicit (Annual Causes of Death in the United States). Doctors all over the

world over-prescribe medication that is highly addictive for a prolonged amount of time, leading

the patient to use illegal drugs when the prescribed medications are no longer available creating a

drug addict.

Drug addiction is a serious problem all around the world, especially in the United States.

In the U.S. 7 out of 10 Americans have been on at least one prescription painkiller in their

lifetime (Top 8 Most Drug-Addicted Countries). These statistics show that the majority of

Americans have experienced the effects of prescription painkillers. Any one of those patients

could have been the one to get addicted, but only a select few actually end up becoming

addicted. Why do only a few get addicted? Doctors over-prescribe their patients in small cases,

such as having a headache, opioids in order to take care of the minor pain for them. The strongest

and most addictive drugs are prescribed to these patients. The opioids target the dopamine in
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their brain, and those levels increase drastically. The high levels make them feel pleasure, have

an abundance amount of energy, and other side effects from the increased levels. When the

patients levels of dopamine return back to normal, the patient wants to return to that high

sensational feeling again, leading them to consume more and more of that particular opioid.

When this drug is no longer available or needed for this patient, they turn to illegal substances in

order to retrieve that same high feeling and pleasure as before. When the patient turns to illegal

drugs, it becomes more dangerous and likely they will eventually become a drug addict. Doctors

do not just over prescribe, they prescribe highly addictive painkillers that could hurt the patient

more in the long run.

These drugs are produced in liquid, capsule, or tablet form. Opioids are drugs that act on

the nervous system to relieve pain (Watch Truth About Drugs). Opioids are very addictive drugs

that doctors prescribe to their patients in high doses. These painkillers and illegal drugs are

chemically very similar; although the chemical makeup is similar, one is slightly more perilous.

It is commonly believed illegal drugs would be easier to get in the society where these people

live in today but the truth is opioids are easier to get nowadays. It is possible to go into the

hospital, complain about a headache, and the doctors give that person opioids to relieve the pain.

The largest consumer of painkillers in the world is the U.S.A., using 71% of the worlds

oxycodone and 99% of the worlds hydrocodone or Vicodin, which are different types of

common opioids used in the medical field (Substance abuse and mental health services

administration). The doctors of the United States over prescribe their patients with highly

addictive drugs. This combination is dangerous and can possibly be deadly. These opioids are

what leads the patient to start using illegal drugs when they are no longer qualified to receive

them. Studies show that around 75 percent of new heroin users first become addicted to
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prescription opioids (Lawlor). Why do they become addicted to the opioids first? The doctors

prescribe addictive opioids and they are easily accessible. This causes them to become addicted

to the painkillers. When the prescription for the opioids runs out or is no longer available to the

patient, they turn to illegal drug or whatever is easiest for them to get their hands on.

Doctors prescribe these opioids for a prolonged amount of time. The longer the doctor

prescribes these opioids, the more the patient will need in order to feel the relief or pleasure as

before. The painkillers will not have the same effect on the body or brain as they did the first

time the user took them. This is because the brain adapts to the drug being in the body and the

presence of it and builds up a tolerance to the drug. This leads to the patient needing a higher

dosage in order to acquire the desired result. A recent survey from the Washington Post-Kaiser

Family Foundation shows that one-third of Americans who have taken prescription opioids for

at least two months say they became addicted to the powerful painkillers (Clement). This is a

significant number of patients that ended up getting addicted to the opioids. This is due to the

duration they have been prescribed the painkillers. This leads the patient to taking illegal drugs to

get the pleasure/feeling back or in order to continue to receive that feeling when the drug is no

longer available to them. The patient will try to retrieve more of the prescription or they will use

illegal drugs until they can get their new prescription. They turn to illegal drugs or whatever they

can get in order to return to that high feeling. The doctors have created drug addicts from

prescribing their patient painkillers for a prolonged amount of time. There are better ways to

prescribe to the patient other than using dangerous opioids.

However, doctors are trying to work on safer alternatives in the place of opioids. Some

doctors overlook these better and safer possibilities due to the patient's demands or the

availability of the painkillers. These other options for the patients include physical therapy, anti-
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inflammatory drugs, acupuncture, exercise and so on (Board). These other choices are mostly

available to every patient. The doctor, however, neglects these ideas because the opioids are

easier to prescribe. There are other problems that arise with these options though. Some

insurance companies do not support these alternatives to painkillers, but by putting regulations

and laws for the companies to cover these plans, they can reduce the possibility of their patient

getting addicted. The doctors simply just overlook the safer alternatives.

Doctors all over the world prescribe medication in high doses that are highly addictive for

a prolonged amount of time, leading the patient to use illegal drugs when the prescribed

medications are no longer available, creating a drug addict. They turn to whatever they can get

their hands on in order to return back to the pleasure they felt before. Doctors might not be the

only people responsible for the patient's addiction but they play a major role in contributing

towards it, but by taking precautions it is possible to dramatically reduce the drug addiction and

overdose numbers. There are better ways around everyone to substitute for the painkillers. These

benefit the doctor, patient, and the world around. People all over the world, in the hospital are

getting prescribed painkillers, one of them can be the next victim to drug abuse.

Works Cited

Annual Causes of Death in the United States. Drug War Facts,

drugwarfacts.org/chapter/causes_of_death. Accessed 17 May 2017.

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Board, The Editorial. "Safer Alternatives to Opioids." New York Times, 30 Aug. 2016, p. A20(L).

Global Issues in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A461920885/GIC?u=mass12242&xid=e2a721fe. Accessed

16 May 2017.

Clement, Scott, and Lenny Bernstein. "One-third of long-term users say they're hooked on

prescription opioids." Washington Post, 9 Dec. 2016. Global Issues in Context,

link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A473424497/GIC?u=mass12242&xid=3c7c7155. Accessed

15 May 2017.

Lawlor, Joe. "Lepage Administration Proposes New Rules for Prescribing Opioids as Way to

Combat Heroin Crisis." Portland Press Herald (ME), 02 Mar. 2016. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,custuid&custid=inf

hio&db=nfh&AN=2W623225164&site=ehost-live.

NIDA (2016). Understanding Drug Use and Addiction. Retrieved May 11, 2017, from

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction

Substance abuse and mental health services administration. http://store.samhsa.gov/home

Accessed 14 May 2017.

Top 8 Most Drug-Addicted Countries; Where Does U.S Stand? Addiction Unscripted, Blvd

Treatment Center, 3 Feb. 2017,

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https://www.addictionunscripted.com/top-8-most-drug-addicted-countries-where-does-u-

s-stand/. Accessed 12 May 2017.

Watch Truth About Drugs Documentary Video & Learn About Substance Addiction. Get The

Facts About Painkillers, Marijuana, Cocaine, Meth & Other Illegal Drugs. Foundation

for a Drug-Free World,

www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/prescription/opioids-and-morphine-derivatives.html.

Accessed 14 May 2017.