The crisis of medication abuse

The escalating abuse of medication, is sending just as many patients to the emergency room as illegal drugs. While medical professionals struggle to tackle the challenges of alcoholism and illegal drug abuse, hospital emergency rooms become more congested. 44% of all drug related emergency room visits involve prescription drugs taken improperly by those who have been prescribed the medication. Whether the drugs are obtained legally or illegally, abuse of prescription drugs has become more common in recent years.

Often disguised as stomach trouble or chest pain, overdoses and suicide attempts go undetected by those who treat the patients in the emergency room. Of the 115 million abuse of medicine cases per year 12% are admitted. Hospitals order treatment for patients needing care beyond what emergency room staff can provide. Treatment facilities around the country have decreased while the need for them has increased.Without proper care many who abuse medication return to the emergency room.

The problems experienced by those who abuse medication leads to the same social, financial, and physical deterioration as those who use an illegal drug.The suffering of prolonged drug abuse can not be treated in one emergency room visit. After a short screening and evaluation the patient is usually treated and released. With an average wait time of three hours unless they show visible signs of trauma, many patients wait as long as six hours.
The medications being abused such as opioids also known as hydrocodone and vicoden,oxycontin and others present many challenges for emergency room staff.