At the beginning of the twentieth century, a man named Dr. Knock quoted, "Every well person is a sick person who doesn't know it", and started luring the people of Saint Maurice into unneeded medical treatment. Ever since then, prescription medications have continued to become increasingly popular in today's society. As more and more medical advancements develop, this epidemic is only getting larger. People are living longer and more comfortably, as long as that little orange bottle stays filled. However, many people are unaware of how these medications actually affect the body and that they can be highly addictive. To fully understand the drugs that are being commonly abused among, not only teenagers, but adults as well, one must analyze the intended treatment uses, the side effects, and the risk factors of three of the most frequently used medications. These include antidepressants, stimulants, and opiates.
[...] dizziness, nausea, and insomnia while taking the medication, as well as the more personal concern of experiencing sexual difficulties such as becoming aroused or reaching orgasm. This interferes with some relationships because the natural stages of love in the human species occur as a result of dopamine, which initiates the attraction, lust and attachment. The presence of excess serotonin, however, reduces the effect the dopamine has on this process and makes it much more difficult for the individual to feel the love and excitement. [...]
[...] (National Institute of Mental Health) Despite the legality of manufacturing and prescribing these medications, they should not be looked at as necessarily According to the Institute of Medicine, medical errors are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States. They account for 44,000 to 98,000 deaths per year of which are accredited to drug errors (Leavitt p. 61). Individuals taking prescribed medications should know how they are being effected and be conscious of how much and how long they are taking it to prevent the risk of overdosing or becoming dependent. [...]
[...] The effects that Adderall and Ritalin specifically have on the brain are actually very similar to that of cocaine, all three of which are in the category of amphetamines. Dopamine and norepinephrine are the two neurotransmitters that are altered by amphetamines and are also directly related with feeling of pleasure in the human body. The increased amount of these chemicals in the brain results in a feeling of euphoria, as well as being energized. People who use stimulants regularly build up a tolerance and eventually need them just to feel normal. [...]
[...] The effects of painkillers include euphoria and relaxation, but can also cause nausea, constipation and drowsiness (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Opiates, like vicodin and morphine, are used in medical procedures as a pain killer before and after surgeries, and codeine is often prescribed for a variety of reasons with symptoms of moderate pain. Oxycodone is one of the most powerful opiates and is rarely used for anything other than to relieve the excruciating pain of cancer patients. Without these medications the medical world would not be what it is today. [...]
[...] Next the uses and affects of stimulants will be examined. The word “stimulant” is a very broad term. Its definition in the dictionary states, “something that temporarily quickens some vital process or the functional activity of some organ or part”. Many different things fall into this category, including caffeine and tobacco. They are similar in that they stimulate the adrenal gland and produce adrenaline in the human body. They also stimulate the digestive and respiratory system. Prescribed stimulants, such as Adderall and Ritalin are used specifically to increase alertness, attention, and energy. [...]
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