Prescription Medication's

Not all individuals who are prescribed medication become addicted; however, there is a growing demand for prescription medication's on the black market. Is the demand for prescription medications causing the black market to flourish? Are some prescription drugs in higher demands than others? Is it easier to obtain prescription drugs off the black market than from a doctor? Are prescription medications so expensive that patients find it cheaper to get their medications from the black market? Is life so fast paced that a high school student or everyday housewife feels they need a medication to keep up with daily events? Yes, the demand for prescription medication is allowing the black market to flourish by growing at an alarming rate and affecting the lives of millions of people.

According to Volkow (2010), "The three broad categories of psychotropic prescription drugs with liability include opioid analgesics, stimulants, and central nervous system (CNS) depressants". Opioid analgesics would be prescription medications such as; OxyContin, Morphine, and Vicodin and are used to treat individuals with moderate to severe pain. Stimulants are prescription medications like Ritalin and Adderall and are used to treat individuals with attention deficit disorder and narcolepsy. Last, central nervous system (CNS) depressants are prescription medications like Valium and Xanax, and are mainly used to treat people with, sleep disorders, anxiety, muscle spasms, and acute stress. These medications are in such high demand because everyday people are in pain; whether it is a hip replacement, back pain, or a toothache. Another reason is because people want to escape the realities of life; such as, divorce, losing a job, help with depression, or to simply elevate boredom. In some form or fashion we all want to escape or ease the pain. Last, Prescription medication abusers have learned how to make the effects of these drugs more powerful. For example- if you crush Ritalin it will have the same effect as snorting cocaine. OxyContin is a powerful painkiller, but in pill form it is time-released, so they learned that if they crushed it and snorted it or mixed it with water and injected it they would get all of the effects at once, giving the same euphoric effects of heroin. Prescription medication abusers are like pharmaceutical chemists, they know if they combine one type of drug with another type of drug they can maximize the effects of both drugs. Prescriptions medication abusers also know that where there is a demand there will always be a black market.

For individuals who have abused prescription drugs through the fraudulent methods; such as, doctor shopping, forging prescriptions, and altering prescriptions the black market is their only means to obtaining medications they need to function and control pain. Doctor shopping defined by Ossoff & Thomason, (2011), "Basically, it is an individual that travels from doctor to doctor in an attempt to obtain either a controlled substance or a prescription for a controlled substance through deceptive or fraudulent means". (pp. 57-76). With the economy in a downward spiral, many people are not only losing their jobs, but also they are losing their health insurance as well, or they simply cannot afford health insurance. With the high cash cost for prescription drugs, many people are opting to obtain their medication's through the black market. Individuals who do not have health insurance the cash cost of a one (1) month supply of OxyContin (40 mg) is $564.24, a one (1) month supply of Ritalin (10mg) would cost $304.11, and a one (1) month supply of Xanax (1mg) would cost $175.37. ("Drug Cost Lookup", 2012). Depending on where you live, who your supplier is (e.g. friend, relative, or stranger), or a questionable online site, individuals can usually get these prescription drugs cheaper on the black market. With the spotlight now being shined on the increase of prescription drug abuse, doctors are hesitant to write prescriptions for their patients or people they feel may have an addiction to prescribed medications. Doctors are trained and use guidelines to look for signs of possible prescription medication addiction, such as patients running out of medications faster, insisting they still have severe pain even though the injury has healed. The black market has no hesitations or guidelines! For people who desire prescription drugs the black market

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