# data[].attributes.body
This theory is something that I believe is able to help explain my problem more and more. As this theory shares a lot with the problem and thoughts people think of for those that fall victim to opioids and addiction. Something that a lot of people tend to assume rather than actual know the truth. Such as the assumption that people of color, are more likely to fall victim to some sort of addiction. Compared to those that are white, because where they come from. There is more research that needs to be added in order to help and explain why the problem persist but I feel that this theory will be the best for my issue.

# data[].attributes.body
I believe the social stratification theory, will be able to help explain why my problem persist. As it is something that is included in our society (sometimes we just might not know it). It's something that a vast majority of humans agree with and will help and explain why some people who do experience an opioid addiction might be within the lower structure of society. Or even show someone from the middle class going down in the social structure that we as humans, accepted in our daily lives. There is more research that needs to be added in order to help and explain why the problem persist but I feel that this theory will be the best for my issue.

# data[].attributes.body
Another .gov website that breaks down what makes opioids, such an addictive drug and the impacts from it.

# data[].attributes.body
This article is a .gov that states the facts, numbers, and statistics about opioids and what it has caused.

# data[].attributes.body
States the mental impacts that come from the usage of opioids and the correlation it has towards depression and mental health.

# data[].attributes.body
What and why people become addicted to opioids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Overview

Prescription drug abuse is the use of a prescription medication in a way not intended by the prescribing doctor. Prescription drug abuse or problematic use includes everything from taking a friend's prescription painkiller for your backache to snorting or injecting ground-up pills to get high. Drug abuse may become ongoing and compulsive, despite the negative consequences.

An increasing problem, prescription drug abuse can affect all age groups, including teens. The prescription drugs most often abused include opioid painkillers, anti-anxiety medications, sedatives and stimulants.

Early identification of prescription drug abuse and early intervention may prevent the problem from turning into an addiction.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse depend on the specific drug. Because of their mind-altering properties, the most commonly abused prescription drugs are:

Opioids used to treat pain, for example medications containing oxycodone - such as Oxycontin and Percocet - and those containing hydrocodone - such as Norco

Anti-anxiety medications and sedatives, such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium), and hypnotics, such as zolpidem (Ambien), used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders

Stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, others), dextroamphetamine and amphetamine (Adderall XR, Mydayis), and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine), used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and certain sleep disorders

Opioids

Anti-anxiety medications and sedatives

Stimulants

Constipation

Nausea

Feeling high (euphoria)

Slowed breathing rate

Drowsiness

Confusion

Poor coordination

Increased dose required for pain relief

Worsening or increased sensitivity to pain with higher doses (hyperalgesia)

Drowsiness

Confusion

Unsteady walking

Slurred speech

Poor concentration

Dizziness

Problems with memory

Slowed breathing

Increased alertness

Feeling high

Irregular heartbeat

High blood pressure

High body temperature

Reduced appetite

Insomnia

Agitation

Anxiety

Paranoia

Other signs include:

Stealing, forging or selling prescriptions

Taking higher doses than prescribed

Excessive mood swings or hostility

Increase or decrease in sleep

Poor decision-making

Appearing to be high, unusually energetic or revved up, or sedated

Requesting early refills or continually "losing" prescriptions, so more prescriptions must be written

Seeking prescriptions from more than one doctor

When to see a doctor

Talk with your doctor if you think you may have a problem with prescription drug use. You may feel embarrassed to talk about it - but remember that medical professionals are trained to help you, not judge you. It's easier to tackle the problem early before it becomes an addiction and leads to more-serious problems.

Causes

Teens and adults abuse prescription drugs for many reasons, such as:

To feel good or get high

To relax or relieve tension

To reduce appetite or increase alertness

To experiment with the mental effects of the substance

To maintain an addiction and prevent withdrawal

To be accepted by peers or to be social

To try to improve concentration and academic or work performance

Risk factors

Some people fear that they may become addicted to medications prescribed for medical conditions, such as painkillers prescribed after surgery. But you can reduce your risk by carefully following your doctor's instructions on how to take your medication.

Prescription drug abuse can happen at any age, but commonly begins in teens or young adults.

Risk factors for prescription drug abuse include:

Past or present addictions to other substances, including alcohol and tobacco

Family history of substance abuse problems

Certain pre-existing psychiatric conditions

Exposure to peer pressure or a social environment where there's drug use

Easier access to prescription drugs, such as having prescription medications in the home medicine cabinet

Lack of knowledge about prescription drugs and their potential harm

Older adults and prescription drug abuse

Prescription drug abuse in older adults is a growing problem, especially when they combine drugs with alcohol. Having multiple health problems and taking multiple drugs can put seniors at risk of misusing drugs or becoming addicted.

Complications

Abusing prescription drugs can cause a number of problems. Prescription drugs can be especially dangerous - and even lead to death - when taken in high doses, when combined with other prescription drugs or certain over-the-counter medications, or when taken with alcohol or illegal or recreational drugs.

Medical consequences

Here are examples of serious consequences of prescription drug abuse:

Opioids can cause low blood pressure, a slowed breathing rate and potential for breathing to stop, or a coma. Overdose has a significant risk of death.

Anti-anxiety medications and sedatives can cause memory problems, low blood pressure and slowed breathing. Overdose can cause coma or death. Abruptly stopping the medication may cause withdrawal symptoms that can include nervous system hyperactivity and seizures.

Stimulants can cause dangerously high body temperature, heart problems, high blood pressure, seizures or tremors, hallucinations, aggressiveness, and paranoia.

Physical dependence and addiction

Because commonly abused prescription drugs activate the brain's reward center, it's possible to develop physical dependence and addiction.

Physical dependence. Physical dependence (also called tolerance) is the body's response to long-term use. People who are physically dependent on a drug may need higher doses to get the same effects and may experience withdrawal symptoms when cutting back or abruptly stopping the drug. Physical dependence may also become evident if a drug the body becomes adjusted to over time, even without dosage change, is stopped abruptly.

Addiction. People who are addicted to a drug can have physical dependence, but they also compulsively seek a drug and continue to use it even when that drug causes significant problems in their lives.

Other consequences

Other potential consequences include:

Engaging in risky behaviors because of poor judgment

Using illegal or recreational drugs

Being involved in crime

Motor vehicle accidents

Decreased academic or work performance

Troubled relationships

Prevention

Prescription drug abuse may occur in people who need painkillers, sedatives or stimulants to treat a medical condition. If you're taking a commonly abused drug, here are ways to reduce your risk:

Make sure you're getting the right medication. Make sure your doctor clearly understands your condition and the signs and symptoms. Tell your doctor about all your prescriptions, as well as over-the-counter medications, herbs and supplements, and alcohol and other drug use. Ask your doctor whether there's an alternative medication with ingredients that have less potential for addiction.

Check in with your doctor. Talk with your doctor on a regular basis to make sure that the medication you're taking is working and you're taking the right dose.

Follow directions carefully. Use your medication the way it was prescribed. Don't stop or change the dose of a drug on your own if it doesn't seem to be working without talking to your doctor. For example, if you're taking a pain medication that isn't adequately controlling your pain, don't take more.

Know what your medication does. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the effects of your medication, so you know what to expect. Also check if other drugs, over-the-counter products or alcohol should be avoided when taking this medication.

Never use another person's prescription. Everyone is different. Even if you have a similar medical condition, it may not be the right medication or dose for you.

Don't order prescriptions online unless they're from a trustworthy pharmacy. Some websites sell counterfeit prescription and nonprescription drugs that could be dangerous.

Preventing prescription drug abuse in teens

Prescription drugs are commonly misused substances by young people. Follow these steps to help prevent your teen from abusing prescription medications.

Discuss the dangers. Emphasize to your teen that just because drugs are prescribed by a doctor doesn't make them safe - especially if they were prescribed to someone else or if your child is already taking other prescription medications.

Set rules. Let your teen know that it's not OK to share medications with others - or to take drugs prescribed for others. Emphasize the importance of taking the prescribed dose and talking with the doctor before making changes.

Discuss the dangers of alcohol use. Using alcohol with medications can increase the risk of accidental overdose.

Keep your prescription drugs safe. Keep track of drug quantities and keep them in a locked medicine cabinet.

Make sure your child isn't ordering drugs online. Some websites sell counterfeit and dangerous drugs that may not require a prescription.

Properly dispose of medications. Don't leave unused or expired drugs around. Check the label or patient information guide for disposal instructions, or ask your pharmacist for advice on disposal.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Prescription drug abuse - Symptoms and causes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Prescription drug abuse is the use of a prescription medication in a way not intended by the prescribing doctor. Prescription drug abuse or problematic use includes everything from taking a friend's prescription painkiller for your backache to snorting or injecting ground-up pills to get high.

# data[].attributes.body
effects done to the brain and mental health.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
What Are the Mental Effects of Opioid Addiction?

Opioids are a class of drugs with chemical structures similar to those found in Opium, and attach to the same mu-Opioid receptors in the brain. They may be derived from Opiates (or, products of Opium paste) directly or manufactured from manmade chemicals, producing synthetic Opioids. The mental effects of an Opioid addiction, as such, are similar for the entire category of substances. Thus, the prolonged abuse of prescription Opioids like Oxycodone results in the same brain and bodily damage as Heroin.

The chronic abuse of all Opioids causes changes in brain pathways, including the reward center, responsible for the formation of drug-seeking behavior.

When Opioids enter the brain, no matter how the drug was taken, they bind to certain receptors in the brain involved in regulating physical systems (such as regulating heart and breathing rates). Too, they bind to receptors that affect purely psychological processes. The immediate mental effects of Opioid abuse are characterized by a sense of euphoria or pleasure, also known as the drugs' "high". Hallucinations may also be among the immediate mental effects of Opioids in some people.

Short-term mental effects of Opioids include:

Sense of euphoria or calm

Hallucinations

Clouded thinking

Mental fatigue

Nodding in and out of consciousness

In a relatively short period of time, the brain can become accustomed to the changes caused by Opioid abuse. This is because Opioids (especially potent ones like Fentanyl) break down quickly in the body. For people with a severe Opioid addiction, effects can last less than a few hours (instead of the typical 6 - 8), necessitating another "hit" to prevent withdrawal. Rapidly, the body will come to fully rely on the abuse of Opioids to function normally and stave off painful withdrawal symptoms.

Long-Term Mental Effects of Opioid Addiction

Opioids are known to be among the most addictive substances on Earth due to the difficult-to-reverse changes they make in the brain. Dopamine released by the reward system while abusing Opioids is the primary force behind addiction. Additionally, research now shows a notable loss of white matter in the brain (responsible for behavior control). In the long-term, decision-making and the ability to control one's behavior or responses to stressors may be greatly impaired.

Other long-term, mental effects of Opioid addiction and withdrawal include:

Anxiety

Depression

Difficulty concentrating

Drug cravings

Fatigue

Inability to feel pleasure

Insomnia

Suicidal thoughts

Luckily, all of these effects are reversible. However, they may last 12-18 months. Those which persist for longer than about two weeks are referred to as Post-Acute Withdrawal Symptoms (PAWS) and typically dissipate as time progresses.

In particular, drug cravings are responsible for a range of behaviors that can seem uncontrollable to the individual struggling with his or her addiction. These mental changes can severely affect behaviors necessary for a healthy life. For instance, drug cravings may lead someone to participate in risky or criminal behaviors to secure more drugs. Selling drugs, prostitution, and stealing are some examples of drug-seeking behavior. People with an Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) may engage in these behaviors despite the obvious detriment to their health and well-being.

Opioid Addiction, Depression, and Mental Illness

Many people suffering from addiction also experience mental illnesses (such as antisocial personality disorder and depression). The relationship between addiction and depression is "bi-directional," or, one disorder increases the risk of developing the other. One study found that 10% of patients with an Opioid prescription will develop depression after entering treatment for pain relief (none had a prior diagnosis of depression). Some recent research suggests that hormonal and dopamine interference caused by Opioids plays a part in developing depression. Some research also suggests thatpeople with depression may not be able to feel the full effects of some prescription Opioids, causing them to take bigger doses.

Some mental symptoms of depression overlap those of Opioid addiction, including:

Altered mood and irritability

Changes in sleep patterns

Changes in appetite

Difficulty concentrating

Feelings of guilt or despair

Losing interest in hobbies

Low energy

Suicidal thoughts

When depression goes untreated, recovering from addiction can be immensely difficult. Heroin abuse, especially, is linked to suicidal thoughts and attempts. Among those who suffer from a Heroin Use Disorder, 35% fall victim to death by suicide. Subsequently, treatment for addiction and co-morbid mental illnesses should include medically-supervised detox and a drug rehab program that employs addiction treatment medications and research-backed therapies (such as cognitive behavioral therapy).

Mental Effects of Opioids on Adolescents

The intense effects of Opioids on the brain are even greater (and more dangerous) among adolescents who abuse Opioids. In 2016, 3.6% of teens between 12 and 17 years-old misused Opioids - twice the number of the next age group, young adults between 18 and 25 years-old. While the majority of this type of drug abuse involves prescription Opioids and not Heroin, because all Opioids have similar effects, the results on cognitive functioning is the same.

Adolescent brains are at an even greater risk of negative mental effects caused by Opioid abuse. The brain continues to develop until about the age of 25 years-old and any damage it suffers during this period can slow or halt its growth. White matter and prefrontal cortex damage in the brain of a 15-year-old can leave them with lifelong mental impairment, including inability to properly regulate their emotions, their responses to stressful situations, and make sound decisions. It also has the potential to lower IQ levels during brain development. Moreover, teens who initiate drug use earlier are more likely to carry lifelong addictions, experience more overdoses, and die earlier than those who start using drugs later in life.

Preventing Opioid abuse, for all ages, is the only way to completely prevent the negative mental effects of Opioid addiction. For people who may already have an Opioid use disorder, it is vital they seek medical help at a detox or rehab facility.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mental Effects of Opioid Addiction - What Are They? - Opioid Help

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Opioids are a class of drugs with chemical structures similar to those found in Opium, and attach to the same mu-Opioid receptors in the brain. They may be derived from Opiates (or, products of Opium paste) directly or manufactured from manmade chemicals, producing synthetic Opioids.

# data[].attributes.body
The start of this problem

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The U.S. government does not track death rates for every drug. However, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collects information on deaths involving many of the more commonly used drugs available through 2020 at a searchable database, called CDC Wonder. The NCHS also has 12 month-ending provisional data available by state and drug category. See Provisional Drug Overdose Death Counts.

The CDC also provides timely data related to unintentional and undetermined intent drug overdose deaths by participating jurisdiction through the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS). Similar data related to nonfatal drug overdoses are reported through CDC's Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology (DOSE) system.

Figure 1. National Drug-Involved Overdose Deaths-Number Among All Ages, by Gender, 1999-2020. Nearly 92,000 persons in the U.S. died from drug-involved overdose in 2020, including illicit drugs and prescription opioids. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. drug overdose deaths involving any illicit or prescription opioid drug from 1999 to 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths by gender from 1999 to 2020 (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 2. National Drug-Involved Overdose Deaths by Specific Category-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. Overall, drug overdose deaths rose from 2019 to 2020 with 91,799 drug overdose deaths reported in 2020. Deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) continued to rise with 56,516 overdose deaths reported in 2020. Those involving psychostimulants with abuse potential (primarily methamphetamine) also continued to increase to 23,837 (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 3. National Overdose Deaths Involving Any Opioid-Number Among All Ages, by Gender, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving any opioid from 1999 to 2020. Any opioid includes prescription opioids (natural and semi-synthetic opioids and methadone), heroin and synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl). Opioid-involved overdose deaths rose from 21,088 in 2010 to 47,600 in 2017 and remained steady in 2018 with 46,802 deaths. This was followed by a significant increase through 2020 to 68,630 overdose deaths. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths by gender from 1999 to 2020 (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 4. National Overdose Deaths Involving Prescription Opioids, by other Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving prescriptions opioids (including natural and semi-synthetic opioids and methadone) from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths involving prescription opioids rose from 3,442 in 1999 to 17,029 in 2017. From 2017 to 2019, the number of deaths declined to 14,139, followed by an increase to 16,416 in 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving prescription opioids in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any other opioid from 1999 to 2020 (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 5. National Overdose Deaths Involving Heroin, by Other Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving heroin from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths involving heroin rose from 1,960 in 1999 to 15,469 in 2016. Since 2016, the number of deaths has trended down with 13,165 deaths reported in 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving heroin in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any other opioid from 1999 to 2020 (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 6. National Overdose Deaths Involving Psychostimulants With Abuse Potential (Including Methamphetamine), by Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving psychostimulants with abuse potential from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths rose from 547 in 1999 to 23,837 in 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving psychostimulants in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any opioid. The number of deaths involving psychostimulants has increased steadily since 2014 regardless of opioid involvement (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 7. National Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Cocaine, by Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving cocaine from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths involving cocaine rose steadily from 5,419 in 2014 to 19,447 in 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving cocaine in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any opioid. The number of deaths in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone has been increasing steadily since 2014 and is the main driver of cocaine-involved overdose deaths (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 8. National Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Benzodiazepines, by Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines has steadily increased from 1,135 in 1999 to 11,537 in 2017. Between 2017 and 2020, deaths declined and rose again to 12,290. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving benzodiazepines in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any opioid (Source: CDC WONDER).

Figure 9. National Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Antidepressants, by Opioid Involvement-Number Among All Ages, 1999-2020. The figure above is a bar and line graph showing the total number of U.S. overdose deaths involving antidepressants from 1999 to 2020. Drug overdose deaths involving antidepressants has risen steadily from 1,749 in 1999 to 5,269 in 2017. Since then, deaths have remained steady with 5,597 in 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines showing the number of deaths involving antidepressants in combination with synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) or without any opioid involvement (Source: CDC WONDER).

Link

Description of Figures

The figures above are bar charts showing the number of U.S. overdose deaths involving select prescription and illicit drugs from 1999 through 2020. The bars are overlaid by lines representing gender or concurrent opioid involvement. There were 91,799 drug-involved overdose deaths reported in the U.S. in 2020 (Figure 1); 69% of cases occurred among males (yellow line). Synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) were the main driver of drug overdose deaths with a 6-fold increase from 2015 to 2020 (Figure 2).

Drug overdose deaths involving any opioid―prescription opioids (including natural and semi-synthetic opioids and methadone), other synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl), and heroin―continued to rise through 2020 with 68,630 deaths. More than 70% of deaths occurred among males (Figure 3). From 2019 to 2020, the number of deaths involving prescription opioids rose, after remaining steady for two years, to 16,416 (Figure 4).

Overdose deaths involving heroin has trended down since 2016 with 13,165 deaths reported in 2020 (Figure 5). More than 68% of overdose deaths involving heroin also involved synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl).

Since 2014, the number of deaths involving psychostimulants (primarily methamphetamine, Figure 6) have risen significantly each year, with 23,837 deaths in 2020. Cocaine too, has increased steadily since 2014 with 19,447 deaths reported in 2020 (Figure 7).

The final two charts show the number of overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines (Figure 8) or antidepressants (Figure 9). Benzodiazepines were involved in 12,290 deaths in 2020-a steady decline from the 11,537 deaths in 2017. Deaths involving antidepressants have remained steady since 2014, with 5,597 fatalities reported in 2020. Deaths involving benzodiazepines or antidepressants are mainly driven by those also involving opioids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Overdose Death Rates | National Institute on Drug Abuse

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The U.S. government does not track death rates for every drug. However, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention collects information on deaths involving many of the more commonly used drugs available through 2020 at a searchable database, called CDC Wonder.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Off Campus Access to Databases is available to staff/faculty and students of
Harper College.

NOTE: Log in with your MyHarper Student Portal User Name and Password. For more information, please contact the Student Service Desk by email or phone at 847-925-6866. Please be sure that you have logged into the MyHarper Student Portal at least once before logging in here in order to set your password recovery questions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Off Campus Access to Databases is available to staff/faculty and students of Harper College. NOTE: Log in with your MyHarper Student Portal User Name and Password. For more information, please contact the Student Service Desk by email or phone at 847-925-6866.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Off Campus Access to Databases is available to staff/faculty and students of
Harper College.

NOTE: Log in with your MyHarper Student Portal User Name and Password. For more information, please contact the Student Service Desk by email or phone at 847-925-6866. Please be sure that you have logged into the MyHarper Student Portal at least once before logging in here in order to set your password recovery questions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Off Campus Access to Databases is available to staff/faculty and students of Harper College. NOTE: Log in with your MyHarper Student Portal User Name and Password. For more information, please contact the Student Service Desk by email or phone at 847-925-6866.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Off Campus Access to Databases is available to staff/faculty and students of
Harper College.

NOTE: Log in with your MyHarper Student Portal User Name and Password. For more information, please contact the Student Service Desk by email or phone at 847-925-6866. Please be sure that you have logged into the MyHarper Student Portal at least once before logging in here in order to set your password recovery questions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Off Campus Access to Databases is available to staff/faculty and students of Harper College. NOTE: Log in with your MyHarper Student Portal User Name and Password. For more information, please contact the Student Service Desk by email or phone at 847-925-6866.

# data[].attributes.body
A prescribed medication that one may receive. That is highly addictive and can cause an addiction if not handled properly. Which contribute to the mass number of victims that fall under drug/substance abuse.

# data[].attributes.body
There are thousands of people within the United States that are facing an substance abuse of some sort.

Needs work.....