Argumentative Essay: Our Drug Dealer, The Pharmacy

Our Drug Dealer, The Pharmacy

Heroin is a schedule 1 drug and it’s no secret that the effects are detrimental. It’s less common knowledge that prescription pain medication contains the same ingredients. America is currently battling a growing epidemic of deaths stemming from drug addiction. In 2015 they were deadlier than guns and car crashes. (Lopez) Frustration stirs from the way these addictive drugs have been commonly distributed to citizens through prescription medication. The very people that are educated for years to help the ill are directly linked to skyrocketing rates of addiction and even death. Prescribed opioids are ravaging America due to a lack of extensive studies needed to gain the correct information on how to tackle the

It would be irresponsible to undertake such a widespread issue with the knowledge officials have at the moment.

Misconceptions have been passed around like disease in the medical field when concerning opioid medication. There was once a time in the late 90’s where opioids were called safe and encouraged to be handed out more liberally. Clearly this statement couldn't be further from the truth, “In 2014, there were 40,055 drug overdose deaths in the U.S.—28,647, or 61% were related to opioid abuse,” Even today it’s fairly common to hear about chronic pain being treated with opioids. “Empirical evidence shows that opioids actually aren’t effective for chronic pain, and instead pose many risks in the long term, from addiction to overdose to a higher risk of injury to even increased levels of pain.”(Lopez) Not only are these prescription pain pills ineffective for chronic pain but patients become increasingly more susceptible to

A study was performed by a professor of phycology, Bruce Alexander, in the 1970’s that gives evidence that surroundings can be a factor of addiction. The experiment consisted of caged rats in two different environments along with two waters to drink from. One was normal and the other was laced with heroin. Rats were much more likely to become addicted to the drugged water when they were placed in the first cage. It was empty leaving the rat solitary. When the rat was placed in the other cage it was accompanied by other rats and a very enriching environment and solemnly used the drugged water and never became addicted. (Addiction) Doctors aren’t taking in environment into any consideration when prescribing potentially addictive medication. It’s normal for doctors to be faced with people in less than ideal situations and psychological issues. When these factors aren’t taken into consideration, addiction becomes more likely for patients in situations that resemble the first traumatizing cage the rat was placed in. Regulations need to include some form of psychological exam if opioids remain an option for treating