Prescription pill abuse is quickly becoming an epidemic, not just in the United States, but around the world. Numerous theories have been put forward regarding the surge in this form of illicit drug use, with some analysts positing that people assume these pills are safer because they are prescribed by doctors. However, when this medication is used for non-medicinal reasons, it can have disastrous physical and psychological effects.
Certain areas of the country have been particularly affected by this growing trend. Recently, the News and Sentinel, a West Virginia-based news outlet, reported that 48 attorney generals had signed a letter imploring the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg to implement stricter restrictions on prescription pill production and urge drug manufacturers to invest further in abuse-resistant formulas.
Currently, some big-name manufacturers are experimenting with abuse-deterring opioids, developing pills that are more difficult to grind down or do not produce the much sought-after euphoric effect. However, the attorney generals who drafted the letter noted that unless generic versions of these medications also employ the same measures, prescription pill abuse will likely continue.
"The last thing anyone wants is for old problems to reoccur simply because individuals shift to the generic brands that don't utilize protective features," West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrissey told the news outlet.
State officials from Alabama, North Carolina, Florida and Kentucky were the driving forces behind the letter, the source notes.
Has your loved one developed an addiction to prescription pills? If so, a professional interventionist may be able to help. By holding a drug abuse intervention, you can confront your friend or family member's abuse directly and support them throughout the recovery process.