The definitive book about the impact of prescription painkiller abuse on individuals, communities, and society by one of America's leading experts on addiction. In recent years, the media has inundated us with coverage of the increasing abuse of prescription painkillers. Prescription Painkillers, the third book in Hazelden's Library of Addictive Drugs series, offers current, comprehensive information on the history, social impact, pharmacology, and addiction treatment for commonly abused, highly addictive opiate prescription painkillers such as Oxycontin®, Vicodin, Percocet, and Darvocet. Marvin D. Seppala, MD, provides context for understanding the current drug abuse problem by tracing the history of opioids and the varying patterns of use over time. He then offers an in-depth study of controversial issues surrounding these readily available drugs, including over-prescription by physicians and adolescent abuse. Also included is a straightforward look at the leading treatment protocols based on current research.

Just because a drug is legal, doesn't mean it's safe to abuse it. Abusing prescription painkillers like OxyContin™, Percocet™, and Vicodin™ is no safer than trying much harder drugs. These drugs are being vastly abused and represent one of today's largest drug epidemics. Discover the real consequences of taking prescription painkillers to get high. Learn about the damage these pills can do to your body and how you can develop an addiction to painkillers. Find out about the downside of prescription painkillers!

Statistics on drug use show that abuse is decreasing. That's the good news. But there's bad news as well: the abuse of prescription drugs is increasing. Among the most abused prescription medications are painkillers, something many people have in their medicine cabinets. In Painkillers: Prescription Dependency, you will find out what pain really is—and what it isn't—as well as the history of pain. The book also provides up-to-date information about painkillers and how they are abused. Special attention is given to OxyContin, which has expanded addiction to new groups of people. Treatment methods are also covered—but the best route is never to become addicted!

Since prescription drugs can be obtained legally and found in medicine cabinets in young adults’ own homes, there is a perception that they are not as dangerous as other types of drugs. However, abuse of prescriptions can have hazardous—sometimes even deadly—consequences, which readers discover in great detail. Enlightening charts and sidebars augment the discussion of prescription drug abuse, and a list of websites provides resources for those who may already be struggling with this addiction.

This accessible, easy-to-read book provides readers with different perspectives on the subject of painkillers, examining their history, production, uses, and dangers. Many different drugs are effectively used as painkillers—substances that greatly improve the quality of life for those who suffer from temporary or recurring pain. This book presents an in-depth overview of opiates, opioids, and other painkilling substances such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that have been in use from ancient times up to the contemporary era. It also addresses the risks of painkiller use, their misuse, and potential overdose concerns. The latest in the Story of a Drug series and written by a subject expert who has published widely on drug use and pharmacology, this book presents a brief review of the science of how different painkiller drugs work before covering these substances' respective effects and applications; the issues regarding the production, distribution, and regulation of painkiller drugs; and research findings on painkiller use, abuse patterns, addiction, and policy issues. The easy-to-understand text presents scientifically accurate information that enables readers to better understand the key role of painkillers in our 21st-century world.

Learn the basic facts behind the dangers of prescription painkiller abuse, including the history of opiates, their medical use, signs of addiction and dependence, addiction treatment options, prevention tools for parents, and much more.With prescription painkiller abuse affecting nearly every corner of society, what are the basic facts we need to know about these seemingly safe and legal medications? In this Get Smart Quick Guide, expert resources and information come together in an engaging and accessible e-book short. Topics include:What prescription painkillers are and where the entire class of opiates comes fromThe history of their use and abuseChanging cultural, social, and legal factorsDefinitions of normal use, abuse, and dependence, with information on prevention and advice for parentsHow the drugs work, including their health effects and what makes them so addictiveIntervention and effective treatment methodsRelapse prevention tools for recovering dependents and addicts

This handbook provides a comprehensive examination of the past and present roles of drugs in society with a focus on theory, research, policy, and practice. Includes 28 original chapters with multi-disciplinary and international perspectives by top social and behavioral scientists Reviews current knowledge in the field, including key research findings, theoretical developments, and methodological debates Identifies ongoing controversies in the field, emergent topics, and areas in need of further inquiry Discusses individual drugs as well as topics like physiological theories of drug use and abuse, public health implications of drugs, patterns of drugs and crime, international drug trade and trafficking, and designer drugs

The current opioid epidemic in the United States began in the mid-1990s with the introduction of a new drug, OxyContin, viewed as a safer and more effective opiate for chronic pain management. By 2017, the opioid epidemic had become a full-blown crisis as over two million Americans had become dependent on and abused prescription pain pills and street drugs. This book examines the origins, development, and rise of the opioid epidemic in the United States from the perspective of the public policy process. The authors, political scientists Kant Patel and Mark Rushefsky, discuss institutional features of the American political system that impact the making of public policy, arguing that the fragmentation of that system hinders the ability to coherently address policy problems, taking the opioid epidemic as an example. The book begins with a brief historical examination of the history of the problem of opioid addiction and crises in the United States and public policy responses to past crises, but the main focus is on the current national public health emergency. The book analyzes the following: The origins of the current crisis Indicators and warning signs pointing to the emergence of a significant public problem Factors that contributed to the opioid crisis Why the crisis emerged in the United States and not in other Western countries The nature and scope of the opioid crisis, including socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and the human, social, and economic costs Presidential administrations’ public response, and nonresponse, to the opioid crisis Parallels between the role played by opioid manufacturers and tobacco/cigarette manufacturers in creating the problem of addiction, resulting in high mortality rates, and the public policy response to both This book explores the national policy response to the opioid crisis, as well as state and local government responses and separation of powers, including how the three branches of government deal with the opioid problem. The authors conclude with a discussion of how accurate problem definition, problem diagnosis, and appropriate and timely responses could have produced a more appropriate and robust policy response—policy process tools that will be essential in fighting both the current crisis and the next one. The Opioid Epidemic in the United States is essential reading for policy analysis courses in political science, health, and social work programs, as well as for United States policymakers at the local, state, and national levels.

Alcohol and drugs play a significant role in society, regardless of socioeconomic class. This encyclopedia looks at the history of all drugs in North America, including alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, cannabis, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and even chocolate and caffeinated drinks. This two-volume encyclopedia provides accessibly written coverage on a wide range of topics, covering substances ranging from whiskey to peyote as well as related topics such as Mexican drug trafficking and societal effects caused by specific drugs. The entries also supply an excellent overview of the history of temperance movements in Canada and the United States; trends in alcohol consumption, its production, and its role in the economy; as well as alcohol's and drugs' roles in shaping national discourse, the creation of organizations for treatment and study, and legal responses. This resource includes primary documents and a bibliography offering important books, articles, and Internet sources related to the topic.