PRESCRIPTION MEDECINE ABUSE AND TENDS
Every year millions of prescription pills enter the illicit drug market. Enormous amounts of people in the U.S. use prescription drugs for the wrong reasons. Nationally, the federal government spends about $13.5 billion on the drug war, but only $70 million goes to investigate prescription drug offenses².
By having an accurate dosage, a high purity level, and a lower price, prescription pills have established a place next to regular street drugs. Medical offices and pharmacies help supply a large amount of these drugs. There is no glory in catching doctors and pharmaceutical companies involved in this illegal drug trafficking. Media coverage is small due to the fact there are no guns and no bundles of case for the world to see. Sometimes action is taken, but the results are usually small. Very few doctors, dentists, and pharmacists are prosecuted annually for prescription fraud.
The evidence now conclusively points to the fact that Whitney Houston has been killed by the pharmaceutical industry. “Whitney Houston's death must serve as an urgent reminder that pills are not the answer, and that those who seek to alter their moods, physiology or biochemistry through Big Pharma's deadly drugs are only playing Russian roulette with their lives” said coroner officials.
In a research of an estimated 10 prescription frauds, one doctor received a short sentence; the other nice pleaded guilty and were put on probation. Part of the problem is that medical practitioners are usually charged under laws carrying low prison penalties. The laws are written allowing health care professionals to escape serious drug trafficking charges, no matter how fraudulent. About 75% of physicians convicted of prescription drug crimes got to keep their license. Medical and pharmacy board investigators are seeking more court orders to suspend licenses after someone is arrested.³
Addiction to prescribed drugs or to those used in treatment is term iatrogenic. The most common drugs susceptible to addiction are those prescribed for psychological problems. Some act on the mind, having low potential for abuse and dependence. Examples are anti-psychotics, anti-depressants, and lithium salts. Other, like barbiturates and amphetamines, has high potential.