Today, drug abuse particularly that of prescription pain relievers, like Percocet, affects every socioeconomic status in America. This is one instance where location is not everything and racial identities along with educational background mean nothing. Though drug abuse affects the masses without discrimination, its effects are seen quite disproportionately. Americans who have lower incomes often cannot afford the treatment they need to battle their drug addiction, while those with higher incomes do. Crime and violence run rampant in neighborhoods where illegal drugs are manufactured. But, those drugs make it to the neighborhoods with higher incomes only to reveal themselves through some other heinous activity. We, as Americans, cannot keep pushing the blame onto a third party. We must responsibly accept our duty to help fight drug addiction and abuse if we are to ever truly be free of it.
The vast majority of Americans believe that drug abuse is someone else’s concern. They do not realize that they as taxpayers pay billions of dollars each year for treatment and justice costs associated with drug addiction. Drug abuse in America is clearly no small issue. Americans also have the misconception that drug abusers fit into a narrow, stereotypical category. Most would be shocked to know that almost three quarters of all drug addicts have steady jobs. Another alarming fact is that nearly half of the American public knows someone with a drug addiction problem, though they are not always aware of it.
Percocet in America
Prescription drugs like Percocet are becoming a drug of choice all over America, especially among young people. Teenagers and young adults account for the majority of Percocet abuse. Sadly, many of these teenagers, young adults and parents alike believe that abusing prescription drugs is safer than others because they are developed by scientists and legally distributed versus concocted in someone’s house and dealt illegally. Teenagers commonly admit to attending “pharm” parties, short for pharmaceuticals. They also confess to stealing a variety of prescription drugs, like Percocet, from their family medicine cabinet. This can be extremely dangerous because it encourages the mixing of prescription drugs and other substances, which can lead to a host of serious, sometimes fatal, side effects.
Percocet Studies
In a 2008 national Monitoring the Future survey, around 9 percent of American 12th graders reported using either Percocet, Oxycontin, or Vicodin in the past year. In the same study, over 30 percent of 12th graders said that those drugs were “fairly easy” or “very easy” to obtain without a prescription. Easy accessibility can result from “pharming” or obtaining the drug at “pharm” parties or raves.
As with most opiates, Percocet abuse can cause the user’s body to develop a tolerance for the drug within a few weeks. Addiction may begin when the person takes Percocet for any other reason besides pain or when they take more than prescribed by their healthcare provider. Once an addiction has developed, the abuser must continually increase the dosage amount to achieve the same initial effects. As the addict abuses higher quantities of the drug over time, physical dependence and addiction can quickly develop. Because the chemicals in Percocet alter natural brain function, making the person not only mentally crave the drug but physically as well. Kicking a Percocet habit is not as simple as pouring a bottle of alcohol down the kitchen sink. At this point, the body has adapted to the drug’s presence and serious withdrawal symptoms will likely occur if the abuse is halted.
The Cost of Percocet Addiction
Percocet use, like all opioids, is regulated. However, it is not uncommon for pharmacies to be broken into because of addicts’ cravings for Percocet. Also, if the drug is sold on the black market it can bring in approximately $5 to $10 per pill.
The health and social costs of drug addiction on American society are ever climbing. Illnesses related to drug addiction, death, and crime cost the country approximately $66.9 billion every year. In America every man, woman, and child pays almost $1,000 every year towards extra law-enforcement, crime, and unneeded healthcare because of drug abuse. We cannot adequately measure the full effect substance abuse has on our country. We have no way of knowing just how many lives, neighborhoods, schools, families, and businesses have been affected by drug abuse. The number may be something we are not ready to hear. As drug-related crime rates continue to soar, we continually try to pass the concern to someone else. However, until we accept and share this social responsibility we cannot expect radical change.
Percocet Abuse Treatment
Percocet is a highly addictive prescription painkiller that if abused can lead to extremely serious consequences for everyone, not just the abuser. If you or someone you know is abusing Percocet, please call our toll free number day or night at (866) 872-6492. We are waiting to answer any question you may have concerning Percocet abuse and treatment options.
