Mariette Armitstead NURS 2700

September 22, 2014 Mill Creek Presentation

Prescription Drug Use

The student learning objectives include: students will have a basic understanding of the
most commonly abused prescription drugs and their adverse effects; students will have some
understanding of how abused prescription drugs can affect the individual; and, students will
understand how abusing prescription drugs can affect the people around them.
There are many adverse effects that prescription drug abuse has on society. According to
Goldman, people that abuse prescription drugs exploit the health care system, divert resources
and time from other patients, erode public confidence in professional practice, contribute to
family dysfunction, and become potential safety threats to themselves and others in their
community (as cited in Gerhardt, 2004, p. 240).
Prescription drug use affects hospital patients and the healthcare system.
Those who abuse prescription drugs may devote their time to seeking drugs at clinics or the
hospital. This results in taking away the opportunities for doctors and nurses to see other patients
who are really sick and need medical care.
Also, prescription drug use contributes to the threat of the safety of not only themselves,
but those around them.
When a drug is in your system and messes with your normal body systems, it can alter
someones mental state. This means that the drug can cause someone to do things that he or she
may not realize one is doing. Some examples include motor vehicle accidents, arguments turning
into fights, and making decisions without ones knowledge.
One effect of drug abuse is a decrease in cognitive efficiency.
What do you think that means?
When one has decreased cognitive abilities, it is harder to learn and to pay attention in class. This
can greatly affect ones education, resulting in failing classes. When a student fails classes due to
drug abuse, I believe it becomes harder for him or her to make it up and do better. This could
result in the student dropping out of high school or to not even consider attending college.
StoryRachels use of a prescription drug during finals.
Drug abuse can affect someones work/job.
How do you think drug abuse affects ones job?
Drug abuse can lead to decreased attention and activity at work. It can also make it harder to
focus and perform duties one needs to at work. If one is not focused at work, then nothing will be
accomplished, whether it be preparing food or running a business. Also, if a person gets fired for
not getting his or her work done, then it will be harder for that person to find another job or to
even have the motivation to find another job.
Drug abuse increases the likelihood of other crimes occurring.
Drug abuse becomes ones focus and there will not be room for anything else. This can also
definitely affect ones chances of gaining employment or attending college. Drug abuse may be
closely linked to illegal use of guns, various forms of violence, and terrorism. That is a scary
world where it can be hard to get out of.
Drug abuse causes the government to spend a lot of money.
The government pays for treatment and prevention costs, healthcare, losses on job productivity,
crime, and social welfare. Thats a lot of money to go to such a major problem the people in the
U.S. are struggling with. There are better channels that the government could monetarily fund,
such as education, scholarships, and the building of new schools.
To close, there are many negative effects that prescription drug abuse has on society. It is
imperative to recognize these in order to prevent people from choosing this lifestyle instead of a
happy and successful one.

References
Gerhardt, A. M. (2004). Identifying the drug seeker: The advanced practice nurse's role in
managing prescription drug abuse. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse
Practitioners, 16(6), 239-243. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/212881972?accountid=27045