The US (particularly California, where drug overdose is still on the rise) is currently facing its largest prescription drug crisis in history; the COVID-19 pandemic largely intensified the process.
The US is currently facing its largest prescription drug crisis in history; the COVID-19 pandemic largely intensified the process. Several factors contribute to this situation, including overprescribing, where doctors may prescribe opioids and other addictive medications for pain management without fully considering the risks of dependency, while broader issues are driving the worsening epidemic of prescription drug misuse.
Increased levels of stress and other mental health challengesThe COVID-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, and depression; people faced uncertainties about their health, employment, and the future en général. This kind of situation drove many individuals across the US to seek relief through prescription medications, a behavior that can lead to misuse and eventually — addiction.
The unfortunate rise of fentanyl Extremely powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl is commonly mixed into illicit narcotics without the consumers' knowledge. Fentanyl — a prescription drug that’s also made and used illegally – is the most common substance that causes overdoses in California, and this combination significantly raises the risk of overdose. There have been numerous efforts to fight this issue.
Palm founder Jeff Hawkins’ next big thing is an AI that learns like humans A mobile computing pioneer, Hawkins has spent much of the last 20 years focusing on his true love, neuroscience. He says his efforts are about to pay off What factors contribute to the addictive nature of prescription drugs?Prescription medications are primarily very addictive because of their effects on neurotransmitters in the brain. Dopamine is one example of a neurotransmitter that attaches to receptors on adjacent cells to relay information and produce feelings of relief or pleasure. Prescription drug classes all have the potential to make the user addicted, yet they all interact with the brain in various ways.
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