Annotated Bibliography

Prescription Drug Abuse, Dependency and Addiction

Brown, M.E., Swiggart, W.H., Dewey, C.M., Ghulyan, M.V. (2012). Searching For Answers: Proper Prescribing of Controlled Prescription Drugs. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 44(1), 79-85. doi: 10.1080/02791072.662081

Misprescribing, in this article, is defined as “prescribing scheduled drugs in quantities and frequencies inappropriate for the patient’s complaint or illness.” The authors explain how professionals make mistakes when it comes to prescribing controlled substances; this is one of the many reasons why prescription drug abuse is out of control. For example, the professionals are not properly trained and kept up to date with medical knowledge. The authors suggest that if professionals continue their medical education it will help solve one of the problems with misprescribing patients.

The lack of education of substance abuse and proper prescribing of controlled medications can be handled if professionals take the correct precautions. Talking with patients about their medical care, prescription monitoring programs and requiring additional medical training in order to renew one’s license are all major improvements to help the issue of prescription drug abuse and potentially addiction.

Byrne, M.H., Lander, L., Ferris, M. (2009). The Changing Face of Opioid Addiction: Prescription Pain Pill Dependence and Treatment. Health & Social Work, 34, 53-56. doi: 10.1093/hsw/34.1.53

The abuse and dependency of prescription opioid pain medications have increased tremendously in the past few years. Individuals view them to be safer than illegal drugs. A treatment option of Buprenorphine/Naloxone will block the effects of opioids and will be difficult to abuse. It can be used for detoxification and it will be safer because of its ceiling effect, the individual cannot become high from the medication.

In order for social workers to help alleviate the problem of prescription drug abuse, methods of...