The United Nations Global Drugs Watchdog stated that the abuse of prescription drug abuse is growing rapidly. There are more people abusing prescription drugs than heroin, cocaine and ecstasy combined.

In the United States an estimated 6.2 million are hooked on prescription drugs. It is now the second most important drug abuse issue nests to cannabis and far more deadly. The director of the International Centre for Drug Policy at St. Georges University in London states that "abuse of such drugs has been spreading over the world in recent years". This director by the name of Hamid Ghodse is concerned with this growing problem and expresses the need for this issue to be tackled urgently. It is difficult to get comprehensive data on pharmaceutical abuse. This is a hidden problem. In Germany, for example, 1.4 to 1.9 million people wren addicted to prescription drugs. That is the reported cases. It could be many more.

One major culprit is the recent increased number of prescription drug addicts on the internet. There are illegal internet pharmacies which sell stolen, averted, and counterfeited medications around the world. There so called pharmacies are a major supply source for drug addicts. The INCB urges governments to monitor them closely or shut them down.

It seems like every time you turn on the television there is another celebrity that has died from an accidental overdose. All these celebs like Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger and the most provocative, Michael Jackson, were prescribed prescription drugs by their physicians. It brings to question if doctors are responsible for their addictions and tragic deaths?

Hollywood has a long history of doctors aiding celebrities to harm themselves. Just recently Los Angeles prosecutors brought charges of manslaughter to Michael Jackson's physician Conrad Murray. The cardiologist worked door Michael Jackson from the spring of 2009 until his untimely death in late June.

After Michael's death, Dr. Murray admitted to administering sleep aides to help Jackson's insomnia. According to the coroner, Jackson did from "acute Propofol intoxication".

Murray stated that it was one of many prescription drugs he gave Michel that day he passed away. As shocking as it is, Propfol is an anaesthetic used in hospitals to render patients unconscious.

This war on drugs has got to stop. Just recently child actor Corey Haim became another casualty. There has been no official report on his cause of death, however it is suspected that he passed away of an accidental prescription drug overdose. These celebs as well as every day people are getting prescription drugs form somewhere; that somewhere being their physicians. This raises the question; are doctors responsible?

Since teenage prescription drug abuse is on the rise, it is important to reduce the availability of these drugs. Adults should secure these meds in a locked cabinet. Unused pill bottles should be disposed of properly. Flushing pills down the toilet are highly recommended by the Federal Government.

Drug manufacturers have now started taking more responsibility in the role they play into prescription drug abuse. These manufacturers are investigating ways in which commonly abused drugs can be made less addictive. Here are some examples of these methods:

1. Controlled-Released Drugs: These drugs slow the speed in which they enter the brain. This appears to reduce the effect they have on the brains reward centre.
2. Aversive Ingredients: By adding secondary ingredients to drug formulations. These secondary ingredients can provoke unpleasant side affects if the dose is too high.
3. Digestive Enzymes: Some drugs may eventually require exposure to digestive enzymes in order to be activated. This would greatly reduce the chances of these pills taken in any other way other than by mouth. This would work great in addicts who often crush up pills to snort or inject them.

Doctors sometimes like to help track the progress of a patient undergoing treatment of an addiction. It is certainly not easy for a person to stop abusing drugs. If it were, no one would become addicted. Do not feel embarrassed and do not hesitate to seek help in triumphing over your addiction. Your doctor may also suggest a residential facility that can provide a specialized program for your specific problem.

Withdrawal varies depending on the medications. For opioid withdrawal, buprenorphine and methadone may be used to ease the se horrible withdrawal symptoms. These medications are highly regulated. There are very strict guidelines. There are also blood pressure medications such as Cataprise that can help manage opioid withdrawal.

The tapering off of sedatives can be medically complicated. This should only be done after a consultation with a doctor. It may take weeks to months to slowly taper off sedatives if you have been on them for a long time. Sometimes mood altering drugs are used with the withdrawal process. Symptoms of withdrawal can mimic rebound anxiety.

There are no approve drugs as of yet to help the withdrawal symptoms of stimulants. These withdrawal symptoms can be beastly. The typical treatments of these abhorrent withdrawal symptoms are concentration on sleep, appetite and mood disturbances.

There are drug free ongoing therapies that can aid in the withdrawal and be proactive for a relapse occurrence. Counseling works wonders. Whether it is individual, group or family counseling, it is useful. Counseling can help determine what factors may have lead to prescription dug abuse. Addicts can also learn the skills needed to help prevent recurrence. A 12 step program such as Narcotics Anonymous is highly recommended.

Prescription drugs activate the brain's reward centre; therefore it is easy to become addicted to them. Even when an addict’s life becomes worse due to their addiction, they still continue to use. There are many other complications that arise from prescription drug abuse in addition to the addiction itself.

Complications of prescription drug abuse may vary depending on the drug category. Opioid painkillers can increase the risk of choking, loss of menstrual periods and infertility as well as slow breathing rate with the potential for breathing to stop. Sedatives and tranquilizers can cause memory problems, abnormal temperature regulation and an overdose can cause coma or death. Stimulants can cause hallucinations, seizures or tremors, and an increased risk of stroke.

It may be embarrassing to talk to your doctor about prescription drug abuse. However, it is a very common problem. It is a lot easier to treat the problem before your addiction gets out of control. Your family doctor may refer you to an addiction specialist. What you can expect from your doctors is a physical exam and answering some questions. These questions may be: How long have you had this problem?

What, if anything, prompted it?
How severe are your symptoms?
Do you have a past history of drug abuse?
Has anyone in your family ever had an addiction?