America’s Prescription Drug Crisis

The Prescription Drug Epidemic

More people today rely on prescription drugs than ever before. According
to studies by the Mayo Clinic, roughly 70 percent take some sort of prescription
medication, and half of the people currently taking medication take more
than one kind of drug. The most commonly prescribed medications are antibiotics, antidepressant, and painkillers, particularly opioids. While overuse of antibiotics, antidepressants, or any type of prescription medication can present serious health problems, it is the use of opioids, which has risen to epidemic proportions, that has been causing the most concern.

Over 200 million people are prescribed opioid pain medication each year. While these medications, such as Fentanyl, Hydrocodone, and Oxycodone, are extremely powerful at relieving pain, they are also highly addictive. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over two million people are currently addicted to opioid pain medication, and overdose deaths for these types of drugs are higher than for both heroin and cocaine combined.

For a free legal consultation, call 803-222-2222

Signs Your Doctor Might Be Over Prescribing

While certain types of medications are always medically necessary to treat an illness or pain, your doctor may write you a prescription to use just in case you need it. Consumers should be cautious of taking any medication that is not absolutely needed, as well as staying on medications for long periods of time. Consumer Reports recommends watching out for these signs that your doctor is over prescribing medication:

• Being prescribed multiple drugs without an explanation
• Treating every symptom with a prescription
• The office has advertisements for a number of different types of pharmaceuticals
• Your doctor does not discuss ways to treat symptoms without using medication

A classic sign that your doctor is over prescribing is by giving antibiotics for the common cold. Over prescription of antibiotics is potentially harmful to the patient, and may result in the development of ‘superbugs’ that are resistant to treatment with antibiotics.

Contact an Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorney

If you or someone you care about has suffered as a result of a prescription
medicine, contact our experienced South Carolina medical malpractice attorneys right away. At Anastopoulo Law Firm we can help you get the compensation you deserve for the damages you have suffered. With offices in Charleston and throughout South Carolina, we will fight for your rights, and hold responsible parties accountable. Call us today for a free consultation.