Table of Contents
Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? 11
Introduction 14
Chapter 1 Is Prescription Drug Abuse a Major Problem?: Chapter Preface 19
1 There Is a Prescription Painkiller Abuse Epidemic Monifa Thomas 22
2 It Is Not Clear Whether There Is a Prescription Painkiller Abuse Epidemic Radley Balko 28
3 Prescription Drug Abuse Contributes to the Widespread Drugged Driving Problem: National Institute on Drug Abuse 44
4 It Is Very Difficult to Determine the Impact of Prescription Drugs on the Drugged Driving Problem Angel Streeter 52
5 "Pharm Parties" Are a Threat to Teen Health and Safety Jeff Mosier 59
6 "Pharm Parties" Are a Myth Jack Shafer 64
7 Mothers' Abuse of Their Children's Medications Contributes to Drug Supply Shortages Katherine Ellison 69
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 75
Chapter 2 What Causes Prescription Drug Abuse?: Chapter Preface 77
1 Treatments for Chronic Pain Can Lead to Prescription Drug Abuse Liz Szabo 79
2 Experts Debunk Myths About Prescription Pain Medication Addiction Miranda Hitti 86
3 Ready Access to Prescription Drugs at Home Leads Many Teens to Abuse Them Sean Clarkin 95
4 Pharmaceutical Companies Encourage Physicians to Overprescribe Drugs Ellen Ratner 106
5 Physicians and Pharmaceutical Companies Should Not Be Blamed for Drug Abuse Maia Szalavitz 111
6 Prescription Drug Abuse Is a By-Product of Modern American Life Lisa Miller 118
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 131
Chapter 3 How Should Government Policies Address Prescription Drug Abuse?: Chapter Preface 133
1 A Balance of Public Health and Safety Is Best to Address Prescription Drug Abuse R. Gil Kerlikowske 136
2 Strict Regulation of Prescription Drugs Harms Patients Suffering from Chronic Pain Elizabeth MacCallum 143
3 Decriminalizing Drugs Would Reduce Prescription Drug Abuse David Rosen 153
4 Decriminalizing Drugs Would Not Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse William J. Bennett 163
5 Prescription Drug Ads Should Be Better Regulated Naomi Freundlich 168
6 Drug Take-Back Programs Can Limit Access to Prescription Medications Carnevale Associates 178
7 An Electronic Prescription Drug Monitoring System Will Guard Against Abuse Ed Pilkington 186
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 193
Chapter 4 What Can Be Done to Help Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse?: Chapter Preface 195
1 Doctors Must Improve Patient Screening and Monitoring to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse Murtuza Ghadiali David Rating 197
2 Physicians Must Warn Patients About the Dangers of Online Pharmacies Rick Nauert 204
3 Doctors Who Enable or Facilitate Prescription Drug Overdose Should Be Criminally Prosecuted Erica Trachtman 210
4 Parents Can Be Critical in the Prevention of Teen Prescription Drug Abuse: Parents. The Anti-Drug 216
5 Education Is Key in Fighting Prescription Drug Abuse: Office of National Drug Control Policy 220
6 New Technology Can Make Prescription Drugs More Difficult to Abuse Marni Jameson 227
Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 231
For Further Discussion 232
Organizations to Contact 234
Bibliography of Books 240
Index 243
