Over the Counter Drug Abuse on the Rise

In today's society, self-medication with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs is common. Unfortunately, so is the abuse of them. Statistics show that 80% of Americans' medical care comes from the OTC drugs they buy. As soon as we have any sign of pain, we turn to OTC medication. In fact, people rely on one kind of OTC product or another just to get through the day. But this trend of popping a pill to solve the problem of pain is giving America's youth the wrong idea. Teenagers and young adults, ages 12-26, are purposely abusing cough and cold medicine to get "high" because they don't understand how the body functions, and how dangerous OTC drugs are to it.

With new drugs continuously shelved, we expect there to be a medication for every ailment. But the truth is we need pain. Pain is physical suffering associated with a bodily disorder (such as a disease or injury) and accompanied by mental or emotional distress. Without it, our bodies wouldn't be able to function properly. Pain warns us when there is something wrong so the appropriate treatment method can be used. OTC medication may delay the treatment needed and may hide an underlying, perhaps chronic condition. It's easier for us in our busy lives to pop the pill instead of asking ourselves why we have the pain in the first place. When taken too often or too much, OTC drugs may even cause a serious health condition. For these reasons, pain is essential to life.