The Global Experience of Prescription Drug Abuse

The globalization of drug abuse has become a world-wide epidemic and a national threat to youths in all counties. The newest phenomenon is prescription drug abuse. It began in Germany and spread throughout Europe, then to England, and to the United States, Asia and Iran. Teenagers and young adults in contemporary society are not using as much illicit drugs (like methamphetamines, ecstasy, heroin, and cocaine) as those of previous years. They have found other ways and means to get high, with painkillers and other prescription drugs being abused at record levels. This generation of teens has been given the name “Generation Rx.” In European countries drugs are not sold without prescription and specialists must prescribe them. But in our country, every household has a drug box in his house and acts like a family doctor. Research shows that teenagers have been caught searching in the a-box. Behavioral sciences institute shows that the use of drug is three times more than the standards of the world and Iran is the 20th country among countries and is the second country in the Middle East that its people use non-prescription drugs. Non-prescription drugs are accessible and youths can avoid their effects easily. This article tries to focus the attention of authorities and households to non-prescription drugs and tries to offer some tips to get out of this dilemma.