Sample Solution

The misuse of opioid medication is a growing problem in the United States, especially among adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 79 percent of opioid overdose deaths in 2018 involved prescription opioids (CDC, 2019). There are many factors that contribute to this issue, such as lack of education about the dangers of taking too much of a prescribed opioid, inadequate pain management practices, and psychological issues related to addiction.

One factor contributing to the misuse of prescribed opioids by adults is a lack of knowledge about their potential harm. Many people are unaware that taking higher doses than recommended or mixing opioids with other drugs can be dangerous. For example, if someone takes an opioid for chronic pain but does not understand the risks associated with it, they may take more than their doctor recommends or mix it with alcohol or other substances (NIDA 2020). This increases their risk for overdose and addiction.

A second factor is inadequate pain management practices by health care providers who may prescribe too many pills at once without assessing how long they will need them or without providing additional treatments such as physical therapy (Caulkins et al., 2017). Too often doctors rely solely on medications when treating chronic pain rather than using a comprehensive approach which could include psychotherapy and lifestyle changes like exercise and stress reduction techniques.

Finally, there are psychological issues underlying prescription drug abuse such as depression and anxiety which can lead people to self-medicate (Tucker & Zvolensky 2012). In some cases individuals receive prescriptions from multiple doctors without informing them so they can obtain larger amounts of medication; this type of behavior usually indicates an underlying mental health condition which requires specialized treatment approaches outside just prescribing medication.

Overall, there are many factors that contribute to the misuse of prescribed opioids by adults including lack of education about potential harms, inadequate pain management practices by health care providers and psychological issues related to addiction. It’s important for both patients and physicians alike to be aware these risks so appropriate interventions can be put into place in order to reduce instances where people become addicted or experience negative side effects from taking too much opioid medication (CDC 2019) .