What is fueling the recent increase in prescription drug abuse?
There are a variety of factors that may be contributing to the increase in prescription drug abuse. The Director of NIDA recently testified before Congress: The recent increase in the extent of prescription drug abuse in this country is likely the result of a confluence of factors, such as: Significant increases in the number of prescriptions; significant increases in drug availability; aggressive marketing by the pharmaceutical industry; the proliferation of illegal Internet pharmacies that dispense these medications without proper prescriptions and surveillance; and a greater [[Page 52722]] social acceptability for medicating a growing number of conditions.\27\ ————————————————————————— \27\ The NIDA testimony, which was presented July 26, 2006, before the House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources, Committee on Government Reform, appears in full on NIDA’s Web site at http://www.drugabuse.gov/Testimony/7-
