Have you ever stopped to think about the possibly grave impact of the use and abuse of prescription drugs, especially when weighed against the more "hardcore drugs" like cocaine and marijuana? Often, we restrict our perception of "what's dangerous" to those drugs that are illegal, and which are often viewed with the most social disdain (and for good reason when you consider the considerable destruction that their abuse has wreaked on the lives of many), but at the same time... Are we undermining the danger of abuse of prescription drugs? The National Institute on Drug Abuse has reported that: " prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are, after marijuana (and alcohol), the most commonly abused substances by Americans 14 and older." In light of this reality, which type of drug do you think has the greater negative impact? Prescription or "Hardcore"? OR Are they both to be viewed with the same caution, as equaly dangerous when abused?
I think that alcohol is actually the most dangerous drug of all. But when it comes to prescription painkillers, many people don't realize that these opiates are very similar to heroin and just as addictive. So-called "street drugs" aren't always habit-forming and, certainly in the case of marijuana, can be a lot safer. Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's safe.
What exactly is your definition of a hardcore drug? Are you sure you're not mixing the term "hard drug" with "illegal drug"? I wouldn't consider cannabis a hard drug at all.
I don't think we have the same definition of "hardcore". Growing up I knew plenty of people who would smoke pot but wouldn't touch prescription opiates with a ten foot poll. Prescription opiates obviously have more health consequences. Opiates are one of the nastiest things to kick. You haven't felt pain till you've withdrawaled from those things.
Prescription drugs are basically just more pure forms of street drugs. They may be more safe in terms of not containing a bunch of dangerous substances used to "cut" them, not to mention how they were created, stored and transported in the first place (there are people who ingest bags of drugs and crap them out, some people even get breast implants or butt implants filled with these drugs - and you consume them afterwards, yuck!). But beside that, they are not necessarily "safer" or better for you than "street" drugs - especially when you are talking about getting hooked on them. There are plenty of people who become hopelessly hooked on prescription pain killers for example. Also, I can tell you from first hand experience, medications such as Zoloft can create huge problems for you if you are a heavy drinker. I tried to get on antidepressants with the hope of tapering off my drinking, but my drinking actually got worse while on them, and they would make me way more drunk and crazy acting than I would get off of booze alone - to the point where I would do stupid stuff like hop in the car and go get fast food, when I shouldn't have (that's how I got my DUI's).
I've taken Zoloft as well and had so many side effects that I ended up not taking it anymore. I feel like doctors don't always do everything they can to educate and prepare us for the side effects of drugs.
Prescription drugs can absolutely be as harmful as street drugs. Some of them are even synthetics, which may be harder on the body than a more natural substance would be in the same concentration. I think too many people underestimate the potential damage they can do to themselves, not to mention the addictive potential, of prescription drugs. So many prescription addicts came to be addicted totally accidentally after using a prescription they got from their doctor. Sometimes it takes a long time before anyone even knows these people have a problem and need help.
Whether or not a drug is natural or synthetic (I can't think of a prescription drug that wasn't made in a lab, so the majority, if not all, are synthetic) has nothing to do with how how hard it is on the body.
People tend to think that because something is classed as "medicine", it's good for you, not being "real" drugs. This is a very deadly state of mind. They can be just as addictive and body-wreaking as street drugs. Prescription drugs should only be taken with a doctor's permission, and the guidelines should be adhered to. And you shouldn't let your doctor persuade you into taking a drug you don't need. You should try safer alternatives first.
The power of pharmaceutical companies can never be estimated. These days you get prescription drugs for every possible symptom, and before you know it, you are suffering some nasty side effect and need another drug to treat the new symptoms. And for many the nightmare continues from there. Psychological disorders might be one of those side effects, which in turn need psychiatric drugs, and so it goes on. I think it's all a very vicious cycle, and that's why I haven't taken any prescription drugs for over 20 years now.
I would agree that those said substances are the most abused ones. Alcohol and over the counter drugs are very easy to avail . you just have to have money and buy it. While in terms of weeds, there seems to be an increasing number of places where it is legal and even in countries where it is illegal, there are users.