Misuse of prescription drugs
The abuse of prescription drugs has a far-reaching public health impact. The mortality rates due to this kind of substance abuse have rapidly increased. The rapid escalation of this health problem has precipitated initiatives to address the issue. There is a lot of on-going clinical research on the epidemiology and possible public health interventions on prescription drug disorders. Commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids. The abuse of prescription drugs intensified far beyond what the mitigative measures and policies can handle. The drugs that fall under the category of prescription drugs differ from countries. Also, the availability and accessibility to these drugs vary with counties. With the abuse of opioids, the prevalence varies with gender. Females have been found to abuse opioids more than men. Young people who abuse other substances are more likely also to abuse prescription drugs. Prescription drugs are used medically to treat chronic pain and psychiatric disorders. These drugs fall under the four classes: sedatives, pain relievers, stimulants, and tranquilizers.
Research shows that the non-medical use of prescription drugs is high among young people between 18 and 25 years. The rate od abuse is, however, rising in all both the young and old age spectrum. Information on the demographics and the current trends on prescription is crucial in forming strategies for minimizing the leakage of such drugs for non-medical use.
Effects of Corona Virus pandemic
The effects of COVID-19 has had significant impacts on peoples live. The economic meltdown experienced worldwide has impacted people’s jobs and sources of livelihood. With the poorly performing economic come poor mental health outcomes. The loss of employment, isolation, and stigma associated with the virus are causing anxiety, financial stress, and even depression to many sections of the population. Although governments have put considerable effort into minimizing the viral transmission, there are repercussions of the pandemic.
People who use substances are at a higher risk of infection with COVID-19 than the general population. The virus affects the respiratory system; therefore, people using tobacco and marijuana.
People who use methamphetamine and those with opioid use disorder face a severe threat.
Reports indicate that the COVID-19 infection is more severe and even causes death among the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions such as hypertension, cancer, and diabetes.
Case studies done on COVID-19 patients indicate that a history of respiratory and cardiovascular contributes to a poor prognosis of the infection. For people who use opioids, their challenges differ from other drug users. Opioids act in the brain cells to slow the rate of breathing. With the effect of COVID-19 of compromising on the lung capacity, such patients are likely to die due to low oxygen levels. Poor health practices such as sharing of injecting, inhalation, and smoking material among drug users place them at a high risk of contracting the disease. Besides, recreational drug use occurs among groups of people or in crowded areas. If social distancing is not observed, the risk of infection is high. Health workers should closely monitor patients with a history of substance abuse as they may add more burden to the already overstretched healthcare system.
The demand and supply chain of the illicit drug has been affected. This was occasioned by the restriction on movement and internal cargo transport. Reports indicate that just as people panic bought essential goods, substance users also stock up on their drugs of choice. The low supply of illicit drugs in a country could place users under more health crises. People will likely take up risker habits to adjust to the changes. There is also the possibility of substituting the usual drug with unfamiliar or cheaper but more lethal drugs. There is a risk of experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms. People who were overstocking in anticipation of a shortage are likely to overdose, especially at the time of social distancing and isolation. Drug prices have shot up. The drug sellers have used the opportunity to make more profits. Drug cartels may shift from drugs that require to be grown in the fields to the synthetic drugs, In this case, the supply of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl may increase, and that of marijuana and heroin may reduce.
Internet usage
With governments implementing lockdown and stay-at-home orders, young people have a lot of time at their disposal during the period of stay-at-home. Social media has both negative and positive impacts. The Internet and social media can still be utilized to add value. Young adults can use information technology for meaningful purposes such as studying, video gaming, learning a new language, and live streaming workout sessions. Social media provides a platform for acquiring new skills. An individual can put in their innovative minds, given the availability of time and social media resources. Social networking provides an avenue for peers to exchange ideas and collaborate on projects.