As meth use drops, prescription-drug abuse rises

Efforts to curb the rural-based methamphetamine epidemic have proven effective, but many abusers or potential abusers of that drug are turning to prescription drugs, reports Tom Barton of The Des Moines Register. He writes, "Authorities have tightened the chokehold on Iowa's methamphetamine epidemic, but the abuse of prescription drugs, particularly among young people, continues to rise, new statistics show."

The fight against meth has proven effective. "The number of meth labs, addicts entering treatment programs and related prison sentences are down from a year ago," adds Barton. "The success, officials said, is largely due to controls on ingredients used to make the highly addictive stimulant." But instead of abstaining from drugs, many users are turning to prescription medicines. "State drug agents report a 79 percent increase in 'pharmaceutical diversion' cases," writes Barton. "Meanwhile, the amount of seized prescription and over-the-counter medications has more than tripled."

Iowa authorities are looking at prescription-drug databases as a potential way to combat abuse of the drugs. Barton adds, "Thirty-eight states have the database programs, which are designed to catch users who forge prescriptions and buy and sell non-prescribed drugs." (Read more)