One drug related topic I wanted to explore more about is prescription drug abuse. The reason for my choice is that I have learned that addiction is a disease that does not discriminate. Therefore, I wanted to know more about this issue that has a far-reaching impact across all ages and socio-economic classes. The first thing I discovered, which was alarming, was the extent of prescription drug abuse. Some of the shocking statistics I found in the Truth for America's Health report indicate that deaths from drug poisoning surpassed car crashes as the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States in 2009. Today, 50 Americans die from painkiller overdoses. every day and that prescription painkillers are responsible for more than 475,000 emergency room visits per year. Additionally, 70,000 children visit the emergency room each year due to drug poisoning due to the use of prescription drugs intended for adults (Levi, 2013, p. 3-6). I found these statistics disconcerting. However, it made sense because the use of prescription drugs goes under the radar and are easily available. Furthermore, they are drugs initially used to treat medical conditions. However, due to maladaptive risk factors, environmental factors, and the aforementioned accessibility abuse, abusive use has increased. Additionally, I found a very interesting concept coming from the National Institute on Drug Abuse that states that older individuals are more likely to abuse multiple, long-term prescriptions. They go further to say the reason is due to mental decline and financial need due to the high cost of healthcare. Additionally, abuse among… middle of paper… abuse in issuing drug prescriptions. Additionally, because of the scale and scope that prescription drug abuse has, communities are implementing better educational programs and resources that can help people manage the disorder. As I suspected, prescription drug abuse is a big problem. I'm happy to have had the opportunity to see how big the problem is and the effects this type of addiction has. I feel that as a counselor I will use heavy educational material along with a strong solution-focused approach to help people gain a better understanding of their disorder. Works Cited Levi, J. (2013). Prescription Drug Abuse: Strategies to Stop the Epidemic Report in question: Truth for America's Health. US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Drug Addiction. (2011). Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction (11-4881)