THE CONCERN
Prescription Facts & Abuse
Prescription medication being sold by students.
- The U.S. Department of Justice reports that an estimated 36 million U.S. residents aged 12 and older abused prescription drugs at least once in their lifetime. The survey also revealed that millions of teenagers and young adults abuse prescription drugs - 2.7 million individuals aged 12 to 17 and 6.9 million individuals aged 18 to 25 abused prescription drugs at least once.
- It is estimated that several billion prescriptions are written every year in the United States and that this number increases drastically each year.
- Millions of people hold onto their unused and old prescriptions. Some people plan on using them in the future while many just do not know how to safely hand their proper disposal.
Drinking Water Contamination
What pharmaceuticals may be in your drinking water?
- 70% of the earth is water and only about 3% of this water is freshwater that is safe for drinking and it is said that most of that is not available for use. Of what is available for use (about 1% of the total) can mostly be found with low levels of pharmaceuticals.
- According to the Associated Press, pharmaceuticals are entering the drinking water of approximately 41 million Americans. These include (among others) antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones. More on this AP report can be found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23503485/
- It is true that pharmaceuticals have only been measured in trace amounts (parts per million and parts per billion) and that public utility companies assure us that the drinking water is safe. Never-the-less, scientists are concerned about long term effects to this continued exposure. Furthermore, more medications and continued practice will only increase the amount of pharmaceuticals found in our waters.
Ecological Concerns
Drugs are contaminating our Earth.
- PPCP (Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products) are found where people and animals are treated and where people use personal care products. PPCPs are found in any water body influenced by raw or treated sewage, including rivers, streams, ground water, costal marine environments, and many drinking water sources.
- According to the EPA, Effects on aquatic life are a major concern because aquatic organisms have continual exposures, muti-generational exposures, exposures to higher concentrations of PPCPs in untreated water and possible low dose effects.
- A recent EPA study has found pharmaceuticals in fish caught near five major cities according to an AP report. Pharmaceuticals residues found include those used to treat high cholesterol, allergies, high blood pressure, bipolar disorder and depression.
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