Report Suggests RX Drugs List Abuse More Prevalent in Rural Areas
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RX Drugs List abuse is higher among adolescents living in rural areas, compared to those that live in the city, new findings suggest.
The report, published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, showed a definite correlation patients living in urban and rural areas, along with other varying health factors and sociodemographics. The findings suggest that the level of drug abuse amongst patients living in rural areas was significantly higher where prescription medication abuse was concerned.
Interestingly, the same pattern was not reflected in substance abuse data. For example, alcohol, and drugs marijuana and cocaine did not show any correlation between urban and rural areas.
RX Drugs List Abuse Prevalent in Rural Areas
Between 1992 and 2003, the rate of prescription drug abuse among adolescents jumped by 212% - three times higher compared to adults aged 18 and above.
While previous studies have examined medication abuse among urban adolescents, the new study is the first of its kind to investigate the extent of it in rural communities. Researchers have highlighted that while a correlation has been seen, the figures might not be generalized to rural areas alone, and noted that the findings may owe “to a unique set of contextual influences”.
Investigators also noted that a current lack of manufacturing, agricultural and mining industry jobs –all industries that are often contained to rural regions - may also be a key contributor to the findings, in addition to a lack of psychiatric services and overall lower health care in rural areas.
According to Dr Havens and her team, the next logical step in investigating the issue of RX drugs list abuse in rural areas is to examine factors relating to the use of tranquilizers and pain relievers among those residents.
