Directions: Read the following text and choose the most suitable heading from A-F for each paragraph.
There is one extra heading which you do not need.
A. Drug overuse and its consequence
B. The problem of drug overuse in America
C. Benefits of medicine and its wise use
D. Female drug overuse with reference to that of males
E. Misuse of medicine among the young generation
F. Improper use of medicine among senior citizens |
1.______
Nowadays, millions of people misuse and even overuse pain medications and other drugs. Research by
the American National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA, 1999) shows that around 2% of the population over
age 12 were using drugs non-medically.
2.______
NIDA views medications as a powerful force for good in the contemporary world. They reduce and
remove pain for millions of people suffering from illness and disease. They make it possible for doctors to
perform complicated surgery to save lives. Many people afflicted by serious medical conditions are able to
control their symptoms and become active, contributing citizens. NIDA points out that most individuals who
take these drags use them in a responsible.
3.______
Nevertheless, overuse of drugs such as opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants and stimulants
does lead to harmful reliance in some people and is therefore becoming a serious public health concern.
Although this abuse affects many people worldwide, particular trends of concern to the medical profession in
the US appear among older adults, teenagers arid women.
4.______
Though it may be a surprise to many, the misuse of medications may be the most common form of drug
abuse among the elderly. Dr Kenneth Schrader of Duke University, North Carolina states that although the
elderly represent about 13% of the US population, those aged 65 and over account for the consumption of one
third of all drugs. People in this age group use medications roughly three times more than the general
population and have poorer compliance with instruction for use. In another study of elderly patients admitted
to treatment programs, 70% were women who had overused medicines.
5.______
Unfortunately, this trend among women does not only affect those aged over.
In general, among women and men who are using either an anti-anxiety drug or a sedative, women are
twice as likely to become addicted. In addition, statistics compiled for 12-17 year olds show that teenage girls
are more likely than teenage boys to begin overusing psychotherapeutic medication such as painkillers,
tranquillisers, stimulants and sedatives.