How do we decrease prescription drug abuse?

Reyes, Sean D. "A Smart Way to Counter Prescription Drug Deaths." Washington
Times. The Washington Times, 21 Mar. 2016. Web. 29 Mar. 2016.
In A Smart Way to Counter Prescription Drug Deaths, by Utah attorney
general, Sean D. Reyes, argues that more regulations should be put in place to help
decrease the amount of deaths caused by prescription drug abuse. Reyes begins
with illustrating how prescription drug abuse is linked to over 44 American deaths
per day. He insists that doctors should show preference to over-the-counter
remedies over prescription painkillers, prescribe lower doses of painkillers when
unavoidable, as well as ensure that patients understand the risks of using such
medications to manage pain. While commending the Food and Drug Administration
for making policy changes that will help make prescription painkillers safer, he
insists that the FDA needs to require all painkillers to be made with abuse-deterrent
formulas. Going further, he asserts that such requirements must be implemented in
the manufacturing of generic painkillers as well. Lastly, Reyes demands that doctors
also need to be able to easily determine which medications are made with abusedeterrent formulas so they may show prescribing preference to such medications
meaning the FDA should require pharmaceutical companies to put this information
on their prescription labels.
As an attorney general in a state that is having significant problems with
prescription drug abuse Sean D. Reyes is a credible source for information on how to
decrease the problem. He shows his passion and understanding of this issue when
he talks about the number of prescription drug related deaths in America. He uses
credible sources such as the FDA and the CDC to illustrate and define the problem,

as well as give examples of why this is a relevant issue in todays society. While
using a variety of methods to appeal to his audience, the most effective is his
knowledge of the problem. He has a thought out plan to help decrease prescription
drug abuse that implements his knowledge of current FDA policies. Reyes supports
his proposed policy changes evidence provided by Utahs Controlled Substance
Database. He also plays to the emotions of the audience by reminding them that
this problem doesnt discriminate, it effects people of all socioeconomic status in all
areas of our country. Although I am not a Washington Times reader, I found his
emotional appeal very effective because I have seen firsthand how many different
types of people are effected by prescription drug abuse. I also was persuaded to
agree with Reyes because of evidence he uses to support is claims. As this article is
essentially a call to change policy it sparked the interest of the political audience of
the Washington Times.
I learned a lot about how prescription drug abuse is effecting our country
from this article. I plan to use this article to demonstrate Kairos in my paper as well
as show a stance on how to reduce prescription drug abuse. Reyess article focuses
mainly on prescription painkillers, which he addresses effectively, but leaves out a
large piece of the problemwhat about drugs such as benzodiazepines that are
largely abused in America? I may try to use his lack of a stance on that point to
transition to a counter claim or differing stance. I will also be able to use the sources
that Reyes provided to do more in depth research.

Estren, Mark J., and Beverly A. Potter. Prescription Drug Abuse. Oakland, California:
Ronin Publishing, 2013. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 30 Mar. 2016.
In Prescription Drug Abuse, by Mark Estren and Beverly Potter provide a
complete overview of prescription drug abuse, what causes it, and how the
government aims to fix it. The eBook advocates for people experiencing chronic
pain. They argue that the government has overlooked how difficult they are making
it for people with legitimate pain to get pain relief because they are too focused on
decreasing deaths related to prescription drug abuse. While agreeing that these
drugs are being abused, they insist the government is too focused on decreasing
abuse that they consider patients being inadequately treated for chronic pain
collateral damagean necessary evil that comes with the war on drugs. Estren
and Potter insist that we cant just take these medications away from patients
because doing so will result in severe withdrawals. Such withdrawals may require
addiction-treatment drugs which is just swapping one drug for another. While they
advocate for nondrug treatments such as physical therapy and counseling, they
realize these methods are costly. They dont provide a distinct solution to the
problem but imply that the regulations the government has put into place are
damaging the quality of life for people suffering from chronic pain.
Estren and Potter are medical doctors which boosts their credibility and
provides an understanding as to why they felt the need to weigh in on this matter.
They provide a wealth of information on the topic. They use credible evidence to
support their claims. While mainly using logical appeals, Estren and Potter provide
emotional appeals to engage the audience. Their passion for helping patients with
chronic pain is evident throughout the book. They take the stance that the
government is overlooking people suffering from chronic pain when they implement

abuse-deterrent policies and regulations but do not provide a clear alternative

solution. Estren and Potter were successful in making their audience sympathetic to
those with chronic pain because they used credible sources, provided evidence
showing that these patients were suffering unnecessarily.
I will use this source to help illustrate the lack of treatment those with chronic
pain are experiencing with the new regulations and policies that have been
implemented. I will use their research on nondrug pain management methods to
show another possible solution to decrease prescription drug abuse. Estren and
Potter also provide evidence of the abuse of prescription drugs other than
painkillersproviding insight as to why these drugs have largely escaped the
governments scrutiny. That is going to be vital in my own arguments for policies
changes regarding prescription drug abuse.