The problem of drug overuse in American
美国的药物过度使用问题
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．
现在有数百万人滥用甚至过度使用止痛药和其他药物。美国国家药物滥用研究所（NIDA，1999）的研究表明，大约2%的12岁以上人口非医用原因使用药物。
Benefits of medicine and its wise use
药物的益处及其合理使用
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.
NIDA将药物视为当代世界一股强大的好的力量，为数百万患病者减轻和消除痛苦，让医生可以进行复杂的手术来挽救生命。许多患有严重疾病的人能够控制自己的症状，变得有活力，有益于人民。NIDA指出，大多数服用这些药物的人都很负责。
Drug overuse and its consequence
药物过度使用及其后果
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.
然而，过量使用阿片类药物、中枢神经系统抑制剂和兴奋剂等药物确实会导致一些人产生有害的依赖，因此正成为一个严重的公共卫生问题。尽管这种滥用影响到世界各地的许多人，但美国医学界更关注在老年人、青少年和妇女中出现的趋势。
Improper use of medicine among senior citizens
老年人用药不当
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.
尽管这可能让许多人感到惊讶，但用药不当可能是老年人中最常见的药物滥用形式。北卡罗来纳州杜克大学的Kenneth Schrader博士表示，尽管老年人约占美国人口的13%，但65岁及以上的人使用了所有药物的三分之一。这一年龄段的人使用药物的次数大约是普通人群的三倍，并且对使用说明的遵守程度较差。在另一项针对接受治疗项目的老年患者的研究中，70%是过度使用药物的女性。
Female drug overuse with reference to that of males
女性过度使用药物与男性相比
Unfortunately, this trend among women does not only affect those aged over
不幸的是，女性中的这种趋势不仅影响到年龄在60岁以上的人
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.
一般来说，在使用抗焦虑药物或镇静剂的女性和男性中，女性上瘾的可能性是男性的两倍。此外，针对12-17岁青少年的统计数据显示，十几岁的女孩比十几岁的男孩更有可能开始过度使用止痛药、兴奋剂和镇静剂等心理治疗药物。
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