Adderall, Zoloft, Ambien, Ritalin, Hydrocodone, Valium, Xanax, Dexedrine, OxyContin…these are only a few examples of the vast amount of prescription drugs available to the general public in the modern age. But studies have found that the most frequent use of these prescription drugs occurs among college students and young adults ages 18 to 24, and much of this usage falls under the classification of abuse.

Related statistics point to a dramatic increase in the number of people who take advantage of prescription drugs within the past decade. This is evident of an all-too-convenient drug market that has captured an age group’s excitement for a better quality of life through marketing techniques.

But in a capitalist society, the consumer only seems to be concerned with achieving a decent price of the product, while the supplier is only concerned with selling more material: both are concerned with price, and neither party is concerned with the well-being of the people. Though doctors are given the responsibility of distributing prescriptions based on diagnosis, they themselves are targeted by the marketing of drug companies and are encouraged to prescribe one drug over another with sales packages and deals.

In other cases, the government has fulfilled the role of safeguarding the people from
themselves—take seat belt laws, for instance. But psychoactives, opiods and stimulants are not the only available shortcuts to a better quality of life—diet pills, online dating and fast food have also appeared in the spotlight of popular favorite commodities.

Whose responsibility is it to take care of the masses? Is it the government, corporations or the people themselves?

The point is that people seem to be harming themselves. If it is the government’s job to protect the people, where is the line drawn? How can the government monitor fat intake, smoking levels or prescription hand-outs? If it is the corporation’s responsibility, how can they crack down on drug use while maintaining a motivation for revenue?

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