Common Public Health Issues and How They Can Be Prevented

Prescription stimulants are medications that are typically prescribed to people with conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or narcolepsy. These drugs increase attention, energy, and alertness.

Common prescription stimulants include:

Psychostimulants with abuse potential, including prescription stimulants and illicit drugs such as methamphetamine, accounted for 12,700 overdose deaths in 2018, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This number has risen each year since 2014, with and without involvement of other substances.

Substance abuse disorders can lead to other public health problems, according to the U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, such as:

Public health interventions might target at-risk adolescents, working with schools to deter drug use in youth through education campaigns.

Panic disorders are characterized by sudden, unexpected bouts of intense fear. Teens with panic disorders typically experience panic attacks that last several minutes and cause dizziness, increased heart rate, and difficulty breathing.

Treatment measures include cognitive behavioral therapy — where counselors help individuals examine their thoughts around anxiety-producing activities — and medications such as antidepressants.

Public health programs seeking to address teenage anxiety conditions such as panic disorder may seek to improve mental health parity, or equal insurance coverage and access to mental health services. Public health workers might also seek to improve community awareness and prevention efforts for related problems such as suicide and gun violence.