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Of course, it is possible to take medicine in a responsible way: An emergency room doctor can decide that a patient with a broken arm would benefit from a dose of morphine. A pharmacist can prescribe the occasional use of a muscle relaxant to a person with a back injury. A person can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve pain and reduce fever. These are examples of safe and legal drug use. Medical professionals are qualified and permitted to consider a person's current health and medical history and determine a specific, safe, and beneficial use of a drug.

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Final answer:

The text focuses on the responsible use of opioids and antibiotics. While these substances serve crucial roles in pain management and treating infections, their misuse can lead to serious issues including addiction and drug-resistant 'superbugs'. It emphasizes the need for responsible prescribing and consumption.

Step-by-step explanation:

The text discusses the responsible use of drugs, particularly focusing on opioids like Morphine, Oxycodone, and Codeine among others. These are powerful painkillers used by medical professionals to treat severe pain under controlled situations. They work by mimicking the body's endogenous opioid neurotransmitter system, decreasing pain and occasionally producing euphoria.

Yet, opioids bear a high potential for misuse, and their improper use has sparked major health concerns. Since the 1990s, increased prescriptions of these substances resulted in higher rates of addiction and misuse. Detoxification from these drugs is often arduous and risky, sometimes requiring other addictive medications for patients' safety. It is essential to note that while these drugs can be highly beneficial when used properly, the dangers associated with misuse cannot be understated.

Lastly, it's crucial to mention that health professionals have emphasized discretion when prescribing antibiotics owing to the rise of antibiotic-resistant microbes. The misuse of antibiotics could lead to the emergence of 'superbugs', resistant to existing treatments.

Learn more about Responsible Drug Use

User Khurrum Qureshi
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