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As the western states of America were settled, pioneers often had to drink rancid water from ponds and other sources. This often resulted in chronic diarrhea, causing many cases of dehydration and death that could have been avoided if clean water had been available.
Cocaine was isolated in 1860 and first used as a local anesthetic in 1884. Its first clinical use was by Sigmund Freud to wean a patient from morphine addiction. The fictional character Sherlock Holmes was supposed to be addicted to cocaine by injection.
Medication errors are more common among seriously ill patients than with those with minor conditions.
More than 4.4billion prescriptions were dispensed within the United States in 2016.
The most common treatment options for addiction include psychotherapy, support groups, and individual counseling.