Prescription Drug Addiction

There is a plethora of different prescription drugs for just about every ache, pain or ailment under the sun. Millions of Americans are prescribed drugs every year to treat everything from chronic back pain to panic and anxiety disorders. The downside of prescription drugs used in this capacity is that most of them can cause dependence and addiction if used improperly. Prescription drug addiction can be difficult to detect, making it all the more difficult to treat.

Defining Prescription Drug Abuse

A prescription drug addiction is defined as using the drug outside of what has been medically directed. In turn, using the drug when it is not deemed medically necessary is also considered abuse. Prescription drug addictions can be difficult to detect if the individual has been prescribed the drug for a legitimate medical reason. Oftentimes, an individual does not realize they have developed an addiction until their prescription runs out and they begin to experience withdrawal symptoms.

Tolerance is often an early hallmark of addiction. If an individual requires more of the drug to achieve the desired effects, they have developed a tolerance. Prescription drug withdrawal can be a painful, demanding process. Prescription drug withdrawal symptoms can include any combination of the following:

Headaches

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Muscle and bone pain

Flu-like symptoms

Tremors

Increased heart rate

Increased blood pressure

Seizure

Stroke

Heart Attack

The severity of the withdrawal symptoms increases when a person has been using for a longer period of time or has developed a higher tolerance to the drug. The risk of serious side effects increases in high-risk patients, such as those with an underlying medical condition.

Why Do People Abuse Prescription Drugs?

While a large number of prescription drug addictions develop because of improper use of a medically necessary medication, some people start using prescription drugs for solely recreational purposes. Prescription drugs, depending on the medication, can cause feelings of euphoria or relaxation. They may also cause the individual to lose weight, which might be particularly encouraging to teens and young adults who are more concerned with their body imagine. A 2009 survey from the Center for Disease Control suggested that teen prescription drug abuse had increased by 20 percent.

A large number of people are under the misconception that prescription drugs are safer to use than other illicit drugs, like heroin or cocaine because prescription drugs are medically prescribed to individuals every day. However, prescription drugs are only appropriate when used by individuals who have a legitimate medical need for them.

Prescription Drug Detox

Detox is the first stage in drug addiction treatment and designed to treat the physical aspect of addiction. Prescription drugs are physically addictive because they act directly on the central nervous system to balance neurotransmitter levels and produce certain effects. In detox, patients stop using the drug and experience withdrawal symptoms. Prescription drug withdrawal can be minimized if the individual is gradually weaned off the medication, instead of stopping use cold turkey. Weaning the patient off the medication allows the body to adjust to the lower dosage until it is able to function without the drug present. It is important to have doctors and other medical professionals present for a prescription drug detox so the dosages can be carefully controlled.

Prescription Drug Addiction