The abuse of prescription drugs is a major global issue. According to research, over 18 million people across the U.S. use prescription drugs for non-medical reasons each year. Some of these people are children no older than 12-years of age.
It’s no wonder that prescription drug addiction is on the rise and has been for many years already. This type of addiction is especially problematic as prescription drugs are easily accessible, while the addiction itself is difficult to detect.
If you’re wondering whether you or someone close to you could be facing an addiction problem, read this blog for more.
How is Prescription Drug Addiction Defined?
The abuse of prescription medication is based on the overuse or misuse of drugs, which are intended or prescribed for medical purposes by a doctor.
The abuse of prescription medication is problematic because it includes a vast array of medications that are all-too-accessible. Some of these types of medications sit in a friend’s bathroom cabinet, in the pocket of your purse, on pharmacy shelves, etc.
An addiction to a certain medication can start off with something as simple as everyday backache or a pulled muscle. In today’s society, prescription addiction is also fueled by peer pressure, mental health issues, stress, and more.
As drug treatment centers fill with those seeking addiction recovery, many of these patients are battling prescription drug addiction, in conjunction with a co-occurring disorder, as mentioned above.
The Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs
The most widely abused prescription drugs include opioid painkillers, sedatives, stimulants, and anti-anxiety medications:
- Opioids: used to treat pain, this class of drugs include oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet) or hydrocodone (Norco)
- Sedatives: used to treat stress and calm anxiety disorders, these drugs include alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and zolpidem (Ambien)
- Stimulants: used to treat hyperactivity or certain sleep disorders, these drugs include methylphenidate (Ritalin), dextroamphetamine (Adderall), and dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
This leaves the question, why are people abusing these drugs? Some of the most common reasons for prescription drug addiction vary, but tend to develop for the following reasons:
- As a means of ”escape” from everyday life and responsibilities
- To relieve tension i.e. help a person relax
- To maintain a current addiction or prevent withdrawal symptoms
- Peer or social pressure
- To improve focus, attention span, work, and academic performance
- As a form of pain relief from chronic pain
- To treat or numb the pain of an illness — whether physical or mental
The reality is that nowadays, this type of addiction does not discriminate between age, race, culture, or social status. This is because prescription drugs are everywhere and are easily prescribed all-too-often.
The Tell-Tale Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction
If you suspect that you or a loved one could be facing an addiction to prescription drugs, there are certain physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral tell-sale signs to look out for.
Physical Symptoms include:
- An overpowering craving for the effects of a drug
- Sleep issues such as disrupted sleep or insomnia
- Severe anxiety and panic attacks when not using the drug
- Nausea
- Intense bouts of sweating
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Muscle cramping and spasms
- A racing heart
These symptoms may physically affect your body when you are in a state of withdrawal, i.e. when you have gone a long period without taking a certain drug. However, addiction runs much deeper than just these physical symptoms.
Behavioral, Mental and Emotional Signs of Addiction
The reality of addiction is that it can completely take over and consume who you are, as a person. Most of the time, addiction behaviors may be difficult to acknowledge for those in the throes of an addiction. In short, you may not recognize yourself or your behavior.
Some common addiction behaviors include:
- Stealing from loved ones in order to fund an addition
- Selling off valuable goods in order to fund an addiction
- Forging doctor’s prescriptions in order to get your next fix of medication
- Taking high doses of a prescription drug — much higher than is recommended
- A change in behavior — appearing unusually energetic, sleepy, slow, or even sedated
- Poor decision-making abilities
- A significant change in personality, i.e. massive mood swings on a daily basis
- Seeking out drug prescriptions from more than one doctor
- Social withdrawal
- Poor or erratic work performance
- Falling behind on responsibilities, i.e. paying bills, neglecting child care
Aside from these signs, addiction can also change a person’s appearance. Someone who once was well-dressed and put-together will begin to look disheveled, and unkempt. Self-hygiene may fall to the wayside.
When To Seek Help For An Addiction
Timing is super important because the earlier you can acknowledge and catch an addiction, the better you will respond to treatment. Today, there are drug treatment centers specifically devoted to helping those with prescription drug addiction, no matter the severity.
There are usually two types of addiction treatment programs on offer:
- Inpatient or residential treatment: you are provided with 24/7 care by a team of professionals, including medicated detox if needed, medical supervision, individual therapy, and more
- Outpatient or partial hospitalization program (PHP): this treatment allows patients to attend sessions and counseling during the day, and return home if they prefer
No matter which type of treatment you choose, you will receive the medical and emotional support you need to overcome an addiction. Most treatment centers offer one-on-one evaluation and will develop a tailored treatment plan to help you in your recovery.
Some of the most common therapies included in addiction treatment are:
- Assisted medicated detox (where necessary)
- The 12-step education and support program
- Family, group, and individual therapy sessions
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
If you or a loved one has any of the above symptoms of prescription drug abuse, book an appointment with your doctor right away. There is no shame in recognizing and admitting that you could have a drug dependency. It’s your doctor’s job to listen to you and help you, they are not there to judge you.
Get Your Life and Health Back On Track
Prescription drug addiction is a very real and debilitating condition to live with — not just for you, but those around you too. The first step to getting your life back on track is to recognize that you need help.
If you’re looking for more motivational content on getting your health in check along your road to recovery, be sure to explore the health section of this site for more.