Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription drug addiction is an insidious
problem that has reached epidemic proportions. The National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) estimated that 9 million people
abused prescription drugs in 1999. The use of addictive
prescription drugs, including
Oxycontin,
Vicodin,
Percocet,
Xanax,
Valium and
Ritalin have plunged millions of
people into the nightmare of addiction and despair. All of these
drugs are prescribed for legitimate medical purposes, but a
large number of people become dependent on these pills, and many
eventually are addicted.
Perhaps the most tragic aspect of
prescription drug addiction, is that if very often starts
out as a legitimate backache, or pain and spirals out of control
into full blown prescription drug addiction. When the
addicts primary doctor stops filling prescriptions
the addict will begin ‘doctor shopping’, asking friends to
obtain drugs for them and ultimately finding a local drug
dealer.
Commonly Abused Prescription Medications
The most commonly abused medications can be
divided into three categories: Pain medications (opioids),
Central Nervous System Depressants and Central Nervous System
Stimulants.
This includes drugs such as Oxycontin,
Percodan, Percocet, and Morphine. Optiods work by binding to
opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central
nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. Opiod
prescription addiction occurs because of the feeling of
euphoria and blocked perception of pain. This feeling can
quickly evolve into an addiction. Withdrawal symptoms can
include restlessness, pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting and in
extreme cases even death.
Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants
are generally accepted to be sedatives and tranquilizers used
primarily to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Depressants can
be categorized in most cases as either a barbiturate, or a
benzodiazepine. As with many other prescription drugs,
long term and large doses of depressants will cause tolerance
and larger doses will be needed to attain the "relaxing" state
caused by depressants. Withdrawal symptoms can be be severe
including, anxiety, sleeplessness, and even seizures.
Stimulants increase energy, awareness and
alertness and are used to treat, among other disorders,
attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Stimulants can
increase heart rate and respiration which can be interpreted by
the user as euphoria. Stimulant addiction causes the
addict to become comfortable and familiar with the
accelerated bodily operation and coming off the high may be
extremely fatiguing causing, sleeping problems, depression,
hostility, paranoia and in rare cases heart failure and
seizures.
Prescription Drug Addiction Help!
As with any other danger in the world,
prescription drug addiction's greatest treatment is
prevention. However, if you or a loved one is suffering with
prescription drug addiction, don't get caught in the trap of
thinking you can control the addiction. Call our toll
free hotline at (800) 734-5192 and speak to a counselor about
how we can help you or your loved one.
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