Trying and taking on prescription drugs can be intimidating, especially if a person has past experience with another’s drug addiction or an addiction of their own. And while it is important to be open to trying to work with prescription drugs, it is still important to keep in mind what makes the battle with prescription drugs so difficult and how people become addicted to them.
What is it about prescription drugs that can be addictive? What prescription drugs tend to be the most addictive, and what are the risks that come with them? Asking your doctor and educating yourself regarding the risks and possibilities is crucial when dealing with prescription drugs.
The Cause of Prescription Drug Abuse
When it comes to prescription drugs, it should be noted that they can be just as dangerous as illegal drugs. In fact, some prescription drugs have these controlled substances. These include opioids, morphine, or even forms of marijuana.
Many of these require special permissions from your doctor, or you may be instructed to only take certain amounts for a set period of time to avoid addiction. Though all of these medications have good intentions and medical purposes, they can be abused just like any other drug.
Prescription drug abuse has likely become more prevalent due to the greater prevalence of prescription drugs in people’s lives, greater social acceptability, and a greater number of marketing campaigns for drugs. This means prescription drugs are more accessible than ever, thus creating a greater risk for addictions. Under certain uses, they can be abused to create a sense of euphoria or “get high,” like many other abused drugs.
The Most Abused Prescription Drugs
While it is possible to become addicted to any drug, there are a number of similar drugs that tend to be more addictive than others. Painkillers are among them, including opioids, CNS (Central Nervous System) depressants, and stimulants.
A number of these drugs tend to be used to treat mental illnesses and disorders. The most commonly abused can consist of but are not limited to:
- Xanax
- OxyContin
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Concerta
- Hydrocodone
- Ritalin
- Adderall
- Valium
The Risks of Prescription Drug Abuse
Many assume that prescription drugs are safer than other commonly abused drugs such as nicotine, illegal substances, and alcohol, but that is not the case. Though taking prescription drugs are considered safer choices over blindly trying out a new substance like cocaine, you are no safer from the risk of addiction.
Like with any drug, the risk of overdose and its harmful side effects are always present. A doctor will usually address these side effects with you before prescribing a new medication, but some drug users may overlook these problems or even use them outside of their intended purposes—be it increasing their dose in hopes of being more effective or sharing drugs with others.
Sharing these drugs with other people or beginning to abuse prescription drugs is also the first step towards abusing illegal substances. It is not uncommon for future drug users to start with the abuse of prescription drugs and can serve as a gateway to drug dealing.
By abusing prescription drugs meant to help with medical concerns, even more medical concerns can be brought about. By following the guidelines proposed by professionals and being open about any concerns of addiction, the issue of battling prescription drug addiction can be avoided altogether.
If you or a loved one is concerned about potential prescription drug addiction, contact a local Alternative Treatment & Rehab program in Tennessee. You might also investigate Discovery Place’s own recovery, programs such as our 30 Day Residential Addiction Recovery Program or our Long Term Recovery Program in Burns, Tennessee. Call us for a free consultation at 1-800-725-0922.
