You’d be surprised to find that you can get addicted to the medication that your doctor prescribes to you. According to research, there are more than 18 million people who are addicted to prescription drugs. If you think about it, that’s roughly 6% of the population. Drug abuse is a common yet dangerous addiction among many people. This is why you find that facilities such as Infinite Recovery Houston are always busy. The thing is, abusing drugs can be very dangerous for your health, in particular, the functioning of your brain.
When you use prescription drugs when you don’t need them, you can find yourself losing control over your dosage. And in most cases, this can increase your likelihood of taking other more addictive drugs such as cocaine and crystal meth. If you want to learn more about the dangers of prescription drug use, you should keep on reading.
What Prescription Drugs Are Commonly Used?
There are various drugs that your doctor can prescribe to you. However, the following three types are the ones that are commonly associated with prescription drug abuse.
Opioids
Opioid painkillers have been used by doctors to treat chronic pain. The most common types are codeine and morphine. In the U.S. there has been a significant increase in the number of people who live with long-term chronic pain. Research suggests that there are approximately 50 million people who rely on painkillers of varying degrees to manage their pain.
While opioids are effective for pain management, they do come with different side effects. As a result, any overdose of your opioids can be life-threatening.
Stimulants
There have been many cases of patients who suffer from chronic asthma or obesity who rely on using stimulants to survive. Nowadays, you can find that doctors are most likely to prescribe stimulants to treat other conditions such as ADHD or even depression. However, it’s common for people to use these as a form of drug that can give them a euphoric feeling. The most common way that stimulants are used to give you a high feeling is if you crush and snort them.
Central Nervous System Depressants (CNS)
If you suffer from anxiety or a sleeping disorder, your doctor has likely prescribed Xanax to help you cope. These types of prescription drugs are effective because they make you calm by affecting a chemical in your brain. It’s okay to use CND prescription drugs. However, if you start using yours more often, you’ll need a stronger dose to work on you.
Risk Factors of Prescription Drug Abuse
According to research, you might be at risk of abusing prescription drugs if you fall under this category.
- You’re easily influenced.
- You suffer from mental health problems.
- You don’t have any knowledge of these drugs.
- Your genetic makeup.
Symptoms of Prescription Drug Abuse
If you’re worried that you or a loved one might be abusing their prescription drugs, you’re not alone. It helps if you have an idea of what to look out for. A person who abuses prescription medication usually shows these signs.
- They suddenly have slow or shallow breathing.
- They start having slurred speech.
- Poor coordination.
- They suffer from mood swings.
- They have anxiety or depression.
It’s important to ensure that you get treatment for your prescription drug abuse as soon as you realize that you have a problem. You should ensure that you find an effective treatment that can decrease your chances of addiction. According to experts, the most effective combination treatment that you can use is cognitive-behavioral therapy medication-assisted treatment.