Prescription Drugs Abuse Causes, Statistics, Addiction Signs, Symptoms & Side Effects
What are Prescription Drugs?
Prescription medications are any kinds of drugs which must be approved by a health professional. Medical professionals who may distribute prescription medications include physicians, dentists, veterinarians, optometrists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. All prescription medications are regulated by the Federal Government in america, meaning every drug must meet a particular criterion prior to being distributed or administered. By way of instance, security regulations involving prescription medications in america are supervised by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Prescription Drug Marketing Act of 1987. The term “prescription medication” is frequently utilized to differentiate from drugs which can be obtained without a prescription, or over the counter. Other conditions that refer to prescription medications include “Rx”, “Rx-only drugs”, or “legend drugs”. | Prescription drugs are usually allotted from pharmacies and pharmacy chains, under the digression of Pharmacists who will dispense the medicine.
Prescription medications will be identified with a tag that will indicate several things:-
- The name of this medication
- The potency of the drug
- The quantity of tablets
- Name of the prescribing physician or other medical practitioner
- Date of prescription
- Number of refills remaining
- Expiration date of prescription
- Directions on how to take the medication
There are several prescription medications with a higher risk for abuse, such as Marijuana, heroin, cocaine, etc.). These substances are contained in the “controlled” class since they’re strictly regulated by the government. Many other prescription drugs may result in dependence or addiction if not used properly or as instructed. Examples of drugs that could result in addiction include Xanax and Valium, or drugs from the benzodiazepines class. Many prescription drugs can be deadly in large doses, which is one reason that prescriptions only contain a specific number quantity. When used as directed, prescription medications can have many unpleasant side effects, and it’s important to discuss these risks with a medical practitioner before consuming any chemicals.
Prescription medications can be found in a number of forms, including tablets, pills, liquids, injections, suppositories, stains, and much more. Since many prescription medications contain components that are desired to drug addicts, they are generally obtained through illegal or illegal means (outside of a physician’s prescription). If used recreationally, prescription medications are usually manipulated to reach a desired effect, such as smashed and snorted/smoked, or cooked and injected intravenously. These methods will enable a prescription drug addict achieve a euphoric reaction or other desirable effect. Though prescription drugs can provide pain relief and so enhancing the quality of life for someone suffering from physical disorders, they can easily be abused. The three types of prescription drugs which are most frequently abused include opioids, central nervous system depressants, and stimulants. When prescription drugs are used recreationally or beyond their intended purpose, a prescription medication addiction can quickly grow. An addiction to prescription drugs can ruin the life of any man or woman and negatively affect the many areas of someone’s life. In case you or a loved one is afflicted with an addiction to prescription medication, it’s important to enlist the assistance of loved ones, professionals, and a prescription drug addiction facility to find freedom from the substance abuse.
Prescription Drug Statistics
In the USA, there are more than two,800 drugs which were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating various diseases and disease. Statistics on prescription drug abuse are useful in gaining a view about the seriousness of the condition and what can be achieved in preventative and treatment measures of prescription drug dependence. Other data about injectable drugs are as follows:-
- In 2009, 16 million Americans age 12 and elderly had obtained a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant or sedative for nonmedical purposes at least one time in the year before being surveyed .
- One of adolescents, over-the-counter and prescription drugs account for the majority of the commonly abused illegal drugs by high school seniors.
- One of those who abuse prescription drugs, high rates of other risky behaviours, including misuse of other drugs and alcohol, have also been reported.
- Nearly three out of four prescription drug overdoses are due to prescription painkillers. | The increase in overdose deaths in the US parallels a 300% growth since 1999 in the sale of powerful painkillers .
- The misuse and abuse of prescription medication was responsible for greater than 475,000 emergency department visits in 2009.|
- About half of prescription painkiller deaths involve at least one other medication, such as benzodiazepines, cocaine, and heroin.
Reasons For Prescription Drug Addiction
There are a number of things which could be involved in the misuse of prescription drugs. These reasons may be associated with biological, psychological or social factors. Some examples of causes of prescription drug addiction contain the following:-
- To maintain an improvement or protect against withdrawal
- To attain a euphoria, or feeling of being “high”
- To relieve tension, anxiety, depression, or pain (both physical and emotional)
- To reach a social standing or to be approved by taking a particular medication or drugs
- To improve endurance, endurance or work/school operation
A prescription drug dependence may also be co-occurring with other disorders or diseases, like an eating disorder, alcoholism, mood disorders, or the misuse of other substances. In case you or a loved one is fighting with a prescription drug dependence, it’ll be important to enlist the advice of an expert to help address the many factors which might have led to this stage. Having the support of a professional prescription medication treatment centre can be useful in identifying any potential root causes related to the prescription drug dependence.
Signs and Symptoms of Prescription drug Addiction
The symptoms and signs of a prescription drug addiction will rely on the drug that’s being abused. There are three classes of prescription drugs that are most frequently abused, and knowing ways to recognize a prescription drug addiction can help in intervening. In case you or a loved one is addicted to prescription drugs, understanding these indications can help identify if using prescription drugs is becoming violent:-
- Stimulants: Common signs of stimulant abuse include agitation, irritability, high blood pressure, restlessness, impulsive behaviors, unintended weight loss, and irregular heart rhythm.
- Opioid Illness: Symptoms of opioid painkillers include depression, lower blood pressure, decreased breathing rate, imbalance and poor coordination.|
- Sedatives: Abuse of sedatives may result in dizziness, confusion, poor judgment, and excessive mood swings or hostility.|
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these signs or symptoms because of an addition to prescription medication, please seek the counsel of a health professional, as the dependence can quickly spiral out of control.|
Prescription Drug Effects
A prescription drug addiction can be devastating to the abuser because the many areas of their live can start to unravel. | While physical consequences might be the most obvious, the effects of a prescription drug addiction don’t stop there. A prescription drug addict will also face damaging effects in every aspect of their lives: physically, emotionally, and socially. Listed below are ways that Prescription drugs may affect the many areas of an individual’s life:-
Physical Effects — The abuse of prescription drugs can disable the body from functioning normally as organs and organs are gradually destroyed. These are a few of the physical consequences caused by using prescription medications:-
- Alterations in mood
- Increased stress and depression
- Erratic behavior
- Sluggishness, fatigue
- Reduced immunity
- Death due to overdose or toxicity
Emotional / Emotional Effects — Abusing prescription medications will also cause the destruction of someone’s mental health. These are a few of the negative emotional and psychological effects from using prescription medications:-
- Reliance on prescription medications for feelings of pleasure and contentment
- Suicidal tendencies
- Mental clouding
- Mood swings or extreme behaviour changes
- Frequent experience of depression and stress
- Distorted perception of truth, disillusioned
Social Effects — The abuse of prescription drugs may lead to multiple negative social outcomes. These may include the following:-
- Withdrawal, isolation from family and friends
- Loss of interest or diminished participation in activities once enjoyed
- Alienation from societal role
- Damaged relationships with loved ones
- Division or brokenness in a family unit
Prescription Drug Withdrawal
The withdrawal process from prescription medications will varying according to what medication was being consumed, the length of the drug dependence, the amount required, and the frequency of this medication. Withdrawal will happen in any instance in which the dose of the prescription medication is stopped suddenly, allowing the body to detoxify from a prescription medication or flush it from its own systems. The detoxification procedure for any prescription medication needs to be performed under medical supervision as the symptoms that may accompany withdrawal are both physically and emotionally demanding and challenging. These symptoms result as the body tries to stabilize with no normal dosage of prescription medication within its own systems.
Withdrawal from Prescription drugs can cause these symptoms:-
- Tremors
- Cramps
- Weakness
- Chills
- Perspiration
- Vomiting
- Flu like symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Depression
- Stress
- Panic attacks
- Cravings
- Suicidal ideations
If you or a loved one is addicted to prescription drugs and trying to withdraw from the drugs, it’s recommend that you seek the support of an experienced medical professional or prescription medication treatment center. | Having the support of a professional team can be certain that the detoxification process proceeds with as little discomfort and complications as possible. | Having the support of a prescription drug rehab center and therapy staff can establish long term success for healing.
Prescription Drugs Treatment and Help
A prescription drug addiction doesn’t need to take charge of your life. In actuality, you have the capacity to make the choice to find the help you want to overcome the harmful prescription drug addiction cycle and live your life in freedom and peace. Finding and utilizing skilled help is an important part of the process to efficiently approaching the complications which might have resulted from prescription medication use. Suffering with an addiction to prescription medication can be overpowering and an isolating experience, but it’s important to not forget that you don’t need to be alone. Having the support of a professional treatment group or prescription drug rehab facility may allow for the best care and treatment, and in the end, give you the tools you will need to conquer this addiction.