Drug abuse and addiction is not just limited to the drugs that are sold on the streets by illegal drug dealers. In fact, many experts would stay that prescription drug abuse is the worst drug epidemic sweeping the nation today. However, the problem is that many people in the United States do not see prescription drug abuse as a problem. Studies have shown that nearly half of all high school students in the United States as well as a third of their parents are under the belief that consuming prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes is safe than consuming illegal street drugs.
In reality, prescription drug abuse is the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the country, making up 45 percent of overdose deaths. Cocaine, meth, and heroin combined only account for 39 percent of overdose deaths based on data collected by the Centers for Disease Control. This means that prescription drug abuse is both prevalent and extremely dangerous.
When a person is abusing prescription drugs, it means that they are using the drug for reasons other than the prescribing physician stated. This can also mean that a person takes a drug in a different way than prescribed. This can include melting down medications to inject them, crushing pills up to drink or snort them, and the like. And, of course, changing the dosages can also be considered drug abuse.
Prescription Drugs Commonly Abused
Prescription drugs can all be abused. But the truth of the matter is that only certain drugs normally cause a person to develop a drug abuse or addiction problem. Some of the commonly abused prescription drug categories include:
Sedatives
Sedatives, also known as depressants, are prescription drugs designed to treat mental health issues like panic disorders, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bipolar disorder. These drugs include Xanax, Valium, and other similar drugs. They have a calming and relaxing effect and create a sense of contentment and when taken in high doses, euphoria.
Stimulants
Prescription stimulants are most often prescribed to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) as well as narcolepsy and some seizure disorders. Some examples of stimulant drugs include Ritalin and Adderall. These drugs are often abused in an attempt to sharpen attention, focus, memory, and to enhance athletic performance. However, in spite of these desired effects, they are largely baseless.
Why Prescription Drug Abuse Treatment is Important
It is essential to seek out treatment for a prescription drug abuse problem or addiction. When a person abuses prescription drugs, their brain chemistry changes and the brain begins to rely on that drug in order to function normally. This chemical dependence makes it next to impossible for a person to overcome their addiction on their own.
Detox is the process of getting the prescription drug out of the person’s system. However, this causes a person to experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawals are intense and uncomfortable and often lead people back to substance abuse to make the discomfort go away. Medical detox, on the other hand, is the process of going through detox under the supervision of medical professionals. These professionals provide support and can administer medications to control withdrawal symptoms and to make the process shorter.
Once medical detox is complete, a person is not yet fully recovered from their prescription drug addiction. They will still need to deal with the issues that brought them to the point of abusing prescription drugs in the first place. This requires therapy as well as other treatments to really dig deep into those issues and to develop coping strategies and positive behavioral patterns to replace the negative ones.
Call Drug Detox Centers Cleveland at (216) 666-2727 to ensure that you get the help and support you need for your prescription drug addiction.
