Prescription Drug Addiction
Prescription drug addiction is one of the fastest-rising categories of substance abuse. According to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more people used prescription drugs non-medically for the first time than marijuana. These drugs may be legal, but many of them have a high potential for a buse, thus some legitimate users become dependent and other drug users seek out prescription drugs as alternative to illegal drugs. Either way, a drug is still a drug. The three most common categories of prescription drugs that are abused are opiate addiction (painkiller addiction), CNS depressants (sedative addiction) and stimulant addiction.
Opiate addiction is more common due to the painkilling effects and high potential for abuse. Drugs that fall within this class-referred to as prescription narcotics include morphine, codeine, hydrocodone oxycodone, and related drugs (Vicodin, OxyContin, Lortab, Percocet, Darvocet, Percodan). Morphine, for example, is often used before and after surgical procedures to alleviate severe pain. Codeine, on the other hand, is often prescribed for mild pain. In addition to their pain-relieving properties, some of these drugs-codeine and diphenoxylate for example-can be used to relieve coughs and diarrhea. One can easily become dependent on opiates after continued use. Withdrawal symptoms include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps ("cold turkey"), and involuntary leg movements. Long-term use of opioids can lead to physical dependence and addiction. Taking a large single dose of an opioid could cause severe respiratory depression that can lead to death.
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CNS depressants, sometimes referred to as sedatives and tranquilizers, are substances that can slow normal brain function. Barbiturates, such as mephobarbital (Mebaral) and pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal), are used to treat anxiety, tension, and sleep disorders. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide HCl (Librium), and alprazolam (Xanax), are prescribed to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions, and panic attacks. The more sedating benzodiazepines, such as triazolam (Halcion) and estazolam (ProSom) are prescribed for short-term treatment of sleep disorders. Usually, benzodiazepines are not prescribed for long-term use. During the first few days of taking a prescribed CNS depressant, a person usually feels sleepy and uncoordinated, but as the body becomes accustomed to the effects of the drug, these feelings begin to disappear. If one uses these drugs long term, the body will develop tolerance for the drugs, and larger doses will be needed to achieve the same initial effects. Continued use can lead to physical dependence and - when use is reduced or stopped - withdrawal. Because all CNS depressants work by slowing the brain's activity, when an individual stops taking them, the brain's activity can rebound and race out of control, potentially leading to seizures and other harmful consequences. Although withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be problematic, it is rarely life threatening, whereas withdrawal from prolonged use of other CNS depressants can have life-threatening complications. Therefore, someone who is thinking about discontinuing CNS depressant therapy or who is suffering withdrawal from a CNS depressant should speak with a physician or seek proper treatment.
Stimulants, such as dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine and Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta) increase alertness, attention, and energy, as well as elevate blood pressure and increase heart rate and respiration. As with other drugs of abuse, it is possible for individuals to become dependent upon or addicted to many stimulants. Withdrawal symptoms associated with discontinuing stimulant use include fatigue, depression, and disturbance of sleep patterns. Repeated use of some stimulants over a short period can lead to feelings of hostility or paranoia. Further, taking high doses of a stimulant may result in dangerously high body temperature and an irregular heartbeat. There is also the potential for cardiovascular failure or lethal seizures.
It is important to remember that prescription drugs can be every bit as dangerous and addictive as illegal drugs, since they are all toxic substances, and may require an effective drug rehab program to help handle the problem.
Prescription Drug Addiction
There were 6.4 million persons ages 12 or older (2.6 percent) who used prescription drugs nonmedically in the past month. Of these, 4.7 million used narcotic pain relievers, 1.8 million used tranquilizers, 1.1 million used stimulants (including 512,000 who used methamphetamine) and 272,000 used sedatives. Each of these estimates is similar to the estimates for 2004.
Those who used prescription drugs nonmedically were asked how they obtained the drugs they used most recently. In 2005, the prevalent source for drugs used nonmedically was “from a friend or relative for free” (59.8 percent). Another 16.8 percent reported getting the drug from one doctor, while 4.3 percent reported getting narcotic pain relievers from a drug dealer or other stranger, and 0.8 percent reported buying the drug on the internet.
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