Prescription Drug Addiction | 3 Things You Need to Know
Prescription drugs are often overlooked when people talk
about substance abuse or drug addiction. However,
prescription drugs are actually the second most commonly abused
category of drugs, behind Marijuana and ahead of heroin, meth, and
cocaine. The National Institute of Health (NIH) estimates
nearly 20% of people in the US have used prescription drugs for a
non-medical reason. This guide will cover three important
questions about prescription drug addiction that
everyone should know.
1) What Prescription Drugs are most commonly abused?
There are a number of prescription drugs that are commonly
abused. Here is a list of some of the most common:
- Vicodin
- Codeine
- Demerol
- Dilaudid
- Morphine
- Oxycontin
- Percocet
- Xanax
The three major types of prescribed medication are
opioids, CNS depressants, and stimulants. Opioids are the
most commonly abused drug group and include Oxycontin, Morphine,
Codeine, Vicodin, and Demerol. These medications are usually
prescribed as painkillers and given in pill form. However,
addicts will often snort or inject opioids in order to achieve a
stronger and quicker effect. CNS depressants behave like
tranquilizers and produce a calming or sleepy effect. A
couple well known CNS depressants are barbituates and
benzoidazepines. Stimulants are the opposite of barbituates
and speed up the brain's activity from increased blood flow, among
other reasons. Some common stimulants are Ritalin and
Adderall, both are usually prescribed for ADHD.
2) Overdosing doesn't happen with Prescription Drugs,
right?
This is a huge misconception about prescription drug
addiction. In 2000, about 43% of hospital emergency
admissions for drug overdoses involved prescription drugs.
People commonly believe that because drugs are prescribed they are
safer. However, when not properly administered by a doctor,
prescription drugs can be just as dangerous and addictive as
several illegal drugs.
3) Who ends up with a prescription drug addiction?
Interestingly enough, most people who are
addicted to prescription drugs are between 12-25 or are
elderly. One possible reason is that young people
may have relatively easy access to prescription medication compared
with illegal substances. ADHD medicine is some of the most
commonly abused prescription medication amongst younger
people. Ritalin and Adderall are commonly prescribed for ADHD
and if not used as directed can lead to addiction problems.
Opioids are also commonly abused within this younger
demographic.
Elderly people often have access to a number of different
medications and tend to self-medicate more than younger people,
leading to prescription drug addiction. Elderly people
also consume a disproportionate amount of prescription drugs.
People above 60 make up only 14% of the US population, but consume
about 25% of prescription medication. Another major reason is
that 60% of substance abuse is recognized by doctors in people
under 60, while just 37% of substance abuse is recognized in
patients above 60. The most common substance abused by elder
people is valium.
Summary
If you or someone you know has a prescription drug addiction
problem, we strongly recommend that you contact a prescription drug rehab
center in your area. There is a much higher
successful recovery rate for those that check into a rehab center, compared
with any other quitting technique. Invest your money now
in solving a problem for the future.
Resources:
-
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/5731/prescription_drug_abuse_in_the_elderly.html
- http://www.prescription-drug-abuse.org/elderly.php
- http://www.prescriptiondrugaddiction.com/
All Treatment does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.
