Prescription Drug Abuse Information
Prescription drug abuse is on the rise. It is estimated that 20% of American’s have abused prescription drugs. Prescription drug abuse is the taking of a prescription drug for a non-medical reason, such as you like the feeling that you get from taking the drug. Prescription drug abuse also includes taking more of a drug than was prescribed, or taking it for a longer period of time than it was prescribed for. So why the sudden explosion of prescription drug abuse? Well, it could be because doctors are prescribing more drugs than ever before and because there are many offshore pharmacies that are not licensed and don’t require a doctor’s prescription to purchase prescription medication. We also want to add that ordering prescription medication from offshore pharmacies can be very risky!
The most commonly abused prescription drugs are depressants, stimulants and narcotic pain relievers. Depressants are used to ease anxiety and promote sleep. Depressants can be extremely addictive. People who take depressants for an extended period of time or who abuse them should never suddenly stop talking depressants, as withdrawal symptoms can be severe. Some examples of depressants include Valium, Xanax, Lunesta and Ambien.
Stimulants are another common type of abused prescription drug. Stimulant medications increase alertness, energy and attention. Stimulants were once prescribed for many conditions including asthma, respiratory problems and obesity. Stimulants are now prescribed for only a few conditions including ADHD, narcolepsy and in some cases, depression. Dexedrine, Adderall, Concerta are all examples of stimulants.
Narcotic pain relievers are commonly abused prescription drugs. Narcotic Pain relievers are prescribed to relieve moderate to severe chronic pain. Narcotic pain relievers can be extremely addictive and it is a widely abused drug. Oxycontin, Vicodin and Percocet are just some examples of Narcotic pain relievers.
Non-prescription drugs are also abused. The most commonly abused non-prescription drugs are cough and cold medicines. Many of these medicines contain the active ingredient dextromethorphan, which is what people use to get high. Laxatives and diet pills are also popular non-prescription drugs that are often abused. Many people abuse laxatives and diet pills to promote weight loss.
If you think that you have a prescription drug problem, it is imperative that you seek help immediately. You can overcome prescription drug addiction. Your first call should be to a doctor, who will decide the right course of treatment for you. Make sure that you have the support of friends and family. Your friends and family will have your best interest at heart and they will be extremely important to your recovery. There are also many addiction support groups that you can attend. Narcotics Anonymous is the most well known support group for addictions of all types. For more information on Narcotics Anonymous, please visit http://www.na.org/
So what can you do to ensure that you do not become dependant on prescription drugs? For starters, you should only take your medication as it was prescribed for you, by your doctor. Do not take a larger quantity than was prescribed or for a longer period of time than it was prescribed. Remember, just because you may be taking a depressant, stimulant or narcotic pain reliever, it doesn’t mean that you will become addicted to it. Additionally, before your doctor writes you a prescription for any medication, be sure to tell them about all other medications you take including non-prescription drugs, prescription drugs and vitamins and supplements. The combination of certain medications may cause an adverse reaction.
