Prescription Drug Addiction Overview
Unfortunately, because prescription drugs are deemed legal, many people assume the side effects and risk of addiction is less than illegal drugs like heroin. This is not always the case.
These legal drugs are readily available throughout the world and are prescribed by a doctor or bought over the counter. They may be initially used to curb moderate to severe pain, alleviate depression, induce sleeping or reduce anxiety. Often a user means well and has no intention of getting addicted. A concern amongst the professionals in the addiction community is the lack of education from doctors to patients. In general, a person will not realize they have an addiction to the drug until it’s too late. To further this concern is the initial withdrawal. For many of these medications, a withdrawal is very serious and can be deadly if it is not monitored or controlled. It is this very reason, a rehab center should be considered for ay prescription medication addiction.
If you’re not familiar with this growing worldwide trend, we’ll explain the most common abused legal medications as well as, some concerning correlating statistics.
Prescription Abuse and Addiction Statistics
52 Million Adult Americans have abused prescription medications at least once.
7 million Americans abuse prescription medications on a regular basis.
France is said to be the biggest abuser of prescription medications with 78 in 1000 actively abusing CNS depressants and other psychotropic drugs.
Many experts state that Britain is beginning to show signs of a “US-style epidemic in the abuse of prescription drugs.”
Most Commonly Abused Prescription Medications
Barbiturates
Barbiturate medications are prescribed as a sedative and help to treat anxiety, sleeping disorders and certain types of seizures. Brand names include Nembutal and Secondal. These should not be taken for more than 8 weeks at a time because of their associated long term risks. As you take them on a regular basis, a tolerance will build and an addiction will develop. In high doses, they can cause slowed breathing, low blood pressure and respiratory arrest. A barbiturate withdrawal is very challenging and can be deadly.
Benzodiazepines/ CNS Depressants
Benzodiazepines are often prescribed for long term (as needed) and preferred by doctors over barbiturates. Brand names include Valium and Xanax. As a sedative, they help to relieve anxiety, panic attacks and sleep problems. However, they can be misused and will promote a tolerance when taken for extended periods of time.
Sleep Medicines
Medications like Ambien, Lunesta and Sonata are given to help people get the vital rest their body needs to allow them to function. Overusing them can cause dependency, further sleeping disorders and insomnia.
Further research is needed to fully understand a withdrawal from liquid ecstasy. Physical symptoms can appear in people who have ceased using the drug after a few days of consecutive use. Symptoms could include anxiety, insomnia, nausea, chest pain or tightness, muscle aches, sensitivity to sound or light, dysphoria, seizures and mental impairment. These symptoms can last between 2 days and 4 weeks. There have been people who struggle to cope with these withdrawal symptoms and require the assistance of a detoxification and rehab center. This is more frequent in heavy liquid ecstasy users.
Some liquid ecstasy users will attempt to withdrawal on their own. Because the effects can be so severe, they may use benzodiazepines or alcohol to lessen them. Self medicating any drug withdrawal without medical supervision can be extremely dangerous. It’s highly recommended to consult a doctor or rehab before going cold turkey (quitting on your own).
Amphetamines
Amphetamines are a stimulant prescribed to treat ADHD and narcolepsy. Its brand names include Adderall and Dexedrine. The drugs’ effects will increase alertness, boost energy and suppress weight gain. These legal highs are commonly used amongst college students and busy working professionals.
Painkillers
Painkillers are used to dull or mitigate pain from an injury or surgery. Often it is the users who end up with a prescription drug addiction, but not always. The effects are described as having a sense of euphoria or feeling carefree. Brand names are vast, but may include codeine, morphine, Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycontin, Lortab and Dilaudid.
Dextromethorphan (DXM)
DXM is often available as an over the counter medication. As an ingredient in cold and cough medication it can help to break up phlegm and congestion. Large doses can cause euphoria, an intense high and hallucinations. It can also cause a rapid heart rate, vomiting and in severe cases brain damage.
Mixing Medications with Alcohol or other Drugs
When any of the medications above are mixed with alcohol or drugs, the effects are significantly increased. Many users seek these stronger feelings and purposely mix them. Often, these are the reasons behind fatal overdoses.
6 of the Most Common Reasons Prescription Drug Addiction
Any underlying reasons or core issues aside, when prescription medication abusers were asked why they abused these specific drugs, their primary reasons were as follows.
- Legal and more accepted by society.
- Easily available.
- Cheaper and longer lasting than other substances.
- Can claim to have a prescription if caught by police.
- Believing there are no ill effects.
- Less stigma and shame attached to using.
Getting Help for Medication Addictions
An addiction to any prescription medication should not be taken lightly. Many of these drugs will require a monitored detoxification followed by intensive treatment. You will be able to recover and move into long term sobriety after the assistance of a rehab programme. Thailand is one of the leading destinations to get help for addiction treatment. Siam Rehab, a center in the North of the country, offers a cost affordable private programme which uses a Non 12 step, evidence based approach with a number of alternative and fitness based therapies. Through this well rounded approach, you can begin to heal the body, mind and spirit. If you would like to know more about our prescription medication addiction treatment in Thailand, contact Siam Rehab today.
