Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drugs are often considered safer, and you may only associate the term ‘addiction’ with illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin. However, prescribed medications carry an equally high potential for abuse and addiction, with side effects that can be just as detrimental to your health.

Due to the capacity in which they are so widely prescribed, medications can affect people of any age, gender, and background. Some of the most abused prescription drugs include:

Opioids – Prescribed for managing pain due to injury, surgery, or chronic illness.

Benzodiazepines – Used to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, and seizures.

Stimulants – Prescribed to help treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and certain sleep disorders

Prescription drug addiction is also linked to other types of drugs, such as pregabalin (lycra), an anticonvulsant drug and Fluoxetine (Prozac), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant.

Opioids are strong painkillers and the most abused prescription medication, with many people requiring prescription drug treatment to overcome addiction. Taking opioids in high doses can induce a sense of euphoria and relaxation. When paired with its painkilling properties, addiction can develop very quickly.

The most abused opioid medications include:

• Oxycodone (brand name Oxycontin)
• Hydrocodone (brand name Vicodin)
• Fentanyl
• Codeine
• Co-codamol
• Tramadol
• Xanax
• Methadone

Typically prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain after surgery or because of an injury, opioids are also used to alleviate symptoms of chronic pain. Subsequently, in many cases, this means they are taken on a long-term basis, increasing the risk of prescription drug addiction. When you take opioids over a long period, your body eventually starts to build up a tolerance in response to its effects, and you need a higher dose to achieve the same high you once did.

The dangers of opioids are often overlooked because they’re legal, with drugs like co-codamol easily available over the counter. However, the strength of these medications should not be ignored, and the potential to overdose is very high.

Prescription Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines, also known as ‘benzos’, are another widely-abused prescription drug. Benzos act as sedatives and tranquillisers and are often prescribed to people who suffer from seizures, anxiety, panic attacks, and other similar conditions. 

What makes them highly addictive is their ability to produce a sense of calm and relaxation, which can eventually lead to physical and psychological dependence.

The most commonly misused benzos include:

• Diazepam (brand name, Valium)
• Alprazolam (brand name, Xanax)
• Chlordiazepoxide (brand name, Librium)
• Zolpidem (brand name, Ambien)

Prescription Stimulants

Certain stimulants are prescribed in controlled doses to treat conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.  Because they boost alertness and concentration, they are ideal for managing symptoms of these disorders. Stimulants work by increasing the levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is responsible for the brain’s reward centre, which is why taking stimulant medication can result in highly addictive, pleasurable, and euphoric sensations. Different types of prescription stimulants include:

• Methylphenidate (brand names Ritalin and Concerta)
• Dextroamphetamine (brand names Adderall and Dexedrine)

Prescription medications can contain a huge variety of chemicals, so determining their dangers can be somewhat challenging. Side effects of abuse can range from mild to extremely dangerous, the intensity of which will depend on the method of use. Pills are sometimes crushed, snorted, or injected, producing a far more heightened experience.

The effects produced by prescription drugs make it hard for family members to identify misuse, simply mistaking any potential signs as symptoms of the medication itself. This means the option of prescription drug rehab is not even considered, as prescription drug addiction is difficult to identify.