Prescription Drugs and the Dangerous Potential for Addiction

While most people associate the need for drug rehab with illicit substances such as heroin and cocaine, an alarming trend is the growing number of individuals who have developed addictions to prescription medications. 

How severe is this problem? The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that approximately 48 million people in the United States “have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons in their lifetime.” It’s estimated that over 8.5 million individuals are actively abusing prescription drugs in the United States.

This improper use of prescription medications has led to an increasing number of individuals who are hospitalized due to overdoses or even forced to enter a drug rehab program to deal with an addiction. In fact, experts at the New Mexico Department of Health report that more individuals die due to prescription drug overdoses than they do of many of the more notoriously deadly illicit drugs.

Many who develop an addiction to prescription medications often begin their use of the drugs in a seemingly safe way—having the medicine prescribed to them by a doctor. However, certain pre-existing risk factors can increase one’s chances for developing an addiction.

For example, individuals who have a family history of addiction issues are more genetically prone to develop an addiction to prescription medications. Those who suffer from a mental illness, such as high anxiety or depression, are also at higher risk. And of course, when one fails to follow a doctor’s instructions on how to use the medication, his or her risk for addiction greatly increases. A commonly cited example is an individual who becomes hooked on their medication after receiving a prescription to treat anxiety.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there are three types of prescription drugs that are more likely to be abused (and potentially lead to the need for drug rehab) than others. The first are the previously mentioned central nervous system depressants that are used to help treat anxiety. Other medications with a high risk for addiction include opioids and other pain medication, as well as stimulants that are used to treat ADD and narcolepsy, such as Ritalin.

Experts recommend that in order to lessen one’s risk of becoming addicted and needing to undergo drug rehab, individuals should always follow the directions for their medication with exactness. Be honest and open with your doctor and follow their instructions (especially in regards to dosage amounts and when to stop taking the medication).

Kevin Johnson is a health writer. Information provided by Miramar Recovery Centers. Kevin writes for Fusion 360, an advertising agency in Utah.

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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