Prescription Drugs

Prescription drug abuse is on the rise in the United States. Many people who have legitimate chronic pain, anxiety, panic or other health issues will end up getting hooked on the very medication that was prescribed by a doctor to help them. Other people end up addicted to prescription medication because it is easy to find and socially acceptable.

About 20% of Americans report having used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes during some time in their life. The following list details different categories of prescription drugs, their use and abuse.

Pain Killers

Many people who have legitimate chronic pain or acute pain problems are prescribed an opiate or opioid based drug to help ease the discomfort. Some commonly abused pain killers are:

Hydrocodone is the most commonly prescribed drug in the US. It is easy to get and highly addictive. OxyContin is another drug that is becoming an epidemic in this country.

Many heroin addicts admit that they started using prescription pain medication because it was socially acceptable, only to switch to heroin because they could no longer afford the pills. Although the behaviors of the user who is abusing pain killers without a health problem may be different than the user with chronic pain, the physical addiction that develops with use is the same for both.

A medical detox is often needed to get a person off of prescription pain medications, before the addiction can be addressed in treatment. Many doctors now treat opiate dependency as well as chronic pain with Suboxone or Subutex.

At Eternal Awakenings, our addictions doctors are licensed to prescribe and monitor this medication.

Benzodiazepenes are a class of medications that are commonly prescribed to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Although effective in temporarily relieving anxiety, these medications are highly addictive and can be dangerous to detox from.

Here is a list of commonly prescribed benzodiazepenes:

As with alcohol, benzodiazepines effect the GABA/Glutamate receptors in the brain. Large doses of these drugs can produce blackouts, impaired motor function, coma and death. Benzodiazepines are physically addictive and a user must consult with a doctor to plan a detox. Never stop taking these drugs abruptly.

ADD/ADHD Stimulant Drugs

Stimulant drugs are commonly prescribed to treat ADD/ADHD. Although these drugs can be helpful in certain circumstances, they are often abused. High school and college students have a particularly high rate of prescription stimulant abuse.

Here is a list of commonly abused prescription stimulants:

These drugs are commonly abused by students to stay awake and alert for long hours. They are also sold and abused on the street as well. Common side effects associated with high doses of these drugs or prolonged use are: including extreme weight loss, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, mood disturbances, and violent behavior.

Chronic abusers can also display a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects creeping under the skin). Many cocaine and methamphetamine addicts report that they abused prescription stimulants before trying cocaine or meth. However, the addiction to these prescription drugs can be very serious and should be treated as such.

Other prescription drugs that are commonly abused include Soma (carisoprodol) and Phenobarbital (and other barbiturates). The most important fact to know about prescription medication abuse is that it does not matter how a person becomes addicted to a drug. What matters is that they get help and overcome their addiction.

Many people refuse to admit that they need help because they are prescribed their medication by a doctor.

At Eternal Awakenings we treat all forms of prescription medication abuse. Our addiction doctors have extensive experience in helping people get off addictive prescription medication. If a person has chronic pain problems, anxiety or ADD/ADHD, they do not have to suffer, there are alternatives. Our licensed chemical dependency counselors have worked in the recovery field for over 20 years and have extensive experience with prescription pill addiction.

Please check out our home page for more information on treatment options or call us now.

Read Victor's Prescription Drug Recovery Testimonial