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Prescription Drug Addiction: Attacked from All Sides

When many people think about prescription drug addiction, they likely only consider painkillers and opioids. And while these are some of the most commonly abused prescription medications, they’re certainly not the only ones abused.

This is what makes addiction to prescription drugs so dangerous. A prescription drug can exist in multiple forms – an upper, a downer, an antidepressant, a muscle relaxer – the possibilities are endless. This can make it difficult to identify the issue and properly treat prescription drug abuse – especially in those who tend to abuse anything they can get their hands on.

If you or someone you know is struggling with prescription drug addiction, this article can provide helpful insight into solutions for abusing prescription drugs and the best prescription drug addiction treatment program.

At Resurgence Texas, we provide solutions for all types of prescription drug abuse. We’ll show you what our prescription drug rehab program looks like and how it can help you overcome your substance abuse challenges.

What Defines Prescription Drug Addiction?

Prescription drug addiction includes any type of prescribed substance that’s misused outside of its prescribed use. This can be anything from opioid painkillers to benzodiazepines, stimulants, and even diet pills. If a doctor provides it as a prescription drug, there’s a chance of prescription drug misuse.

Most instances of prescription drug addiction begin with someone legally obtaining prescription medications and ultimately falling into prescription drug addiction. However, this isn’t always the case.

In some situations, users obtain prescription drugs illegally on the black market from the start. One situation is no less severe than the other – eventually, they both become intentional and require prescription drug rehab.

Types of Prescription Drugs With a High Risk for Substance Use Disorder

Although nearly any type of prescription drug has a chance to fall under the category of prescription drug misuse, certain prescription drugs exist that have a higher chance of being overused. The following list highlights the categories and types of drugs commonly used outside of the intended use of a prescription drug.

Opioids

Opioids are probably the most popular type of medication that falls under the prescription drug addiction category. This is because they come in a variety of different types and intended uses.

Some of the most common include:

• Hydrocodone
• Oxycodone
• Dilaudid
• Morphine
• Methadone
• Hydromorphone
• Oxymorphone

Central Nervous System Depressants

Central nervous system depressants are the second most commonly abused prescription drugs. These are anti-anxiety medications, hypnotics, sedatives, and more. The most popular are:

• Xanax
• Klonopin
• Valium
• Ativan
• Seroquel
• Ambien

Stimulants

Stimulants are another popular category of prescription drugs. These are extremely common among high school and college students looking to get the edge when it comes to schoolwork. These include:

• Adderall
• Dexedrine
• Ritalin
• Vyvanse
• Concerta
• Focalin
• Desoxyn

The most challenging aspect of prescription drug abuse is they all have different effects – meaning they all have different negative consequences during the short and long term. Let’s take a look at the most devastating side effects of each category of prescription drugs.

Opioid Prescription Drug Abuse Side Effects

• Constipation
• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Shallow breathing
• Loss of coordination
• Increased sensitivity to pain

Benzodiazepine Drug Abuse Side Effects

• Confusion
• Memory Loss
• Dizziness
• Seizure
• Low Blood Pressure
• Decreased Heart Rate
• Vertigo
• Difficulty concentrating

Stimulant Drug Abuse Side Effects

• Increased heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Loss of time management
• Insomnia
• Paranoia
• Psychosis

How to Tell If Someone Is Suffering from Prescription Drug Abuse

At times it can be difficult to identify when someone is abusing prescription medication. This is especially true if they’re using multiple types of prescription drugs and they counteract one another. This is a common activity when it comes to people who abuse prescription drugs. They might begin with uppers early in the day and switch to opioids or benzos later in the day.

If you pay close enough attention, you’ll begin to notice certain actions and behavioral patterns that can tip you off on the presence of a prescription drug addiction. The following signs may be present when someone abuses a prescription medication:

Criminal Activity

The individual may begin stealing prescription medication and even attempting to forge prescriptions to obtain a certain prescription drug. This is extremely alarming and can lead to prison time. However, it doesn’t take long for a prescription drug addiction to get this far when someone wants to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Prescription Drug Abuse

Are they taking more than their intended dose? If the person you know has a legit prescription but they’re secretly engaging in prescription drug abuse by taking too many of their pills – it’s highly likely they need prescription drug rehab.

Acting Out

Someone who is engaging in drug abuse might begin acting out. Substance abuse can make someone moody – especially if they’re on the verge of experiencing withdrawal symptoms. This can happen with other drugs as well and is one of the primary occurrences during any addiction situation. Prescription drug addiction treatment should be the next step in these cases.

Nodding Out or Sleeping Excessively

If someone is constantly nodding out or sleeping for a large portion of the day, it’s possible that they’re in need of prescription drug rehab. This sign is indicative of someone who is probably using opioid painkillers or benzodiazepines. Opioid addiction often causes users to nod off frequently, which is incredibly dangerous – especially if they’re behind the wheel.

Sleeping Less

On the other side of the coin, users who abuse large amounts of stimulants may be noticeably sleeping less or hardly sleeping at all. They develop dark circles under their eyes and engage in strange activities or repeatedly engage in the same behaviors and actions.

Decision Making

The individual may lose their ability to make sound decisions. Normally those who engage in prescription drug use will make decisions that are out of their character. They might spend more money than normal or just act in a particularly strange way.

Early Refills

When someone is going through their medication at a rapid rate, a telltale sign is them asking to have their prescriptions filled early. If this happens on a regular basis month after month, the chances are high they’re either using their prescription medicine or selling them.

Doctor Shopping

Users with a significant pill problem will often engage in what’s known as doctor shopping. This is when they go to several doctors, often in other states, in order to obtain as many prescriptions as possible. This behavior is more difficult now thanks to digital record keeping, but it still takes place.

Risk Factors for Abusing Prescription Medicines

Prescription drugs have a high chance of causing physical and mental dependence.

Although it’s not always possible to prevent prescription drug abuse, you can still reduce your risk by following the instructions outlined explicitly by your physician.

The group with the highest risk for abuse is young adults and teenagers. Other factors that can contribute to this risk include prior history of substance abuse or having a medicine cabinet full of different prescription medications as a teenager or young adult.

When someone is prescribed multiple medications for multiple conditions, their chances of abusing their medicine become much higher. This also leads to a significant risk factor for a prescription drug overdose.

Prescription Drug Overdose: The Reality

High doses of prescription drugs can lead to death. This often happens when a prescription medication is combined with another substance – usually alcohol or an illegal narcotic. This is why it’s extremely important to follow the orders written on any prescription label. However, in the case of those who abuse them on purpose – there’s little these instructions do to prevent their misusing.

An overdose of opioid drugs can also lead to death. In addition, sedatives and anti-anxiety medications can cause low blood pressure and shallow breathing that also can end up being fatal. Alcohol and any downer (opioid or benzo) increase the risk of death exponentially. These are both nervous system depressants and users often combine them and fall asleep, never to wake up again.

In addition, speedballing is just as dangerous. This is what happens when a user combines an upper and a downer, such as oxycodone and Adderall. The users’ heart and other body systems are being pulled in two different directions, which can lead to cardiac arrest or other fatal events.

What to Do if a Loved One Overdoses

If an overdose occurs, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms. This can be difficult, especially when multiple drugs are involved. However, the most common signs are shallow breathing, turning pale, drooling, heavy breathing, labored breathing, vomiting, and talking incoherently. If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s important to dial 911 before it’s too late.

If the person loses consciousness, you may need to perform CPR. It’s important to find out what they took so you can notify the EMTs in order to provide them with the most appropriate form of treatment.

The body can respond to long-term exposure to a substance by developing a physical dependence on it. This condition can lead to withdrawal symptoms if the person stops using the drug.

Before you start taking a new medicine, ask your doctor if there are other ingredients that could be used to reduce the risk of addiction. This is normally printed directly on the side of the bottle as a warning.

Preventative Steps to Take for Prescription Overdose

You should never change a dose if you don’t believe it’s working properly. If you think you need an increase, speak with your doctor first. Just a matter of a few milligrams can be the difference between life and death when it comes to prescription medications.

If you feel that any medicine you’re taking is too strong, you should notify your doctor immediately. This can be your body telling you something about the medicine or it’s possible your dose is way too high and you need to be lowered.

Always ask about potential interactions with any other drug you’re taking, even if it’s a simple over-the-counter medication. Some drugs, like antidepressants, have negative effects when you take them with certain anti-inflammatories or over-the-counter painkillers.

Even if you have the same medical condition as someone else, the medication may not be the right one for you. Never share your prescription with anyone else; never take a prescription from a bottle that’s not the correctly labeled container.

Resurgence Texas for Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you know is experiencing challenges with a prescription drug, you might need addiction treatment. We specialize in all forms of prescription drug abuse rehab and have multiple forms of therapy to get to the root of the problem. Whether it was intentional or unintentional, we can help you get on the path to recovery.

Contact a member of our admissions team today to find out how we can help you overcome your prescription drug disorder!