Addiction doesn’t only involve the use of illegal drugs such as marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. Prescription drugs can also cause addiction. Addiction may not be the intention of doctors that prescribe medicine. However, patients can use drugs in the wrong way, specifically in large doses, resulting in overdose or addiction. For information about our addiction treatment programs, contact Summit Estate today at 800.701.6997.
What Is Prescription Drug Abuse?
Prescription drugs are legal drugs that are recommended by medical experts. These drugs are supposedly intended for healing and pain relief. Prescription drug abuse arises when people use these drugs beyond the prescription provided.
Symptoms of Drug Abuse
Monitor your health and stay alert to symptoms that indicate overdose or addiction. When such symptoms arise, you must seek immediate help from an addiction treatment provider to avoid health complications. Signs of addiction include:
- Psychosis or hallucination during a stop in medicine intake
- Dizziness or drowsiness
- Increased dosage to attain relief from pain or anxiety
- Insomnia or increase in sleep
- Euphoric feeling (“high” feeling)
- Stealing prescriptions or seeking one from different doctors
- Slowed rate of breathing
It’s important to know that over-the-counter drugs can also become addictive. They may have the properties for pain relief, but misusing them can harm you and your family. So prevention and precaution are crucial.
Depressants and Sedatives
Benzodiazepines and barbiturates are common sedatives that many people abuse. Anxiety and panic attacks are mental health conditions that often are treated by the use of sedatives. Although they get the job done in relieving anxiety and seizure problems, many people overuse them.
Benzodiazepine sedatives like Alprazolam can pose addiction and dependence risks even when you take it as your doctor prescribes. However, like barbiturates, withdrawing from these sedatives is dangerous and deadly. If you know someone who feels dependent on these sedatives, encourage them to seek prescription drug addiction treatment from trained doctors.
Opioid Painkillers
Painkillers are the most common medicines used to achieve relief from body pain and, in some cases, coughing. Opioids such as codeine, morphine, and oxycodone are specific painkillers that often get abused. Body pains are very common to people suffering from physical health problems. So painkillers are often overused to achieve euphoric relief from pain.
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of prescription drug addiction, such as increased tolerance, immediately seek medical advice. Overdose, severe dependency, and death are possible outcomes when you don’t seek addiction treatment.
Stimulants
There are prescription drugs that people with ADHD use to help with their daily functioning. Methylphenidate and amphetamines are stimulants that motivate alertness and an energetic mood for the users. While these stimulants treat people with ADHD, some people misuse them to achieve their desired euphoric feeling.
Stimulants can boost energy and attention. It can also activate your alertness. These benefits increase the possibility of stimulants to cause overdose, cardiac arrests, and addiction. When you use these medications in higher doses, they are deadly and dangerous. So, signs of stimulant overdose, such as high blood pressure and irregular heartbeat, will require immediate medical attention.
Early Intervention for Addiction
Prescription drugs may be legal drugs, but that’s what makes them more dangerous since they’re accessible through a prescription. If you or a loved one struggles with prescription drugs, it’s not too late to prevent complications from happening.
Reach out for help at an addiction center to receive early intervention or drug detox for addiction. Various treatment programs include:
- Telehealth medical assistance
- Prescription drug addiction treatment
- Drug detox program
- Addiction intervention program
- Aftercare treatment options
Seek Help from Prescription Drugs for Your Loved Ones at Summit Estate
The temptation and desire to continuously relieve pain and anxiety can increase the chances of overdose and addiction. The families and loved ones need to keep prescription drugs safely secured to prevent misuse of such drugs. If you or your loved ones need help, consult with a team of medical experts. Call Summit Estate Recovery Center at 800.701.6997 to book an appointment today!