Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug abuse revolves around three main drugs:

  • Opiods
  • (CNS) Depressants
  • Stimulants

Opiods

Opiods are the pain killers that people often take to get relief from their pain and they are usually prescribed by their doctors so it’s hard for the people to accept the fact that overdose and addiction of this will cause harm. People who have anxiety and sleep disorders use CNS depressants. And stimulants are described for attention deficient hyper activity disorder (ADHD), obesity and narcolepsy sleep disorder.

People start using these prescribed drugs for pain relief and get so dependent on them that it becomes an addiction with them and they simply can’t do without them. But these addictions lead to serious consequences and people take it lightly as they think that no harm can come to them as they are prescribed by their doctors. A famous host of a radio talk show Rush Limbaugh found out that he was getting addicted to a medication called OxyContin for pain relief. Different types of narcotics include:

  • Morphine
  • Codeine
  • Darvon
  • Vicodin
  • DiIaudid
  • Demerol

It takes a lot of will power and patience to bear the consequences of withdrawing from these drugs as people can have symptoms of vomiting, uncontrollable shaking, sweating, hot and cold flushes and diarrhea.

CNS Depressants

The two most beneficial CNS depressants used in medicine found in prescription drug cases are Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines. Both these drugs slow down the brain function and gives a soothing and sleepy feeling. Studies reveal that addicts use speed to get them up and take these drugs to calm down. People have to be very careful as withdrawal from these drugs can lead to serious consequences and so the advised of a good medical doctor should be taken before starting the detox or withdrawal treatment Symptoms from withdrawal from Benzodiazepines are serious but the consequences of withdrawal from Barbiturates can really be life threatening.

Stimulants

The use of stimulants speed up the brain activity and its withdrawal symptoms are not as life threatening but the effect of using these drugs can lead to serious consequences. People who get addicted to it have an inner urge to speed up and they use these stimulants to satisfy the feeling and need for euphoria. These stimulants make the addict so dependent on its use that these people can’t simply do without it. The effects of using these stimulants create drastic changes in the person’s behavior and lead to increase hostility and paranoia leading to accidents, abnormal high body temperature, irregular heart beat, heart failure and lethal seizures.

Unfortunately, there are too many street names for drugs to mention here, but a comprehensive list can be found at the official Office of National Drug Policy Control site.

Click here for more information on the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Prescription Drugs report.