Prescription drug abuse is use for purposes not intended by the health professional who prescribed them. Prescription drug abuse or problem use ranges from taking a pain reliever for back pain to snorting or injecting ground pills to get high. Drug abuse can become chronic and compulsive, despite negative consequences.
Prescription drug abuse, a growing problem, can affect all age groups, including adolescents. The most commonly abused prescription medications include opioid pain relievers , sedatives, anxiolytic medications, and stimulants.
Early identification of prescription drug abuse and early intervention can prevent the problem from becoming an addiction.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse depend on the specific medication. Due to its mind-affecting properties, the most commonly abused prescription drugs include the following:
- Opioids used to treat pain, for example, medicines that contain oxycodone, such as Oxycontin and Percocet, and those that contain hydrocodone, such as Norco.
- Anti-anxiety and sedative medications, such as alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium), and hypnotics, such as zolpidem (Ambien), used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders.
- Stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, and others), dexamphetamine and amphetamine (Adderall XR, Mydayis), and dexamphetamine (Dexedrine), which are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and some disorders of the dream.
Other signs include the following: -Stealing, falsifying or selling prescriptions.
-Take higher doses than prescribed.
-Excessive mood swings or hostility.
-Increase or decrease in the hours of sleep.
-Making bad decisions.
-Showing yourself in an excited mood, being unusually energetic or fast-paced, or sedated.
-Request early refills or constantly “lose” recipes, so it is necessary to issue more prescriptions.
-Request prescriptions to more than one doctor.
When to see a doctor
Talk to your doctor if you think you may have a problem using prescription drugs. It may be embarrassing to bring it up, but remember that medical professionals are trained to help you, not to judge you. It’s easier to deal with the issue ahead of time before it turns into an addiction and creates a more serious problem.
Causes
Teens and adults abuse prescription drugs for a variety of reasons, including the following:
- Feeling good or getting high.
- Relax or relieve tension.
- Reduce appetite or increase alertness.
- Experience the mental effects of the substance.
- Maintain an addiction and prevent withdrawal.
- Be accepted by peers or socialize.
- Try to improve concentration and academic or work performance.
Risk factor’s
Some people fear becoming addicted to prescription drugs for medical conditions, such as prescribed pain relievers after surgery. But you can reduce your risk by strictly following your doctor’s instructions on how to take your medications.
While prescription drug abuse can occur at any age, it often begins in teens or young adults.
-Risk factors for prescription drug abuse include:
- Past or present addictions to other substances, such as alcoholism and smoking.
- A family medical history of substance use problems.
- Certain pre-existing psychiatric illnesses.
- Exposure to social pressure or a social environment where there is drug use.
- Easy access to prescription drugs, such as the presence of these drugs in the home medicine cabinet.
- Lack of information about prescription drugs and their potential harm.
Older Adults and Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse in older adults is a growing problem, especially when drugs are combined with alcohol. Older adults who have multiple health problems and take multiple medications may be at risk of taking the medications improperly or becoming addicted.
Complications
Prescription drug abuse can cause some problems. Prescription drugs can be very dangerous (and even fatal) when taken in high doses, when combined with other prescription drugs or certain over-the-counter drugs, or when taken with alcohol or illegal or recreational drugs.
Medical consequences
Here are examples of the serious consequences of prescription drug abuse:
-Opioids can cause low blood pressure, a slow heart rate, and have the ability to stop breathing or cause a coma. Overdose carries a significant risk of death.
Anti-anxiety medications and sedatives can cause memory problems and slow breathing. Overdose can lead to coma or death. Stopping a medication abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms including overactive nervous system and seizures.
-Stimulants can cause dangerously high body temperature, heart problems, high blood pressure, seizures or tremors, hallucinations, aggressiveness, and paranoia.
Physical dependence and addiction
Because often misused prescription drugs activate the brain’s reward system, it is possible to develop physical dependence and addiction.
- Physical dependence: Physical dependence (also called tolerance) is the body’s response to prolonged use. People who are physically dependent on a drug may need much higher doses to achieve the same effects and may experience withdrawal symptoms when the drug is suddenly reduced or stopped. Physical dependence can also become apparent if a drug that the body adapts to over time is suddenly stopped, even without a change in dose.
- Addiction: People who are addicted to a drug may be physically dependent, but they also seek it compulsively and continue to use it even when it causes major problems in their lives.
Other consequences
Other possible consequences include the following:
- Engaging in risky behavior due to impaired judgment.
- Using illegal or recreational drugs.
- Engaging in a crime.
- Car accidents.
- Deterioration of academic or work performance.
- Troubled relationships.
Prevention
Prescription drug abuse can occur in people who need pain relievers, sedatives, or stimulants to treat a medical disorder. If you are taking a medication that is frequently abused, you can do the following to reduce your risk:
1-Make sure you are taking the correct medication. Make sure your doctor clearly understands your condition and the signs and symptoms. Talk to your doctor about all the prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, herbs, and supplements you take, as well as alcohol and other drug use. Ask your doctor if there are any alternative medications with ingredients that have less potential for addiction.
2-Consult with your doctor. Talk to your doctor regularly to make sure the medicine you are taking is working and that you are taking the correct dose.
3-Follow the instructions carefully. Take your medications the way they were prescribed. Don’t interrupt or change the dose of a medication on your own if it doesn’t seem to be working without talking to your doctor first. For example, if you are taking a pain medication that is not adequately controlling your pain, do not take more.
4-Know the effect of your medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the effects of your medication so you know what to expect. Also find out if other drugs, over-the-counter products, or alcohol should be avoided when taking this medication.
5-Never use someone else’s recipe. We are all different. Even if you have a similar illness, it may not be the right medicine or dose for you.
Prevention of Prescription Drug Abuse by Teens
Steps to avoid prescription drug abuse:
-Emphasize that the medications have been prescribed by a doctor.
-Do not share medications with third parties or consume medications prescribed to third parties. And take the prescribed dose and talk to your doctor before making changes.
-Know the dangers of consuming alcoholic beverages. Consuming alcoholic beverages in conjunction with medications can increase the risk of accidental overdose.