The Peril of Prescribed Medication Drug Abuse

11/28/2018

Currently, prescribed drugs fall among some of the most regularly abused drugs, including things like methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Prescribed medication drug abuse also occurs when one takes prescribed drugs that have not prescribed to them by a specialist, click here https://lighthousetreatment.com/orange-county-detox/.

Most prescription drugs recommence being prescribed legitimately and they still turn out in the possession of people who mean to abuse them.

Anyone at any age can abuse prescribed medication drugs for reasons including things like:

Feeding an addiction
To take drugs legitimately because some people think it is legal to take prescribed drugs with no doctor prescribed
People take prescription drugs because they think it is safer than taking street drugs
Peer pressure to become accepted
For experimentation
Diminishment of appetite
To soothe tension or relax
To get high or feel good

Given the unexpected surge in doctor's prescription drug use, which has taken a significant toll, more people are heading to hospital for prescription drug overdoses and even death.

Often Abused Prescribed Medication Drugs

The biggest group of prescribed drugs being abused involves:

a) Opioids i.e. painkillers

b) Stimulants
c) CNS (central nerve system) depressants i.e. tranquilizers and sedatives

Opioids

Opioids are mainly used to relieve pain. Medical professionals have been prescribing opioid medications since the 1990s and these doctors prescribed have enhanced significantly ever since. Opioids may be used to treat any form of pain ranging from pain arising from medical procedures to pain created by injury. Examples of opioid analgesics involve codeine, fentanyl, oxycodone, morphine, and hydrocodone. It works by fastening itself to the brain's opioid receptors or those in the spinal column when one takes an opioid. The opioid then prevents any pain messages once it remains in place and prevents them from being relayed via the nerves to the brain. This helps to decrease the amount of pain being felt by the user.

As the person continues taking the opioid drug to experience a euphoric feeling, the body starts establishing tolerance to the said drug, which in turn reduces the effect of the dosage one takes. Dependence on a specific prescribed medication drug does not have a timeline as it can escalate quickly once the user starts using the drug beyond casual indulgence. Doctor prescribed drug abuse differs slightly from dependence because once a user is addicted he or she feels the compulsive need to seek the drug for use.

After one becomes dependent on prescribed medication drugs following abuse, he or she discovers that it is difficult to stop using the drug because the withdrawal signs and symptoms are often painful. Most users thus continue taking prescribed medication drugs as is the case with hard street drugs such as heroin, so they do not have to go through the withdrawal manifestations of opioid dependence, click here https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6025009/.

Stimulants

Amphetamines are consisted of in this group of prescribed medication drugs. When they are taken in larger doses they create a euphoric feeling enjoyed by most people who engage in doctor prescribed drug abuse. Stimulant users can also become addicted or dependent on these drugs and this can also cause withdrawal symptoms once one reduces or ceases drug use.

Depressants

Depressant drugs make one drowsy and calm with prescribed use. Long-term use of depressant prescribed drugs can trigger the user's body to develop a tolerance, after which dependence follows. Once you become dependent on depressant prescribed drugs, there will be unpleasant withdrawal indicators if you try to reduce or stop using them.

Risk of Prescribed Substance Abuse

It should also be noted that abuse of prescription drugs is ordinarily an indication of usage of other drugs. Research shows that people involved in prescribed medication drug abuse have a higher likelihood of using other drugs compared to people using illegal drugs mainly.

Addiction to Prescribed Drugs

Doctor prescribed drug addiction is mainly identified by the user's uncontrollable need to obtain more amounts of the drug. Physicians are the main source of prescription drugs and thus users who are addicted will find ways to look for specialists who will give them their desired prescription drugs.

Experts are still not sure why there has been an unexpected surge in the abuse of prescription drugs. It is thought that because a lot more drugs are readily available to people, it makes it easier to fall into drug abuse. Physicians are also reporting an improve in doctors prescribed for patients, which consists of prescribed medications for those typically abused drugs. There are also online pharmacies on the net that people can access easily to buy those highly addictive drugs.

Teenagers and even children can easily get doctor prescribed drugs thanks to these online pharmacies and even by stealing their parents' medication. Many of these teenagers do not know anything about the effects of the doctor's prescription drugs they are abusing and the dangers of mixing them with other drugs.

Often these doctor prescribed drugs are mixed with alcohol and this can result in side effects such as loss of coordination, fainting, drowsiness, headaches, vomiting, and nausea. Aside from these dangers, alcohol also renders doctor's prescription drugs ineffective if not less effective or it can make the drugs harmful or toxic to the body. Older people also have a higher tendency to take doctor prescribed medication with alcohol adding to the fact that they normally have to take much more than one of such medications.

Trends in Prescribed Drug Use Among Different Peer Group

Seniors and the elderly are at a high risk for abusing doctor's prescription drugs by unintentionally or intentionally taking unnecessary medications or a bit too much medication. Additionally, a significant quantity of these older adults use dietary supplements and over-the-counter medicines, which they combine with alcohol at times. This can enhance their potential for cognitive impairment and harmful drug interactions.

Abusers in this age group mistakenly think that because health professionals prescribe these drugs, they are safer for use compared to street drugs. The risk of accidental overdose has enhanced significantly due to the possible combination of these prescription drugs with alcohol, related site https://lighthousetreatment.com/drug-rehab-orange-county/.