Prescription Drug Misuse and the Dangers Associated with it
Using prescription drugs without a doctor’s knowledge can be more dangerous than people generally think. People misuse prescription drugs to have fun, get sleep, loose weight and fit into certain social groups. The most common risk of prescription drug abuse is addiction. And the major concern over here is that people who use prescription drugs can become addicted to them as easily as to the illegal drugs. This probably is the reason why most doctors prefer examining the patient before renewing the prescription just to make sure they are not getting addicted.
Prescription drug abuse has been constantly on the rise.
There is no definitive answer for why prescription drug abuse is on the rise, but many people believe it is directly correlated to the increase in prescribing opioids. About 4.8 million adults reported to have misused prescription stimulants at least once. The most common reasons for misuse were to relax or relieve tension (46.2 percent) and to help with sleep (21.2 percent).
Why Do People Abuse Prescription Drugs?
People have loved mood altering or relaxation causing drugs from times immemorial. The convenience of availability and procurement of Prescription Drugs is the reason why the use is on the rise. They are also available along with the illegal drugs on the street. The mindset of the people that prescription drugs are safer for health than illegal drugs is the major push factor here. But the fact is that prescription drugs are safer for only those people whom the doctor had examined and prescribed doses according to their medical condition and body composition. Also, they mention things to avoid that interfere with the efficacy of the medicine. In misused prescription medicines, all these details will be missing. Therefore, they may create side effects and serious casualties in case of overdoses. This misuse has entangled itself with the teen lifestyles in colleges and high schools. While some children use it to cope with competitiveness, the others use it for pure recreation.
Which types of Drugs Are Abused?
The most abused prescription drugs are classified into three categories namely:
1. Opioids
Examples: oxycodone (OxyContin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and meperidine (Demerol)
Why are they used?
Opioids are used to relieve pain and give relief from coughs and diarrhoea.
How do they work?
Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord), preventing the brain from receiving pain messages.
2. Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants
Examples: phenobarbital (Luminal), diazepam (Valium), and alprazolam (Xanax)
Why are they used?
CNS depressants are used to treat anxiety, tension, panic attacks, and sleep disorders.
How do they work?
CNS depressants contain brain activity by increasing the activity of a neurotransmitter called GABA. The result in a drowsy or calming effect in the patient
3. Stimulants
Examples: Methylphenidate (Ritalin) and Amphetamine/Dextroamphetamine (Adderall)
Why is it used?
Stimulants are used to treat narcolepsy and ADHD.
How do they work?
Stimulants increase brain activity, resulting in greater alertness, attention, and energy.
Risks associated with abusing prescription medicines:
- Impaired cognitive functioning
- Having an accident
- Involving in a crime
- Becoming the victim of a crime
- Issues due to overdoses which could sometimes be fatal
- Failure of kidneys in some cases
- Vomiting
- Mood changes
- Decreased respiratory function
- Coma or death in some cases
- High body temperature
- Irregular heart beat
- Toxicity
How can you handle a bad reaction?
- Take note of changes in body or emotions
- Keep information about the drugs that pharmacist has given you
- Book appointment with a doctor immediately
- Drink lots of water to flush out some amount of medicine meanwhile
- Never try to take some other medicine to counter these effects until you meet a doctor
Feel free to contact us for more information on this topic. At Phoenix, we can help provide the right tools to you or your loved ones on the journey to lead a healthy life free from addiction. Our reliable & effective Drug and Alcohol Addiction Recovery Program is headed and supported by experienced & dedicated de-addiction therapists and is driven by motivated staff that is equipped to handle the various needs of patients and has years of experience in treating addiction.
