How to Find Treatment For Prescription Drug Abuse

There are hundreds or even thousands of different prescription drugs out there, and many of us are prescribed them to treat a specific condition we have. The problem is, regardless of what the medication is treating, there are many prescription drugs that have a tendency to be addictive. To the point that many of them are highly regulated. Even people who take some drugs as prescribed have the potential to become addicted over time. For this reason, it is a good idea to know what you’re taking and the effects it can have on your body so that you can try to avoid possible addiction.

At Recover Now, we know what a struggle addiction can be, especially from prescription medication that you are supposed to be taking. That’s why we want to give our clients and their families all the tools we can to help battle addiction. In this post, we are going to look at treatment for prescription drug abuse, including why prescription drugs are abused, which drugs are commonly abused, and how to find prescription drug treatment for abuse.

Why Are Prescription Drugs Abused?

Prescription drugs come in a wide array of types for an even broader range of reasons. From pain to mental illness to the common cold, there are prescription medications for just about everything, and unfortunately for us, most of them have the potential to be addictive. But this leaves the question, why are they abused?

There are a few key reasons why prescription drugs are abused.

First, there is the sheer volume of prescriptions out there that it is likely, even if drugs aren’t that addictive, that with a large enough usage base, some may become addicted either on purpose or by accident.
Second, being that some of these drugs are highly addictive and many people have to be on them for a long period, they naturally become addicted over time out of the sheer habit of taking the drug to where they feel they cannot do without it, especially if their doctor tells them they still need it.
Third, many people begin abusing drugs because they like the way that they make them feel. Some drugs produce a high, others lower inhibitions. Others give a burst of energy and alertness. A person may abuse a prescription drug for any of these reasons and more.

Lastly, there are physiological reasons why many people become addicted to a drug, even unintentionally. It is because of how the drug interacts with the body, the brain, and the central nervous system. Drugs like benzodiazepines and opioids actively alter the chemistry of the body to the point where the body becomes dependent on the drug just to carry out day-to-day tasks. Once the body is dependent, it responds with withdrawal symptoms when the drug is not present. The next step from here is full-blown addiction.

What Prescription Drugs Are Commonly Abused?

While there is a potential for many different prescription drugs to be abused, certain ones are more commonly abused than others.

At the top of the list are opioids. Not only are they the most widely prescribed drug in America, but they are also the most widely abused. This had led to many of them being highly regulated and controlled, making doctors less likely to prescribe them except out of absolute necessity. For patients in severe need, this has become a problem.

The second most commonly abused drugs are benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed to treat mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. However, because they produce psychedelic effects, and other sensations, many have taken to abusing them.

Lastly, another category that is commonly abused is the category known as stimulants. This includes drugs used to treat conditions like narcolepsy and ADHD. People without these conditions abuse these drugs because it gives them a feeling of energy and alertness and suppresses their appetite and other benefits.