Prescription Drug Addiction
From LoveToKnow Recovery
From Matthew Perry of Friends fame to talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, stories of prescription drug addiction are on the rise. Even Felicity Huffman’s character Lynette on the hit series Desperate Housewives had an addiction to her children’s prescription attention deficit disorder medication.
Risk Factors for Prescription Drug Addiction
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 20% of the United States population has taken prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in their lifetime. Senior citizens make up a large portion of this percentage, since they have easier access to prescription medications.
Other risk factors for prescription drug addiction include:
- Poor health.
- A family history of addictions.
- Daily use of alcohol.
Depression and poor self-esteem may also be risk factors.
The easy accessibility of prescription medications has also been a factor in the rise of abuse. Online pharmacies, some of which don't bother to confirm prescriptions, are frequent stops for abusers. “Doctor shopping” is also becoming a common practice. Patients move from doctor to doctor, describing similar symptoms in order to get more of their medication. They then fill these prescriptions at multiple pharmacies.
Patients who become dependent on prescription medications may not intend to abuse the prescription. Long-term use of certain pain medications causes the body to adjust to the medicine, so that larger doses are needed for the same effect. When the medicine is stopped, the person feels ill, a process called withdrawal. However, physical dependence is different from abuse. A person who is only physically dependent has no trouble stopping the medicine if it's tapered off appropriately. An abuser or addict continues to crave it, even if it's hurting their health or interfering with their responsibilities.
Most Abused Medications
Persons who are prescribed medications which fall into three drug categories are most at risk for prescription drug addiction. These drugs, as identified by the NIDA, are opioids, central nervous system depressants (CNS), and stimulants.
Opioids are commonly used to treat pain. They can produce a feeling of euphoria or “high.” Commonly abused prescription opioids include morphine, codeine, Vicodin, and Demerol.
CNS depressants are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. CNS drugs produce a feeling of sleepiness or calm. Abuse occurs when a patient begins taking them to escape from the reality of his/her life. Commonly abused CNS drugs include Nembutal, Valium, and Xanax.
Stimulants, which are often prescribed to treat the sleep disorder narcolepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, produce feelings of alertness and increased energy. Stimulant drugs include Ritalin and Dexedrine.
Identification of a Problem
Three key persons are involved in the identification of a problem with prescription drug abuse. They are the physician, pharmacist, and patient.
Physicians are first in line for noticing a problem with prescription drug addiction. Before prescribing any medication, a full history, including past addictions, should be taken. During follow-up visits, the doctor should take notice if a patient develops a need for increased dosage. Faking symptoms after a patient’s current prescription runs out should also be investigated. Doctors should not leave prescription pads anywhere that a patient could be tempted to steal one.
Pharmacists are important in making sure prescription drugs are not abused. Pharmacists should closely watch for falsifications of prescriptions or frequent, high dosage refills for similar medications from different doctors. Pharmacists should also take care to explain the dosage and usage for each medication a patient receives, as well as any interaction it may have with other medications.
Patients can also identify problems with prescription drug abuse. To keep from being overmedicated, they should inform doctors of all medications they currently use, including over-the-counter drugs. Patients should always use medications exactly as directed, and never take another person’s prescription.
Treatment Options
Treatment options range from behavioral to medicinal, and may combine the two. For the most addicted persons, in-patient treatment at a rehabilitation clinic is recommended. This will often include a detoxification session, where medications may be used to ease withdrawal symptoms in a highly supervised situation. Then individual, 12-step, and group therapy is used.
For more motivated individuals out-patient therapy without detox can prove beneficial. Certain drug addictions, such as those to some opiates, can be medically treated under a physician's care.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 5,114 times. This page was last modified 01:24, 2 June 2008.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
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