Prescription Dugs
When somebody tells you that of person you know is a drug addict at times it is not easily believable. It is because you picture a drug addict as someone who smokes weed, takes heroin, or has injection marks on the arms.
Mind you, this is not always the case. A drug addict and abuser can just be right next to you. He/she can be your friend, schoolmate, colleague, family member, or just a common person you've acquainted with. Drug addicts can be drug abusers, persons who misuses an illicit substance, medicated or non-medicated drugs, in order to achieve a certain pleasurable effect rather than medical.
Majority of the people who uses prescription drugs don't get addicted to it. But there are many who curiously experiment on the drug by increasing the dosage or frequency of use to get the feeling of high. The victims of this curiosity are usually the young people which may start as early as 12 years old. This drug abuse is very rampant all over the world these days and has been a serious problem that needs immediate action.
Top 3 Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs
Not all prescription drugs can be easily addictive. By following the prescriptions right from your doctor there won't be any trouble becoming dependent on the drug and that you may crave to get more. There are certain drugs that you can easily be hooked on. To make it uncomplicated, it can be grouped into three types of drugs namely Depressants, Pain Medications (Opioids), and Stimulants.
Depressants
Depressants or the Central Nervous System Depressants are drugs that are usually prescribed by doctors for medication purpose. This is used as a tranquilizer or sedative used to treat sleep disorders and anxiety. What contains this includes benzodiazepine like alprazolam, chlordiazepoxide, temazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, and barbiturates such as mephobarbital. All together these substance combinations make the ability of the brain to function slowly.
However, it is not advisable to mix certain drugs or substances when taking depressants or it could have troubled effects. An example would be alcohol. If benzodiazepines would be combined with alcohol it could not only make user be drowsier and unmanageable it could have an addictive effect. What can be worse is that this combination can even slow heart rate and breathing that can lead to death.
Opioids
Opioids are painkillers that are prescribed by doctors for patients that are in terrible pain, suffering from constant bad conditions, usually given after surgery. These drugs can also give euphoric feel even when at a prescribed dose.
These drugs contain meperidine, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, propoxyphene, morphine, codeine, and oxycodone.
The likely side effects when using these type of drug would be vomiting, slowed breathing, nausea, constipation, dizziness, headache, sweating, sleepiness, and dry mouth. Over dosage of this can cause death.
Stimulants
Stimulants intensify alertness, anxiousness and awareness, and boost up energy. It is actually the opposite of Depressant drugs. Stimulant drugs are used to treat disorders such as narcolepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD). These can make respiration and heart rate increase which can have a euphoric effect on the user. Even when at the right prescription, this can be addictive to some. It can make the addict feel good and secured by the feeling of being at a rush and active body movement. Being at the height of this state can cause excessive fatigue and may cause hostility, depression, paranoia, burst blood vessels, sleeping disorders, rapid heartbeat that may cause heart failures and even fatal seizures.
Prone to Abuse Prescription Drugs
All types of people worldwide can be prone to abuse prescription drugs. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has given four specific groups that are more prone to it.
First would be the teens and young adults. This group is the fastest increasing number of prescription drug abusers. It usually starts from a normal prescription drugs however, young as they are, their curiosity trigger by getting the slight feel of side effects. Research in 2007 shows that twelve percent (12%) of the youth that ranges from age 12-17 confessed that they have tried or continually use prescription drugs for purposes other than medical. The most common prescription drugs they use are Vicodin and Oxycontin.
Second most likely to be prone on drug abuse are the elderly. The reason behind this is that the elderly, at times, find it hard to follow instruction of prescription drugs. Other than that, they are usually prescribed to take higher dosage of medications and for longer periods.
If you think health care workers are smart enough not to abuse prescription drug, you are wrong. Doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and all other types of health care provider can be abusers. In fact, they have easier access to prescription drugs while on the job.
All of us can abuse prescription drugs. The best way to prevent it is to be aware and educated, strictly follow the prescriptions given by your doctors. If you think the dosage or the frequency of usage isn't enough, better talk to your doctor about it and he or she will give the right remedies for it.