What is Prescription Drug Addiction?

Learn about prescription drug addiction & abuse

Substance abuse remains a constant problem throughout the United States, however, the abuse of prescription medications is a rapidly growing concern affecting millions of people each day. Recent studies have proven that, over the past 10 years, there has been an exceptional increase in the number of individuals who have started to abuse prescription medications in an effort to obtain the mood and/or mind-altering effects that these substances can produce. There are various types of prescription medications that are regularly abused, some of which include:

Antianxiety medications (Klonopin, Valium, Xanax)
Pain medications (morphine, OxyContin, Vicodin)
Sedatives (Ambien)
Stimulants (Ritalin, Adderall)

When taken for their intended purposes, each of these medications can be highly effective in helping reduce distress for individuals who are afflicted with the conditions that warrant prescription medications. However, when taken in higher doses than prescribed or taken more often than recommended, the resulting effects can produce enticing feelings of euphoria. When taken outside of the parameters that a physician has provided, drugs such as prescription painkillers, sedatives, and antianxiety medications can bring about feelings of relaxation, detachment from one’s surroundings, and other pleasurable sensation. Stimulants, for example, can increase someone’s focus, energy, and bring about weight loss by constricting one’s appetite. Effects such as these can be highly appealing to many, and cause people to continually abuse prescription drugs and subsequently become addicted to them. Once an addiction has developed, it can be exceptionally challenging to overcome it without the help of professionals. Thankfully, effective treatment for prescription drug abuse is available.

Statistics

Statistics on prescription drug addiction & abuse

The number of people who abuse prescription drugs is said to be constantly rising. Many studies show that there are an estimated 52 million people in the United States who have abused some form of prescription medication. In addition, research shows that prescription drug overdoses claim more lives than gunshot wounds, car accidents, or suicides each year.

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and risk factors for prescription drug addiction & abuse

There are many factors that can explain why an individual develops an addiction to substances like prescription medications while someone else does not. Some of these factors can include:

Genetic: Years of research show that there is a strong genetic tie to the onset of substance abuse and addiction, including the abuse of prescription medications. Those who have family members who struggle with chemical dependency issues are at a greater risk for battling similar concerns than those who do not share this same background.

Environmental: There are many environmental factors that add to an individual’s vulnerability of developing a prescription drug abuse problem. One of these factors includes an individual’s exposure to drugs. If an individual is spending time in an environment where drug use is common, his or her chances of doing the same become increased. In addition, those who have been afflicted with a condition where prescription medication is medically necessary are also more likely to abuse prescription medications because of the access they have to them. The experience of one or more traumatic events can also increase an individual’s chances of developing an addiction to prescription drugs. When an individual is subjected to trauma and does not have the skills to properly cope with that trauma, he or she becomes more likely to develop a substance abuse problem as a means of coping with his or her upset.

Risk Factors:

Family history of addiction
Suffering from a condition that requires the use of prescription drugs for symptom relief
Personal or family history of mental illness
Ease of access with which one can obtain prescription drugs
Being the victim of abuse or neglect
Experiencing trauma

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of prescription drug addiction & abuse

The signs and symptoms displayed by an individual who is abusing prescription drugs will vary depending on the type of drug he or she is abusing. In addition, the length of time that an individual has been abusing these substances, as well as how much is being ingested, can all play a role in the symptoms that he or she exhibits. Some of the behavioral, physical, cognitive, and psychosocial symptoms that infer someone is struggling with a prescription drug problem can include:

Behavioral symptoms:

Stealing
Frequent absences from work
Visiting multiple doctors to obtain multiple prescriptions
Alterations in performance at work (for example, one’s performance might decline if he or she develops an addiction to painkillers, while one’s performance might increase if he or she becomes addicted to stimulants)
Lying
No longer partaking in activities that were previously enjoyed
Behaving in an instigative and sometimes aggressive way
Social withdrawal or a change in the company one keeps

Physical symptoms:

Lack of good hygiene
Weight gain or loss
Altered eating habits
Bloodshot eyes
Changes in sleep patterns (either suffering from insomnia or hypersomnia, depending on the drug that is being abused)
Tremors/shakes
Impaired coordination

Cognitive symptoms:

Delayed thought processes
Decline in one’s ability to use appropriate decision-making skills
Decline in one’s ability to utilize sound judgment
Altered perceptions of reality
Changes in concentration capabilities
Disorientation
Confusion

Psychosocial symptoms:

Emotional dysregulation
Agitation
Loss of interest in things that were once enjoyed
Changes in temperament
Anxiety
Irritability
Frequent mood fluctuations
Depression
Periods of emotional detachment

Effects

Effects of prescription drug addiction & abuse

Abusing any sort of prescription drug can cause a person to subsequently experience a number of dangerous consequences. The adversities that can arise in response to prescription drug abuse will vary based on the type of medication that is being abused. However, some of the most common effects that prescription drug abuse can have on an individual’s life include:

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Occupational failure, leading to job loss and chronic unemployment
Organ damage/organ failure
Financial problems
Cognitive impairment
Interaction with law enforcement due to criminal activity, such as falsifying prescriptions for more of a medication
Onset or worsening of symptoms of mental illnesses
Social isolation or disturbed interpersonal relationships
Memory disturbances
Family discord/divorce

Withdrawal and Overdose

Effects of prescription drug withdrawal and overdose

Effects of prescription drug withdrawal: The continued abuse of prescription drugs will lead to the onset of withdrawal symptoms when use of these substance has stopped. The type of prescription drug that has been abused will also affect the severity of symptoms that an individual experiences as well. Some of the many symptoms and effects that can develop during withdrawal can include:

Disorientation
Confusion
Hallucinations
Tremors/shakes
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Nausea
Vivid dreams
Sleep problems
Restlessness
Profuse sweating
Abdominal cramping

Effects of prescription drug overdose: An overdose happens when an individual ingests far too much of a substance than his or her body is capable of handling. All overdoses should be treated as medical emergencies, and treatment should be sought immediately to prevent fatalities. Some of the many signs that a prescription medication overdose has occurred can include: