understanding prescription drug abuse and treatment

Addiction to prescription drugs is a major health problem because it leads to a primary brain disease which is characterized by addiction to a mood-altering chemical. A drug addict is unable to stop taking a particular mood-altering chemical despite serious health, social, and legal consequences. It is progressive and chronic and, if left untreated, can be fatal. Many people think they are always safe when they overdose on their prescribed medication, but the truth is that when one becomes addicted to a prescribed medication, the addictive potential is the same as that of street drugs.

Below are lists of top common drugs prescribed and abused by schedule:
OPIOID PAINKILLERS such as Oxycodone (OxyContin), Vicodin, Percocet. Also known as analgesics, opioids are drugs that are prescribed for moderate to severe physical pain. They are abused because of their euphoric, sedating, and numbing effects. Narcotic abuse causes tolerance and dependence and the withdrawal symptoms are severe.
STIMULANTS (Ritalin, Dexedrine, Meridia) are prescribed to treat ADD/ADHD and other conditions such as asthma. They are abused because of their energizing and euphoric effects. Stimulants do not generally cause tolerance or dependence but abuse is associated with hostility and paranoia. There is also great risk for cardiovascular failure and seizures.
DEPRESSANTS, SEDATIVES and TRANQUILIZERS, such as diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), Xanax, and Librium are drugs that are prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. They are abused because of their sedating properties. With abuse, depressants cause tolerance and dependence and the withdrawal symptoms can be severe.

There is no cure for drug addiction, but it is a treatable disease. Drug addicts can and do recover, but they must always be aware of their addiction and work to never fall into addiction again, which is a lifelong process. In order to maintain abstinence, one must take great steps in making personal lifestyle changes. These take time and, in fact, most professionals and recovering addicts believe that recovery from the disease of chemical dependency is a lifelong process.

Drug addiction therapy uses behavior change or modification and sometimes includes medications that assist the user in refraining from drugs. Some of these medications include:
OPIOID WITHDRAWAL: Buprenorphine and methadone may be used to ease the symptoms of withdrawal from opioid painkillers. However, the use of these agents to ease withdrawal from opioid addiction in the absence of pain problems is tightly regulated and subject to very strict guidelines and at times special licensure. Other drugs—including clonidine (Catapres), a medicine primarily used for high blood pressure—can be used to help manage opioid withdrawal. symptoms.
SEDATIVE WITHDRAWAL: In general, tapering sedatives can be medically complicated and should be done only after a consultation with a doctor comfortable with assessing and managing these issues. If you've used prescription sedatives for a long time, it may take weeks or even months to slowly taper off them. Mood-stabilizing drugs at critical points in the withdrawal process may help. Symptoms of withdrawal can mimic rebound anxiety, so your choice of doctor is critical in withdrawal from this class of drugs.
STIMULANT WITHDRAWAL: There are no approved drugs used for the management of stimulant withdrawal. Treatment typically focuses on relieving withdrawal symptoms—such as sleep, appetite and mood disturbances.

Be it individual, group, or family, counseling is often useful and can also help people learn the skills needed to help prevent drug addictive recurrence. Physicians know that prolonged abstinence from certain drugs allows some of the drug-induced brain changes to reverse. But addicts have to change their lifestyles and learn how to cope with the world, and they may always have to combat the urge to use drugs.

Egendorf, Laura K. "Chemical Dependency, Opposing Viewpoints." Greenhaven Press: 2003.
Rooney, Fran. “Substance Abuse.” Homestead Schools, Inc: 2002.
Schaler, Jeffrey A. “Addiction is a Choice.” Open Court Publishing: 2000.

kcra news report: prescription drug abuse is an "emerging epidemic"

The following information was gathered from a news report that originally aired on KCRA. The abuse of prescription drugs has become such a fast-growing and widespread problem that experts on the subject are now referring to it as an “emerging epidemic." Most officials agree that it is more of a problem than street drugs, like cocaine and marijuana. This is because 4.5 million teens tried prescription drugs last year, much more than the amount that tried illegal drugs. Also, the people involved in the abuse of prescription drugs don't view them as dangerous as illegal street drugs can be; however, they are as dangerous. Another area of concern is that anyone can order prescription drugs online, without personal contact to the distributor or age and identity verification of the person ordering.

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cbs news: prescription drug availability and public opinion

According to an interview with Dr. Scott Davis on CBS News, concerns about prescription drug abuse were discussed. A prescription often turns into an addiction when people are dealing with prescription pain medications. Dr. Davis mentioned that these people often do not think they have a problem, because these meds can and normally do alter that person's state of mind. Again, it was also stated that these drugs are easily accessible through medicine cabinets, over the internet, and sometimes, but rarely, on the streets. Even though this is an area of great concern, these drugs are legal. Unfortunately, because of this, people think they are not as bad as illegal drugs, and when the notion of this along with the easy accessibility are combined, a huge problem occurs.

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cnn health: teens are age group most at risk for abuse of and addiction to prescription drugs

According to an article posted on CNN Health, the age group of the most concern when it comes to the abuse and chance for addiction to prescription drugs is teens. Another risk factor is the lack of preventative measures. Those using drugs for an intended purpose need to be educated on how to store them, like in a locked cabinet, and how to spot early signs of addiction in themselves or those around them that could have access to the drugs. Many experts on the subject feel that if preventative measures are not aggressively implemented, that by the next year, the amount of teens abusing could double if the current rate of abuse continues.

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VIDEOS: talk to your teen about drugs

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America provides both of these public service announcements to encourage parents to speak to their teens about street and prescription drug abuse.


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government-sponsored education and statistics

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) educates patients about the dangers of prescription drug addiction and encourages them to speak with a physician or pharmacist when receiving a narcotic prescription. NIDA also informs parents about cough medicine (DXM) addiction and the signs and symptoms of overdose. Statistics on drug use are also available, finding that prescription and OTC medications are the most commonly abused drugs after marijuana in 10-12 graders. 55.7% of these students claimed they received the medication from someone else and that they did not legally pay for it.

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treatment rate on the rise

According to a March 2009 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration report, admission for treatment of prescription medicine abuse has risen from being 1% of all substance abuse admissions in 1997 to 5% in 2007.

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pharming parties

This article explains the growing trend of "pharming parties," where teens get together, exchange prescription medications, and get high. Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) announced in 2005 that the rate of abuse of illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and marijuana among teens is on the decline, while the abuse of prescription drugs is on the rise. These teen addicts find any excuse to use prescription medicines and usually do not recognize their addiction until it is too late. Parents maintain a blind eye to the problem, most often because they do not recognize the signs and symptoms of addiction or because they are in denial--even when prescription medicines are disappearing from their own medicine cabinets. Teens also find it increasingly easier to order prescription medicines from online pharmacies or by faking symptoms for a physician and obtaining a written prescription. It is important for parents and healthcare providers to understand the dangers of prescription drug abuse, because, according to Dr. Francis Hayden of New York Mount Sinai's adolescent mental-health center, "when adults and medical professionals treat medications casually, we need not be surprised that adolescents are treating them casually."


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VIDEO: the death of heath ledger

This MSNBC news broadcast breaks the news of actor Heath Ledger's fatal overdose. Medications and two empty pill bottles were found in the actor's room, one prescription and one non-prescription.


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the abuse and danger of dextromethorphan (DXM)

OTC cough and cold medicines contain dextromethorphan (DXM), an antitussive drug. When used according to the package instructions, DXM relieves cough. When used in excessive amounts, DXM acts as a hallucinogenic drug. It can produce image distortions, feelings of body dissociation, altered states of consciousness, and excitement. Due to the recent epidemic of purchasing the drug for recreational use, retailers have moved the medication behind the counter to prevent theft, monitor for excessive purchase, and ensure those purchasing the medication are over the age of 18. Parents are encouraged to look for these warning signs in their teenagers: changes in level of consciouness, hallucinations, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, and vision changes.


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VIDEO: teenagers taking cough and cold medicines to get high

This NBC news broadcast warns parents about the allure, danger, and warning signs of teenage addiction to OTC cough and cold medicines.


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