Prescription Drug Abuse
Prescription Drug Abuse
Initially, stimulants were used to treat asthma and obesity. Today, stimulants are prescribed to treat problems such as ADHD, ADD, depression, narcolepsy, and other problems. Examples of stimulants include methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin, Ritalin), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat, ProCentra), and the combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall).
Taken appropriately and under a doctor's supervision, these drugs and other stimulants are safe. When they are abused -- for instance, by taking the drugs in higher doses or crushing the pills to get a high -- they have the potential for addiction and ongoing abuse. Using stimulants with decongestants may cause irregular heart rhythms and high doses of stimulants can cause high body temperatures.
Most experts are unsure why prescription drug abuse is on the rise. It's thought, though, that because there are more drugs available to more people, the opportunity for abuse is greatly increased. Doctors report writing more prescriptions for patients than ever before. That includes prescriptions for commonly abused drugs such as opioids, CNS depressors, and stimulants. In addition, you only have to go on the Internet to find vast numbers of online pharmacies selling these highly addictive drugs. Online pharmacies make it easy to get these drugs -- even for children or teens.
It's not uncommon for teens to talk about stealing medication from their parents' medicine cabinets. Instead of taking illegal substances commonly sold in back alleys, many teens today tell of having prescription parties where they gather at someone's home, mix their parents' prescription pills in a bowl, and then help themselves to whichever pill looks most appealing. The problem is most teens have no idea what medications they are taking and which medications may cause serious problems, even death, if taken with other drugs or alcohol.
Risk for addiction appears to be influenced by a person's biology, social environment, and age or stage of development. The more risk factors you have, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction. As an example, sometimes addictions run in families with a strong genetic link. In addition, social environment including friends or colleagues may also influence addiction. Equally important is the person's developmental stage in life. Studies show the earlier someone begins to abuse drugs, the greater the chances are that the addiction may progress into more serious problems.
Prescription Drug Abuse
In this article
- What Is a Drug Addiction?
- Which Prescription Drugs Are Commonly Abused?
- How Do Opioids Work on the Brain and Body?
- How Do CNS Depressants Work on the Brain and Body?
- How Do Stimulants Work on the Brain and Body?
- Why Is Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise?
- Why Do Some People Become Addicted and Others Don't?
- How Do I Know if I'm Abusing Prescription Drugs?
- Are There Some Guidelines for Using Prescription Drugs Safely?
- Is There Treatment for Prescription Drug Addiction?
- Are There any Warnings for Using Opioids, CNS Depressors, and Stimulants?
- How Can I Help a Loved One Who Is Addicted to Prescription Drugs?
How Do Stimulants Work on the Brain and Body? continued...
Initially, stimulants were used to treat asthma and obesity. Today, stimulants are prescribed to treat problems such as ADHD, ADD, depression, narcolepsy, and other problems. Examples of stimulants include methylphenidate (Concerta, Daytrana, Methylin, Ritalin), dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, Dextrostat, ProCentra), and the combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall).
Taken appropriately and under a doctor's supervision, these drugs and other stimulants are safe. When they are abused -- for instance, by taking the drugs in higher doses or crushing the pills to get a high -- they have the potential for addiction and ongoing abuse. Using stimulants with decongestants may cause irregular heart rhythms and high doses of stimulants can cause high body temperatures.
Why Is Prescription Drug Abuse on the Rise?
Most experts are unsure why prescription drug abuse is on the rise. It's thought, though, that because there are more drugs available to more people, the opportunity for abuse is greatly increased. Doctors report writing more prescriptions for patients than ever before. That includes prescriptions for commonly abused drugs such as opioids, CNS depressors, and stimulants. In addition, you only have to go on the Internet to find vast numbers of online pharmacies selling these highly addictive drugs. Online pharmacies make it easy to get these drugs -- even for children or teens.
It's not uncommon for teens to talk about stealing medication from their parents' medicine cabinets. Instead of taking illegal substances commonly sold in back alleys, many teens today tell of having prescription parties where they gather at someone's home, mix their parents' prescription pills in a bowl, and then help themselves to whichever pill looks most appealing. The problem is most teens have no idea what medications they are taking and which medications may cause serious problems, even death, if taken with other drugs or alcohol.
Why Do Some People Become Addicted and Others Don't?
Risk for addiction appears to be influenced by a person's biology, social environment, and age or stage of development. The more risk factors you have, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction. As an example, sometimes addictions run in families with a strong genetic link. In addition, social environment including friends or colleagues may also influence addiction. Equally important is the person's developmental stage in life. Studies show the earlier someone begins to abuse drugs, the greater the chances are that the addiction may progress into more serious problems.
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