Category: Prescription Drugs Addiction

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Prescription Drugs Addiction

The Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs in Canada

Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs in Canada

The concept of commonly abused prescription drugs may seem strange. After all, the drugs were prescribed in the first place. However, thanks to the unique properties of certain medications, it is possible to abuse prescription drugs. That’s the context this article aims to provide.

When you hear the word ‘abuse,’ the likes of heroin, marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine come to mind. This is rightly so. The drug laws also have a resultant role to play in the level of drug usage in society. That’s a topic beyond the scope of this article.

From reading this article, your orientation needs to change. The usage of the term ‘abuse’ extends to prescription drugs in every sense of the word. Your defence may be that doctors approve prescription drugs for usage. However, what is currently alarming is the rate of use. 

According to CCSA.ca, about 22% of Canadians over 15 years of age use psychoactive prescription drugs in some form. This statement refers to a study in 2017. Hence, you should expect the percentage to be higher today.

This raises one concern. The fact that over 22% of Canadians have a tendency, at least, to abuse prescription drugs. The abuse can occur consciously or subconsciously. The idea of abuse is simple. It simply refers to a – somewhat compulsory – dependence on a particular substance. With this breakdown, the notion of prescription drug addiction should be more plausible and real to you. Firstly, let’s take a more critical look at what the condition entails.

What is Prescription Drug Abuse?

As a background to the topic of commonly abused prescription drugs, defining the substance is essential. Simply put, prescription drugs are drugs your health professional (doctor) asks you to use. Whatever type of drug it may be, once the doctor asks you to use it for a particular ailment, it’s a prescription drug.

In Canada, the Food and Drugs Act regulates these medications, ensuring safety, quality, and effectiveness. When you use these drugs as the doctor instructs, you are within the safety profile. You’ll most likely see positive results. However, you can knowingly or unknowingly misuse the drug. There are several reasons for this abuse (misuse), which we’ll discuss later in this guide.

An unintentional misuse will probably see you make such a mistake once. However, when the misuse – abuse/overdose – is intentional, you need to beware. Several factors may be in play, which can lead to a dependence on the drug for stability. Prescription drug abuse is not only about the overdose of the drug.

Prescription drugs come in different forms, with plenty of them on the market. While the most common form is capsules, they also exist as syrups, skin patches, and liquids. In the following section, we will examine the significant chemical-types of commonly abused prescription drugs. These chemical-types come in any of the forms we mentioned earlier.

Types of Prescription Drugs

Most of the commonly abused prescription drugs fall into two main categories.

Opioids

You possibly only know the word opioids from the context of drug addiction. However, they are more than that. They are good for the body. Since the beginning of the last century, doctors commonly prescribe painkillers containing opioids to patients. Hence, while it identifies with widely abused prescription drugs in Canada, millions across the country use it to relieve pain. As you now understand, abuse is not about the substance but the degree of usage.

The common painkillers containing opioids are codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine. The use of these substances is crucial for people with long-term pain.

When you take per instruction, these medicines help with pain management. When you use opioids under the strict supervision of a doctor, your chances of abuse gets slimmer. The same goes for using the substance for just a short period. However, unsupervised usage can lead to dependence – addiction.

At an extreme, opioid overdose is life-threatening. If the overdose is alongside medication for the central nervous system, you can experience difficulty in breathing.

Opioid, however, has a mild joyful feeling when you use it responsibly. This is why some people inject it to attain the feeling faster. However, this also opens you up to diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C.

Depressants

Central nervous system depressants are also quite common. The primary purpose of this drug is to reduce the activity of the brain. This then causes you to feel drowsy or fall asleep. The chemical it affects in the brain is called GABA – Gamma-aminobutyric acid.

The common depressants are Benzodiazepines and barbiturates. Benzodiazepines contain Ativan, valium, and Xanax. Generally, depressants are very useful in the treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders.

At the start, correct doses do the magic almost immediately. You feel calm and eventually fall asleep. However, the feeling wanes. It means your body is developing a tolerance. Hence, you are tempted to take in larger doses. This is how this type of prescription drug abuse starts.

With these depressants, you should be careful not to take them with alcohol. The combination can result in a slow heartbeat, slow breathing, and even death.

Besides, if you take the substance for too long and you suddenly stop, you’ll experience withdrawal symptoms. These include;

  • Seizures
  • Shakiness
  • Agitation
  • Insomnia
  • Anxiety
  •  Overactive reflexes
  •  Increase in heart rate, temperature, blood pressure.
  • Hallucination.

In the worst-case scenario, it can lead to death. Hence, you should be careful in dealing with these commonly abused prescription drugs.

Why Do People Abuse Prescription Drugs?

The commonly abused prescription drugs are easy to don in society. They are readily available, catering to one ailment or the other. While this in itself is not bad, excesses set in.

Unlike hard drugs where the usage is not necessary, prescription drugs are somewhat essential for many. However, it is uncontrolled use makes the various types of prescription drugs deadly. Below are some factors that may cause unchecked use (or abuse):

Fun

This is one of the most common factors that lead to drug addiction of whatever kind. Several persons, including adolescents, indulge in these substances just to feel good or get high. In the case of teens, peer pressure is a major factor to consider.

In a group of friends having ‘fun’ with prescriptions, it becomes difficult for one person to stay out of it. But, while these substances may get you high and happy for brief moments, the side effects are always adverse. You can lose bodily functions, and in the worst-case scenario, death.

Studying

This is an unbelievable reason. However, according to this Kidshealth.org publication, students may abuse what they call “study drugs.” This is rampant in schools where schedules are tight, and the pressure is high. For students to keep up with the demands, they tend to overwork themselves.

There is also a condition known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is a condition where the patient finds it very hard to focus. Doctors may prescribe drugs like Adderall and Ritalin for persons with ADHD.

However, students not suffering from the disease can also take advantage of the effects of the drug. They have the opinion that the substance will help them focus and study more. That’s where “study drug” gets its name. These drugs are stimulants.

They help you achieve better alertness. They also offer a burst of energy and can increase your heart and breathing rate. One thing you should know, as against the common myth, is that these drugs do not increase your learning or thinking capacity.

The two most common study drugs are amphetamines and methylphenidates. More often than not, people get these drugs from friends or family. This type of usage is an abuse of the substance, and if care is not taken can lead to dependence.

The risk factors of these drugs, like other prescriptions, are enormous. Abuse of the drug leaves the patient susceptible to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat rate, seizures, heart failure, and even stroke. Behaviourally, it can lead to uncontrolled anger, paranoia, and some mental problems.

Weight Loss

Weight loss drugs are one of the commonly abused prescription drugs. When you use prescription drugs for your weight loss program, you should be careful. Weight loss does not happen overnight. Hence, you may get hung up on the substance, especially when you do not follow the prescribed dosage.

You see, trying to substitute exercise routines with drugs, for instance, can be the journey to addiction. Therefore, you should not start using a drug just because a friend on a weight loss program does the same. Prescription drugs are for those that have a doctor’s approval. Hence, it’s only safe to visit a doctor for the right prescription before starting your weight loss program.

Related Article: What Are The Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction?

Risk Factors of Prescription Drug Abuse

Addiction creeps in. It will feel as though it’s not happening, while indeed, it is. The conditions that come with it range from being mild to adverse. The unpredictability of the degree of effect makes it even scarier. For drugs like opioids, data shows that about 128 persons die daily in North America due to overdose.

Abuse of prescription drugs also has no age limit. However, it’s more rampant with the younger age group. Data shows that abuse of whatever substance is common within ages 18 to 25. This is worrying, considering the risk such young people expose themselves to.

Several factors can lead to a dependence on prescription drugs, making it somewhat beyond your control. For instance, people with previous addiction history may become prescription drug addicts easily. This is because the substances offer a similar feeling to street drugs but with a doctor’s permission.

Also, a family history of substance abuse opens you up to the possibility of prescription drug abuse. Pre-existing psychiatric conditions also makes you vulnerable. The ease of access to these drugs worsens the matter. You can easily lay your hands on them per time.

The most frightening factor here is knowledge. Because you got the drugs from a doctor, it’s easy to assume that they cannot have a negative effect. This is far from the truth. It can. Many people don’t know the negative effects of the commonly abused prescription drugs they indulge. It is essential to mitigate this knowledge gap.

As the various parts of this article have explained – adverse effects, it’s critical to treat these drugs with care.

Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse

With prescription drug abuse, the signs are always there. But, for persons with the underlying notion that nothing bad results from overusing these drugs, it may be hard to see the signs.

In the case where there is a legitimate need for the drug, it can be even harder to ignore its abuse. It can quickly turn into compulsive, ongoing, and destructive behaviour.

Either for yourself, a friend, or family members, here are the top signs you should watch out for to determine the possibility of prescription drug abuse or addiction.

  • You continue to use the drug even when the pain is gone.
  • You exaggerate issues to the doctor so that you can get more prescription drugs.
  • You don’t want to get other medical help options. You simply want the drug.
  • You exhibit mood changes and swings.
  • You start becoming secretive with the drug.
  • You use drugs that are meant for others.
  • You experience physical withdrawal symptoms when you don’t use the drug. Examples of these are; joint and muscle aches, insomnia, and night sweats.
  • You are hyperactive
  •  You use more than the stated dosage.
  • You don’t frequently move with your friends anymore.
  • You begin to go out of your way just to get the drugs.
  • You start having a very poor decision-making ability.

Phases of Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug addiction is a thing, and it doesn’t suddenly become a full-blown menace. Here is a breakdown to help you put the signs of prescription drug abuse in context.

Phase I: Non-medical Usage

Self-medication is tempting. The ease of it, as against having to first drive to a doctor’s office, is one of the greatest temptations. Moreover, getting these drugs over the counter is easy these days. However, this is the first step in the direction of addiction.

You may think you know what is wrong with you and the cure, but you don’t, except if you are a doctor yourself. Even then, you should let another doctor diagnose you. Data from Justice CA show that about 10 – 33% of non-medical prescription drug users may become dependent.

Phase II: Misuse

This is similar to the non-medical usage of prescription drugs. However, it is some steps further. If it happens once, you can pass it off as a non-medical usage (phase 1).

However, when you notice it happening over and over, and it feels as though you can’t stop, you are in phase II. This is a critical stage. At this stage, you build a tolerance to the commonly abused prescription drug you indulge in. Beyond this tolerance lies addiction.

Phase III: Abuse

When you take more drugs than you need, you abuse the substance beyond the doctor’s prescription. This may lead to issues in your relationship, work, and other responsibilities.

At this stage, you begin to crave what should be your medication. You get preoccupied with the drug. In some cases, you may even exhibit depression, instability, and fatigue. These are simply proof of your addiction and dependence.

Phase IV: Addiction

At this stage, you experience more than a physical dependence on the substance. Indeed, the problem has now worsened into a psychological dependence. This is the final stage of prescription drug addiction. Here, you experience a compulsive need to use the drug.

Here, the negative impacts of its usage are clear to you. However, you find it impossible to stop yourself. You then look to get more drugs from the doctor. You get aggressive if the doctor refuses. You may even resort to buying from illegal sources, which can be more damning.

How to Prevent Prescription Drug Abuse

Nipping prescription drug abuse in the bud before it even gets started is the best move. When you do this, you won’t need treatment for prescription drug addiction. While prescription drugs have functions they perform, the following steps will help you prevent dependence and abuse:

Making sure your medication is right

Getting the wrong drug for a particular ailment is an abuse of the drug upon purchase. Hence, you need to ensure you are as straightforward as possible to your doctor about your condition.

If you have any history of prescription drugs, you should also be transparent about them. Being honest with your doctor is the best thing to do for yourself. You should also query if there are alternate treatment options for drugs and pills.

Always visit your doctor

While this may seem like a hassle at first, the long-term benefit is essential. It keeps you in check. You take the right doses and get the right pills.

Follow instructions to the letter

You shouldn’t believe you know what you are doing with prescription drugs. You should use it as the doctor says. Follow all the instructions to the letter.

Know your medication

This is a good habit. You should know exactly what solution your particular drug offers. That way, you know what to expect. When you notice anything else, you should call your doctor immediately.

Don’t take other people’s medication

Even if you have a similar condition to your friend, don’t take their medication. Everyone has a unique biological makeup. Hence, you need a prescription that’s just for you. The dosage may be different, or you may be allergic to something, etc.

Don’t get prescription drugs online

While there are reputable pharmacies online, it’s best to consult with an in-person doctor. That way, they can easily conduct tests and diagnose what exactly is your health issue.

Prevention of prescription drug abuse in teens

The help teens need starts from their guardians and parents. Young persons are abusing prescription drugs more. Here are some things you can do;

  • Discuss the dangers with them. You need to help them understand the risks of abusing drugs. Beyond the thrill of the moment, health complications may occur.
  • Set rules for them: You should ensure they are aware of not sharing medications with others. You should also help them understand that they need to stick by the prescription dosage.
  • Keep your drugs away from them: As much as you can, keep your drugs away. As teens, they want to try things and listen to friends. You don’t want them anywhere near your drugs. It can be the start of a problem you won’t know about.
  •  Ensure proper drug disposal: it’s best to flush medications down the drain. Either the drugs are unused or expired, you should dispose of them properly.

How to Treat Prescription Drug Abuse

Treatment for prescription drug addiction comes in two primary forms. You can employ a behavioural (therapeutic) approach like other addiction cases. You can also use medications to offer treatment.

The behavioural approach to treating this addiction can be a long process. It involves gradual shedding of habits and taking up new ones. It involves teaching the addict new ways to handle craving and avoid triggers.

Behavioural treatment needs a professional. It’s almost impossible for the addicts to achieve this themselves. Hence, you need to get the help of a professional. Beyond the professional, there is the need for family and friends’ support. This goes a long way in ensuring you stay on the path of recovery.

Medications also play a huge role in treating prescription drug addiction. Each commonly abused prescription drug has a counter-drug you can leverage. As you now know, you should only use any of these with the help of a doctor. Drugabuse.gov collates the following as potent medication treatments:

  • You can reverse an opioid overdose with Naloxone.
  • You can treat CNS depressant addiction with a medically supervised detoxification.
  • You can treat the opioid disorder with Naltrexone.

Beyond these, behavioural treatment is the way to go for prescription drug addiction.

Related Article: What Are The Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction?

Final Take

There are more cons than pros to the use of commonly abused prescription drugs. Hence, you need to be careful. While the pros may be that it gets you high and active, it can leave you low and dry in no time.

You need to be watchful of your behaviour and be extremely sincere with yourself. If you suspect possible prescription drug abuse or addiction, you should consult with our addiction treatment services. Here at 1000 Islands Rehab Centre, we have professional hands on deck ready to help you eliminate a prescription drug habit. Contact us today!

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Prescription Drugs Addiction

The Long Term Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse

The Long Term Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse

When you misuse drugs, there is a huge possibility that the habit can become addictive. This means that one of the long-term effects of prescription drug abuse is addiction. Simply put, a drug can become addictive when you use the drug against your doctor’s instructions. 

People usually forget that most over-the-counter and prescription drugs can affect both physical and psychological functionality. For instance, several medications have warning writings or labels about the potential side effects of the drug. 

You may have come across drugs with labels displaying dizziness or drowsiness as side effects. Driving or leaving your comfort zone after taking such drugs may be chaotic.

Typically, people who use these types of drugs and still drive often cause different car crashes every year. Additionally, prescription drugs may cause hallucinations, change depth awareness, lower or raise blood pressure, blur vision, and may cause you to react slowly or quickly. These effects are essentially risky when you are driving.

As a patient taking medication for any infection, disease, or illness, drug prescription is inevitable. However, numerous stories point to the fact that patients can experience addiction to these drugs. For instance, a patient undergoing body pain treatment can experience addiction to painkillers.

An increasingly prevalent issue in Canada, prescription medication abuse affects all age groups, including teenagers. Some of the drugs prone to continuous abuse are stimulants, sedatives, anti-anxiety, and opioid painkillers.

Though addiction comes from the long-term effects of prescription drug abuse, short-term effects can still be dangerous. Early identification and intervention of prescription drug abuse may prevent the dangers of prescription drug addiction.

Over the course of this blog, we will break down the possible long-term effects of prescription drug abuse. If you or a loved one are staring down the dark hallway that is prescription abuse, this information can be useful in helping you make the best decision where treatment and recovery is concerned. 

Long Term Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse

What is Prescription Drug Abuse?

In general, prescription drug abuse refers to the use of prescription medication in an improper way. Typically, it’s using them in a manner different from the prescription provided by your doctor. An example is when you use a pain killer for more than the preset period recommended by your doctor.

The problematic use of prescription drugs covers the spectrum — everything about drug usage and prescription. Right from snorting or injecting ground-up pills to treating back pain with your partner’s or friend’s prescription painkillers, these are all forms of prescription drug abuse. 

Because of how broad it is, it is easy to unknowingly abuse prescription drugs. As a result, prescription drug usage requires ultimate caution, especially for those that are addictive.

Regardless of the adverse side effects, drug abuse can still become ongoing and compulsive. A ravaging problem about prescription drug addiction is that it can affect all ages, including teens. In general, stimulants, sedatives, anti-anxiety medications or opioid painkillers are too often and easily misused in Canada.

Fortunately, early recognition of such abuse symptoms and swift intervention can help prevent prescription drug addiction. Typically, this type of addiction involves people developing a total dependence on prescription drugs. 

Often, individuals tend to misuse drugs once the drug proves useful. Most people misuse it by taking higher doses than recommended to achieve a self-satisfying result than the doctor’s prescription. Increasing dosages or continuously taking the same medications over a long period usually causes tolerance for such effects. Also, it neutralizes the substance’s presence in your body system. 

Additionally, tolerance usually reduces the effects of the drug. It also minimizes the happy feeling from a lower dose, meaning you’ll be needing a larger quantity to attain the same high. In several cases, misusing prescription drugs usually happens due to a spontaneous pursuit of the pleasurable feeling some medications provide. 

Prescription medication abuse comes with several adverse side effects. It’s essential to be able to identify these side effects and seek help. This way, you’ll be able to avoid further or potential health risks.

Types of Prescription Drug Abuse

At our facility, we can treat several types of prescription drug addictions. However, it’s essential to fully understand that these prescriptions usually determine the symptoms you may exhibit. As such, each type will affect the average individual in distinct ways.

Generally, it is possible to misuse any prescription drug. However, the effects and properties of some medications may increase the possibility of misusing them. Furthermore, there is a proportional increase in the potential harm and long-term complications it may bring along.

Here are the three most common types of prescription drug addiction:

Opioids

Opioids

Generally, opioids are a specific class of prescription drugs known by several other names. Examples are Codeine, Morphine, OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Vicodin, and morphine. In general, these drugs are prescriptions to help boost your psychological management during treatment by removing the brain’s sense of pain.

This is typical because the drugs possess pain relief capabilities. Also, they trigger the instant release of dopamine, making it somewhat easier to develop an addiction to these kinds of painkillers. 

Typically, these medications are safe when used according to their prescription. However, they can become disastrous when you start to consume them in excess or high doses. Consuming one large quantity of these drugs can result in death or respiratory failure. Also, the danger opioids pose become even more significant when combined with alcohol or other substances.

Stimulants

Stimulant drugs are generic medications that influence your energy and alertness levels. These drugs are useful in treating fatigue, ADHD, tiredness, and depression. These types of medications include Ritalin, Dexedrine, Concerta, and Adderall.

Typically, most prescription drugs within this category can result in euphoric feelings that prompt you to up their usage. Ultimately, stimulants will raise your heart rate and blood pressure upon consumption. As such, consuming excessive amounts of stimulants can lead to heart failure or irregular heartbeat. 

Also, stimulant withdrawal comes with a smattering of side effects. Examples of such adverse effects include depression, irregular sleep patterns, inability to sleep, fatigue, etc.

The Central Nervous System Depressant

CNS depressants usually slow down the brain’s functionality. It can also affect individuals by producing a drowsy or calm feeling within the host system. They are commonly known as tranquilizers or sedatives. 

These depressants are usually applicable in treating panic attacks, anxiety disorders, and other related issues. The major components include benzodiazepines and barbiturates like Xanax, Librium, and Valium. Furthermore, unnecessary or excessive use of this type of prescription drugs can result in addiction or total dependency.

Related article: Why do People Get Addicted to Prescription Drugs

What are the Symptoms of Prescription Drug Abuse?

Symptoms of Prescription Drug Abuse

The symptoms of prescription drug addiction often vary from one person to another. However, some exceptions and factors determine potential addiction or not. For instance, prescription drug addiction depends on the type of drug you’re misusing, the amount, and the frequency at which you use the drug.

Here at 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab centre, our prescription drug addiction treatment is a function of these factors. The symptoms that come with prescription drug abuse symptoms can be divided into three (3) main categories, i.e. psychological symptoms, behavioural symptoms, and physical symptoms. The psychological signs are symptoms relating to your mental interaction with your environment with or without the drug. 

Behavioural symptoms relate to how you behave with or without the drug and how you interact with people. For example, someone who rarely talks and is less active around people may become more active or even violent around the same people after abusing prescription drugs. 

Below are a few signs that you or someone close to you may have a prescription drug abuse problem:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Low emotional reactivity or severe low mood
  • Hostility and mood swings
  • Irritability
  • Inability to concentrate or stay focused
  • Euphoric feelings
  • Paranoia and confusion
  • Memory issues
  • Taking prescription drugs just to relieve stress or relax
  • Agitation.

Here are a few social and behavioural symptoms of prescription drug abuse:

  • Visiting different doctors for the same condition just to obtain numerous prescriptions
  • Taking prescription drug faster than scheduled
  • Placing an order for a prescription drug over the internet
  • Misplacing prescriptions and always requesting replacements
  • Forging or stealing prescriptions
  • Putting a priority on taking or obtaining medication compared to enjoying activities you used to do without drugs.
  • Wanting to take prescription drugs but not being able to
  • Being defensive and secretive about your prescription drug abuse
  • Inability to stop drug usage even when the negative effects are evident and severe.

Some physical symptoms that come with prescription drug abuse include:

  • Intense cravings for the prescription drug
  • Headaches
  • High body temperature
  • Poor sleep pattern, or insomnia
  • Low or high level of appetite, leading to changes in your overall weight
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Slowed breathing
  • Heart palpitations
  • Slurred speech
  • Coordination problems
  • Unresponsiveness and being immobile for some moments, i.e. catatonia
  • Insomnia or low sleep patterns
  • Increase in drug tolerance levels
  • Experience withdrawal signs if you stop abruptly, etc.

Short-Term Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse

Most psychoactive medications are mind-altering. They are capable of changing the way you feel, act, and think. Abusing prescription medications can make you feel euphoric, excited, and sometimes invincible.

You may behave in a way you’re unaccustomed to, become violent, paranoid, or even hostile. Psychotic side effects such as delusions and hallucinations are also a possibility of prescription abuse. However, these behaviours can go on to become unpredictable or erratic. As a result of this, there is a possibility that you may end up endangering yourself.

While it may make you feel exceptional, drugs can also reduce your inhibitions. It can even expose you to taking more significant risks that may lead to injuries. Or, in some cases, criminal or legal consequences.

Long-Term Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse

Staying on a prescription drug for longer than the mandated usage timeline will only expose you to dangerous risks. Sometimes, the side effects can cause severe damages to your system capable of bringing death.

Commonly Abused Prescription drugs and Their Long-Term Effects

There are several kinds of prescription drugs that are very addictive, with high potential exposure to abuse. In general, taking these prescription drugs according to your doctor’s instruction and supervision will prevent any addiction or adverse effects.

However, incorrectly using prescription drugs can be significantly dangerous to your long-term behavioural, physical, and mental wellbeing. Abusing these drugs over a long period can cause organ damage or worsen your mental health problems. Sometimes, it may even go as severe as causing permanent physical impairment. 

Most of these medications usually come with a risk of overdose, mental illness, or even death when misused. Below are the long-term effects of commonly abused prescription drugs:

Long-Term Effects of CNS Depressants

This is also popularly known as the control nervous system depressants. Generally, this medication is useful for slowing down the brain’s regular activity. They are prescription drugs available for people who are unable to control rapid brain activities. Or sometimes for people who are struggling with seizures, panic attacks, insomnia, or anxiety.

Some of the long-term effects of this kind of prescription drug abuse include:

  • Motor functional damage due to brain damage
  • Seizures
  • Addiction
  • Overdose
  • Death
  • Loss of cognitive function, etc.

Long-Term Effects of Opiate Painkillers

These are usually effective for treating acute or chronic pain a patient may experience after a surgery or injury. Sometimes, it is also useful for treating pain from a cough – examples are codeine cough syrup. Opiate painkillers are the most commonly abused types of prescription drugs. 

In fact, teens have access to these drugs because they are easily prescribed. Sometimes, they get over-prescribed to adults as well. 

However, this practice usually leads to leftover pills frequently available in the medicine cabinet at our homes. It’s quite unfortunate that one of the few short-term risks include overdose.

The long-term health risk includes:

  • Addiction
  • Intense withdrawal signs
  • Respiratory failure

Long-Term Effects of Stimulant Abuse

Methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine are both common prescriptions for teens struggling with ADHD. In teens, these drugs provide a calming effect and help to boost focus. However, the reverse is the case in adults. 

These medications possess a stimulant effect that can be highly addictive for adults and are even deadly. Long-term use of the drug can cause health issues that include:

  • Malnutrition
  • Overdose
  • Paranoia
  • Extreme loss of weight
  • Death
  • Extreme insomnia
  • Addiction
  • Dehydration, etc.

Other Side effects of Long-term Prescription Drug Abuse

Below are some of the other adverse side effects of long-term prescription drug abuse:

The Tolerance Level

Your system will require more of the prescription drugs to be able to benefit from its pharmacological effects.

The Dependency Level

It will alter your brain’s structure over time. The result of this change is that you continuously require prescription drugs to stay functional. Stopping or reducing the prescribed medication may completely change your brain’s chemistry over time, resulting in withdrawal symptoms.

The Resistance

Ultimately, these prescriptions will have little or no effect on you, except to keep off withdrawal symptoms. One of the long-term effects of prescription drug abuse is resistance. Once your body develops resistance to the drug, it becomes useless for the intended course. 

When this occurs, some patients often end up being prescribed stronger medication in addition. In the end, this may result in physical dependence.

The Original Issue is Never Resolved

In most cases, when dealing with the long-term effects of prescription drug abuse, you may not be able to solve the original problem. 

Typically, the condition that brings about the prescription is just being symptomatically treated. This is in stark contrast to the real goal of treating the cause of the condition. This is mostly true with prescription drugs used for treating mental health conditions. 

More Sensitivity to Pain

More Sensitivity to Pain

Generally, some evidence suggests that opiates only have pharmacological benefits for three months. Anything beyond that means you only get a little pharmacological effect. As such, your pain may become worse if your body doesn’t get the pain relief it is used to.

Alternative Complementary and Holistic treatments are not Explored

There are a lot of benefits to get from complementary, holistic therapies and treatments. Even in chronic pain-related conditions, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and mindfulness are a prevalent and useful pain management tool. 

Other complementary and holistic therapies such as reflexology, acupuncture, and counselling effectively treat long-term mental health conditions. However, due to prescription drug abuse, one long-term side effect is that you will miss out on is their benefit.

In fact, not incorporating all of these other methods while undergoing pain-related treatment is a reason people become dependent on prescriptions. 

Depression and Anxiety Development

One of the most common long-term effects of prescription drug abuse is the continuous development of depression and anxiety. Prescription drugs can cause damage to the brain’s reward or pleasure system when abused over a long period. 

In most cases, this may result in you becoming anxious and feeling depressed. This damage comes with an imbalance in your brain’s chemistry. Because of this, you may not be able to feel or differentiate pleasure anymore.

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

At 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab centre, we offer different treatment options that are particular to you and effective to boost your recovery. There are various strategies for attaining sobriety. 

We will start by helping you understand your addiction fully. This includes your life outside the drug, why and when you use prescription medications, and other useful information. 

After that, we will evaluate your mental and physical wellbeing and assess your drug history. This way, we will be able to know if there are other underlying issues that need attention.

Here are a few options for prescription drug addiction treatment:

  • Going through medication to help your detox procedure
  • Going through therapy
  • Going through self-help groups
  • Prescription medication alternatives such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Yoga, etc.

Conclusion

In general, there are several long-term effects of prescription drug abuse. From the long-term physical effects to the behavioural and mental effects, we have taken the time to analyze these side effects. 

If you’re feeling any of these effects, it’s essential to reach out to prescription drug abuse counsellors or professionals for help to prevent the severe effects of prescriptions. 

Treating any addiction requires highly tailored care that considers everything regarding your medical history. This includes when and why you started the prescription medication in the first place. 

Going through medically-supervised detox is often recommendable for patients struggling with addiction. Most especially, addiction treatment is more effective where patients are given replacement drugs to treat the initial health issue. 

Defeating the shame or embarrassment that you feel because of addiction is the first step towards recovery. You’re not alone. There are also people like you undergoing recovery in rehab with professionals helping them achieve wonderful results.

Call 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre for addiction treatment programs.

Related article: What Are The Signs Of Prescription Drug Addiction?

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Prescription Drugs Addiction

Tips to Help You Prevent a Prescription Drug Addiction

Tips to Help You Prevent a Prescription Drug Addiction

Are you a patient suffering from prescription drug addiction? Or you have someone showing symptoms of severe prescription drug addiction? Well, several tips can help prevent prescription drug addiction, and we’re ready to help you discover all of them.

In general, prescription drug addiction can happen to anybody, from teenagers to older adults. Furthermore, it comes with a number of negative side effects. In some cases, your psychological well being, career, relationships, and finances may hit rock-bottom.

There are many reasons that can cause prescription drug addiction. Some individuals misuse prescription drugs to cover up emotional issues. As such, the major health conclusion is that you aren’t aware of how to deal with your psychological and emotional issues. Thus, you tend to keep living with these drugs.

As a patient under medication for any diseases, illness or infection, getting a drug prescription is normal. However, several stories show that patients can experience addiction to these drugs. For instance, a patient undergoing body pain treatment can experience addiction to painkillers.

Naturally, humans tend to believe what works for illness A may work for illness B that is somewhat similar. However, the reverse is the case, as this may lead to prescription drug addiction. 

Prescription drug addiction is a ravaging issue in nearly every race, socio-economic demographic, and community in Canada. Notably, its effect comes with no limitations whatsoever, and it’s hitting every corner of Canada.

At Addictions CA, we believe no addiction is incurable, and as such, we’re ready to support you in this journey. The first step is to understand what is prescription drug addiction and how to prevent prescription drug addiction. This will equip you with the proper knowledge of prescription drug abuse, its symptoms, side effects and treatments.

As such, this article will discuss the tips on how to prevent prescription drug addiction, signs, and effects of prescription drug addiction. Before that, let’s take a look at what prescription drug addiction is.

Prescription Drug Addiction: What is it?

Prescription Drug Addiction

Generally, prescription drug abuse refers to the improper usage of medications in an unintended manner. Prescription medication abuse or problematic use incorporates everything from the abuse of drug prescriptions to habitual usage. Right from injecting or snorting ground-up pills to treating a backache with your friends or using your partner’s prescription painkiller, it all falls under an addiction.

Regardless of the adverse effects, drug abuse can still become compulsive and ongoing. A ravaging problem about prescription drug addiction is that it can affect all ages, including teens. In general, stimulants, sedatives, anti-anxiety medications or opioid painkillers are some of the most abused prescription drugs.

Fortunately, early recognition of abuse symptoms and swift intervention can help prevent prescription drug addiction. Typically, this type of addiction involves people developing a total dependence on prescription drugs. 

Often, individuals tend to misuse drugs once the drug proves useful. Most people misuse it by taking higher doses than recommended to achieve a more significant result. Usually, this is contrary to the doctor’s prescription. Increasing dosages or continuously taking the same medication over a long period usually cause tolerance. Also, it neutralizes the substance’s presence in your system.

Additionally, tolerance usually reduces the effects of the drug. It also minimizes the delirious feeling from a lower dose. As a result, you’ll end up needing a larger quantity to attain the same high. In several cases, misusing prescription drugs usually happens due to a spontaneous pursuit of the delirious feeling some medications provide to people.

The moment your body builds a tolerance, resisting the urge to take the drug will become more difficult. Furthermore, drug dependence often happens when your central nervous system becomes accustomed to the drug. Increasing the drug dosage as well can influence drug dependency over time.

Related article: Why do People Get Addicted to Prescription Drugs

Prescription Drug Addiction: What are the Common Types?

At our facility, we can treat different types of prescription drug addictions. However, it’s essential to fully understand that the types often determine the symptoms you may exhibit. As such, each type can also affect individuals in distinct ways.

Generally, it is possible to misuse any prescription drug. However, the effects and properties of certain medications increase the possibility of misusing it. 

Here are the three most common types of prescription drug addiction:

The Stimulants

Stimulant drugs are generic medications that influence an individual’s energy and alertness. Basically, these drugs are often useful in treating fatigue, ADHD, tiredness, and depression. These types of medications include Ritalin, Dexedrine, Concerta, and Adderall.

Typically most prescription drugs within this category can result in euphoria, thus causing you to increase the dosage. Ultimately, stimulants often raise your heart rate and blood pressure upon consumption. As such, you are consuming excessive amounts of stimulants that can lead to heart failure or irregular heartbeat. 

Also, these prescription drugs come with several side effects during withdrawal. Examples of such adverse effects include depression, irregular sleep patterns, inability to sleep, fatigue, etc.

The CNS Depressants

CNS depressants usually slow down the brain’s functionality. It can also affect individuals by producing a drowsy or calm feeling. CNS depressants are commonly known as tranquillizers or sedatives. 

Generally, these depressants are usually applicable in treating panic attacks, anxiety disorders, and other related issues. The major components include benzodiazepines and barbiturates like Xanax, Librium, and Valium. 

Furthermore, unnecessary or excessive use of this type of prescription drugs can result in addiction or total dependency. If an individual uses less medication or stops abruptly to justify benzodiazepine withdrawal, it may result in seizures. In worse case scenarios, this type of seizure can result in death.

The Opioids

The Opioids

Generally, opioids are a specific class of prescription drugs known by several other names. Examples are Codeine, Morphine, OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Vicodin, and morphine. In general, these drugs are prescriptions to help boost psychological management during treatment by removing the brain’s sense of pain.

This is typical because the drugs possess pain relief capabilities. Also, these drugs boost the body’s natural release of dopamine. Thanks to these euphoric feelings, it is easy for most people to develop an addiction to this prescription drug.

Typically, these medications are safe as it is in their prescription. However, they can become disastrous when used in excess or in high doses. Also, consuming a large quantity of these drugs can result in death or respiratory failure. To cap it off, the danger these opioids pose become even more significant when used with alcohol or other substances.

Tips to Prevent Prescription Drug Addiction

There are several tips to prevent prescription drug addiction. However, below are the most effective ones to incorporate into your daily routine:

If You Can, Get an Alternative

Several health conditions have prescription drug options with a somewhat lower risk for addiction development. For instance, there are non-stimulant alternatives for the treatment of ADHD. Generally, ADHD-specific non-stimulants, like Kapvay (clonidine ER), Strattera (atomoxetine), and others, are particularly formulated to treat disorders.

Seemingly, certain blood pressure medications can also help some people control ADHD. This is because many of these have the same active ingredient as the aforementioned ADHD-specific non-stimulants. Some antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), nortriptyline (Aventyl), and desipramine (Norpramin), are effective in managing ADHD by helping to alter the balance of chemicals in the brain. They’re also helpful for people who have ADHD and comorbid depression, anxiety or another mood disorder.

Are you looking for CNS (central nervous system) drug alternatives, such as sleep or anxiety disorders? Try out chamomile tea. You can aim for one to three grams of Omega-3s every day.

Basically, the first step to preventing addiction to prescription drugs is to try non-addictive alternatives. Only use addictive drugs as a last resort. 

How About Massage for Muscle Pain?

Most patients live with pain, hoping to get a day or two off to visit the doctor for a painkiller prescription. However, if you are looking to prevent prescription drug addiction, you can turn to a massage today. In 2008, the American Massage Therapy Association made it clear that about 21% of adults in the US got at least one massage in the previous year. 

Whereas approximately 25% now relied on massage therapy sessions to relieve physical and internal pain symptoms at least once in a lifetime.  As one of the world’s oldest pain relief practices, a massage helps promote serotonin productions. This serotonin serves as one of the system’s anti-pain hormones, thus alleviating pain from your body. 

Also, massaging can improve the amount of deep restorative sleep you attain. This can help you decrease pain immensely. These benefits may be enough to reduce your need for prescription opioids.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

So far, the behavioural approach is one of the best tips for preventing prescription drug addiction. These therapies have been very effective in helping patients of different drugs and conditions respond to withdrawal. Naturally, patients may find it very hard to comply with the treatment processes. However, support from family and friends will help you scale through without difficulties.

As a part of prescription drug addiction treatment, the idea behind behavioural therapy is to help you manage your body’s feelings and thoughts. If you can successfully learn this, you can easily control how your body responds to external forces or pain. Overall, one significant aspect of a successful cognitive behavioural therapy scheme is to provide pain relief for individuals.

Other aspects of a successful CBT scheme includes:

  • Encouraging active behaviour towards solving problems
  • Applying CBT skills outside treatment sessions to ensure the perfection of the skills.
  • Nurturing life skills, such as coping or survival mechanisms.
  • It provides you with the right confidence booster to keep up with work stress and social life.

Try Acupuncture

Try Acupuncture

In general, acupuncture is a seemingly popular method of treating physical pain. Typically, it is a recommendable sports treatment plan alongside massage. Once you complete some specific physical examination screening for starters, the acupuncturist will recommend a treatment for you.

After that, you will lie on a table while the acupuncturist places some precise needles gently on the affected spots. The needles will remain there for about 20 to 30 minutes for accurate results.

Naturally, individuals react to treatment differently. So, some people may describe the process as relaxing while others may feel it’s not. 

Ultimately, acupuncture has proven to be effective in alleviating several conditions, such as:

  • Acute bacilliary,
  • Allergic rhinitis,
  • Leukopenia,
  • Hypotension and hypertension,
  • Morning sickness,
  • Fetus malposition correction, etc.

However, acupuncture is not for every individual. For some specific patients, the process may be too risky. This includes patients with pacemakers or those with a high risk of developing skin infections, or pregnant women.

Replace Painkillers with Yoga

Yoga is a system of meditation routines that help to orchestrate human mindfulness with the divine consciousness. Also, Yoga is an art as well as science. It is a science because it offers practical techniques for controlling the body and mind, thereby making extensive meditation possible. It is an art, for unless it is practised spontaneously and delicately, it will yield only partial results.

To many, it may seem as if Yoga is just about putting yourself in a particular position. However, there’s more to it than meets the eye.  Yoga is effective in controlling your mind and connecting your body and soul. Yoga does not only help with addiction but also helps in maintaining your state of mind.

Consider Whether or Not You Need Medications

Generally, it’s better to heal naturally sometimes rather than having to use drugs every time. To avoid resistance to a particular medication, be sure you do need the drug before taking it. 

Always take your medication according to your prescription. It’s essential you ask yourself some questions before pushing for a refill:

  • Are my symptoms getting worse to disturb my functioning?
  • When and how do my symptoms happen?
  • Do these symptoms have any traceable triggers?
  • Is there a way I can alleviate these symptoms by changing my routine lifestyles?

Ultimately, some prescription drug classes are not ideal for long-term usage. This is because of their possible addictive potentials. 

For instance, your doctor may prescribe a benzodiazepine such as Valium (diazepam) or Xanax (alprazolam). However, these drugs contain strong sedative properties that are often meant for short-term usage. These are some of the reasons why you should be sure before refilling your medications.

How to Recognize Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug addiction is simply the use of prescribed medications in a way that doesn’t follow the doctor’s prescription. In several cases, this type of substance misuse becomes static and compulsive. This can prolong for a long time despite the negative effect on your psychological and physical wellbeing. 

Naturally, the symptoms of prescription drug abuse vary by the kind of prescription drug in question. For an individual who abuses pain relievers (prescription opioids), they will have no feelings for pain on an average level. Such people may complain of nausea or even look for constipation remedies.

However, breathing may become slow unnaturally if an abuser nods off from prescription drug usage. Also, someone who uses pain relievers regularly even when nothing seems wrong may experience a nasty fall out during withdrawal. Examples are chills for days, vomiting, diarrhea, bone and muscle pain, etc.

Besides, an individual abusing benzodiazepine is typically using sleeplessness and anxiety treatment drugs. Alprazolam (Xanax), Lorazepam (Ativan), Triazolam (Halcyon), and Diazepam (Valium) all fall into this category. These drugs are very addictive and pose a considerable threat to withdraw from without medical support.

Here are some of the common symptoms of prescription drug abuse:

The Psychological Deterioration

In general, some substances provoke stronger psychological reactions than others. Examples are cocaine, somewhat affecting the production of dopamine in the brain during withdrawal and usage. 

With prescription drug abuse, one symptom is to look out for is the decline of your mental health. Additionally, this may manifest as you becoming seemingly unconcerned or despondent. Furthermore, you may appear to be aggressive or irritated with everything.

The Legal Problems

Addiction frequently takes over in an individual’s life, slowly moving up their priority list despite its negative impact. An individual suffering from addiction to hostile prescription drugs may resort to crime and illegal activities. An example is someone who purchases Xanax illegally, thus leading to police and law enforcement issues.

The Physical Deterioration 

Naturally, it’s normal to see individuals suffering from addiction increase their neglect of themselves steadily. Notably, this often happens once the significance of taking substantial prescription medication increases. As such, the abuse of drugs like prescription opioids may result in sudden and significant loss of weight.

Treatment for Prescription Drug Abuse

Generally, it’s essential that you avoid entirely prescription drug usage or abuse once you begin your treatment. This is because going through the process half-heartedly may result in partial or total relapse. 

Firstly, we will want to understand your addiction fully. This includes your life outside the drug, when and why you take the prescription drugs, and other relevant information. We will then assess your drug history and evaluate your physical and psychological well-being. This way, we will be able to know if there are other underlying issues that need attention.

Below are a few options for prescription drug addiction treatment in Canada: 

  • Going through therapy,
  • Going through medication to help with 
  • Attending self-help groups,
  • Developing prescription medication alternatives such as Yoga, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, etc.

Conclusion

Generally, there are several tips to prevent prescription drug addiction. Sometimes, even with these tips, it may be difficult to prevent the abuse of prescription drugs. 

Prescription drug addiction can be challenging to experience, just like any other addiction. You may find it difficult to admit that you have a problem. You see, most people who abuse prescription drugs never complain of an addiction. 

However, once you recognize the signs of prescription drug addiction, it’s better to seek help immediately. Defeating the embarrassment or shame that you feel because of addiction is a significant step towards recovery. 

Also, a therapy session, being with loved ones, one-on-one counselling, or a self-help group, can help you overcome addiction. Be aware that failure to treat prescription drug addiction may result in further life-threatening problems.

Call 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre for addiction treatment programs.

Related article: What Are The Signs Of Prescription Drug Addiction?

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Prescription Drugs Addiction

Why do People Get Addicted to Prescription Drugs

Just like you, hundreds of people keep asking why people get addicted to prescription drugs. This is because the number of prescription drug addiction cases have risen considerably in the past few years. Reports around 2017 showed that around 22 percent of Canadians over the age of 15 have a prescription drug problem.

So, are you wondering just why this is happening? We’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ll discuss why people get addicted to prescription drugs. Then, we’ll also examine some symptoms of those addiction and their prevention.

What Are Prescription Drugs 

Prescription Drugs

Just before we get to the reason for the addiction, you’ll need to understand prescription drugs. Prescription drugs are those drugs that you get on the authority of a medical practitioner. 

So, when you go to the hospital and the doctor writes down some drugs that you should get — that’s a prescription drug.

You may be wondering what’s unique about them. The Food Drugs Act regulates them. In turn, you can only purchase these drugs with a doctor’s prescription. So, if you decide to walk into a pharmacy without one, you can’t buy it. 

Examples of these addictive prescription drugs include:

  • Opioids prescribed to treat pains such as drugs with oxycodone and hydrocodone.
  • Sedatives prescribed to assist patients to relieve sleep problems or anxiety such as drugs with alprazolam, diazepam, and zolpidem.
  • Stimulants prescribed to help patients who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) such as drugs with methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine.

What is Prescription Drug Addiction?

Usually, when you get a prescription, it also includes how to use the drug. Well, prescription drug abuse occurs where you use the drugs outside the instructions of the doctor. It also extends to cases where you use your friend’s prescription.

Although this is still mere abuse, it becomes an addiction when the use becomes compulsive. In such cases, you can’t help yourself. You keep using the drugs regardless of the adverse effects it has on your body. 

Why people get addicted to prescription drugs

Now, you must be wondering why people get addicted to prescription drugs. After all, it’s dangerous to the body. The standard process is where there is a prescription of an addictive drug. Then, after use, you get dependent on the drug. 

Typically, it can occur because the actual prescribed dosage turns out not to be so “impactful”. Then, you start to increase your dosage. In turn, a high level of tolerance and dependency emerges.

However, in some cases, it may be due to intense withdrawal symptoms. This occurs when you try to stop the drug after prolonged usage. Unfortunately, your body reacts, causing you to keep using it. 

Alternatively, it can occur outside a medical prescription. In such cases, you access these drugs from various sources. For instance, if you’re a teenager, you may access addictive prescription drugs from your parent’s cabinet. 

This choice is common for a variety of reasons. For example, you can use it to:

  • Get high or feel good.
  • Relieve tension or relax.
  • Increase alertness or reduce appetite.
  • Improve your concentration and performance during academic activities.

Note that in these cases, the drugs react with your brain and nerves. It then produces a pleasurable feeling that your body wants to keep experiencing. Unfortunately, your brain gets more accustomed to it with each use, and it becomes less satisfying.

However, your brain continues to demand the heightened pleasure you experienced earlier. Hence, to keep it up, you begin an uncontrollable usage, which becomes an addiction. Fortunately, you can get addiction treatment services to help you.

Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction

Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction

You may be in denial as to whether there’s a case of prescription drug addiction. Well, that’s why we’re here. 

Here are a few symptoms that you should watch out for. 

  • Stealing, selling or forging prescriptions.
  • Hostility or excessive mood swings.
  • Using a dosage higher than that actually prescribed.
  • Poor decision making.
  • Decrease or increase in sleep.
  • Continuous loss of medications and asking the doctor to write more or new prescriptions.
  • Obtaining prescriptions from multiple doctors.

However, you should know that the symptoms may depend on the addictive prescription drugs in use. Generally, you can associate the following symptoms with opioids.

  • Nausea
  • Constipation
  • Euphoria or feeling high
  • Drowsiness
  • Slow breathing rate
  • Poor coordination
  • Increased or worsened sensitivity to pain
  • More doses are required to relieve pain.

On the other hand, you can associate the following symptoms with sedatives.

  • Confusion
  • Drowsiness 
  • Unsteady walking
  • Poor concentration 
  • Slurred speech
  • Dizziness 
  • Slowed breathing
  • Memory issues.

Finally, you can associate the following symptoms of prescription drug addiction with stimulants.

  • Increased alertness
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Euphoria
  • High blood pressure 
  • Reduced appetite 
  • High body temperature
  • Anxiety 
  • Agitation 
  • Insomnia
  • Paranoia.

Risk Factors Associated with Prescription Drug Addiction

Risk Factors Associated with Prescription Drug Addiction

Also, to understand why people get addicted to prescription drugs, you’ll need to know the risk factors. These are the factors that push most people close to prescription drug addiction issues.

Although these factors are most common among teens, they are no respecter of age. As such, they can happen to anybody. Major risk factors that should put you on alert include:

  • Personal history of addiction to various substances whether present or past 
  • Family history of addiction to substances 
  • Existing mental conditions
  • Social environment or peer pressure that promotes substance abuse 
  • Ease of access to prescription drugs, for example, a family member with a steady supply of such drugs.
  • Misinformation or lack of information about the potential harm of prescription drugs.

Related article: Tips to Help You Prevent a Prescription Drug Addiction

Effects of Prescription Drug Addiction

You’ll hear a lot about the harmful consequences of getting addicted to a prescription drug. It’s no joke. Various consequences come from this addiction. One prominent result of addiction is physical dependence.

Physical dependence occurs in situations where you have had prolonged use of the drug. In such a case, your body has gotten accustomed to the drug. Even more, your brain and body regard the drug as a necessary element for various performance.

As such, your body continually demands the presence of such drugs. Also, in such cases, your body finds it almost impossible to perform basic functions without the prescription. Worse, where you try to stop, you experience severe negative symptoms.

However, beyond physical dependence, other consequences include:

  • Getting caught up in risky actions due to poor judgment 
  • Criminal actions
  • Vehicle accidents 
  • Use of other recreational and illegal drugs 
  • Troubled relationships 
  • Decreased work or academic performance

How to Prevent Addiction to Prescription Drugs

Now that you know why people get addicted to prescription drugs, there’s one more thing left. You’ll need to know how to prevent cases of addiction. So, here are some tips that’ll prove useful.

Ensure you get the right and proper medication

It’s vital to ensure you’re using the right medication. As such, ensure you inform your doctor of all essential medical conditions. This will extend to your previous and present medication. Also, disclose any history of substance abuse. 

Regularly report to your doctor 

Periodically inform your doctor about your progress with the medication. This becomes even more important in a case where you experience any of the symptoms of prescription drug addiction.  So, inform your doctor as promptly as possible. 

Stay informed about your medication

Stay informed about your medication

Don’t make the mistake of thinking this is no concern of yours. Again, you don’t need to be a health practitioner to access necessary information. So, ensure you’re well aware of the purpose of your drugs.

You can always ask your pharmacist or doctor to explain this to you. Also, confirm what other drugs you need to avoid during the period of the medication. 

Avoid using other prescription drugs

“I also have back pain, can I get some of your drugs” should never be an option. You need to ensure you visit the doctor if you have any medical condition that requires a drug. 

This is because you can never be sure of the other person’s underlying medical condition. More importantly, how it differs from yours. Always visit the doctor for a prescription.

Final Thoughts 

Getting addicted to prescription drugs is a common occurrence today. Unfortunately, it comes with loads of negative consequences. As such, it is necessary to understand it.

In this article, we’ve explained why people get addicted to prescription drugs. We’ve also told you how to stay safe. However, if you’re already depending on prescription drugs, it’s not too late.

Here at 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre, we offer first-class addiction treatment for prescription drug abuse. Our experts can develop a personalized treatment course to help you attain long-term sobriety. Contact us today!

Related article: What Are The Signs Of Prescription Drug Addiction?

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Prescription Drugs Addiction

What Are The Signs Of Prescription Drug Addiction?

The signs of prescription drug addiction often go unnoticed by the addicted person and loved ones. This ignorance is worse especially if the drug use started as the legitimate use of medication. When we are taking prescription drugs under the supervision of a doctor, our use of that drug is accepted without question by the people around us. It is well known that most medications come with side effects, so it is easy to write off these effects by saying, “It’s just the medication.”

Prescription Drug Addiction

The problem is that there a fine line between legitimate prescription drug use and substance abuse. It is all too easy to cross that line without noticing. Abuse of a medication can start innocently enough, with the person thinking it would be harmless to take their dose a little earlier than usual on a bad pain day. Before that person knows it, they have an addiction that they cannot shake.

What Prescription Drugs Do People Become Addicted To?

Mainstream media tends to link prescription drug addiction with painkillers. But there are several classes of medications that patients can become addicted to. The symptoms of prescription drug abuse vary depending on which medication is being used.

Opioids

Opioids

Opioids are pain relief medications such as morphine, codeine and fentanyl. They are prescribed for patients with cancer and other painful conditions, and they are provided to patients who have undergone major surgery or suffered serious injuries.

While opioids are effective pain relievers, they also produce a feeling of euphoria that is particularly attractive to patients who are suffering from chronic pain. The signs of addiction to this prescription drug include constipation, nausea, confusion, impaired coordination and drowsiness. When taken in higher doses than prescribed, opioid medications can slow the heart rate and breathing, and this can put the patient’s life in danger.

Stimulants

As the name suggests, stimulants are designed to amplify certain cognitive and physiological processes. These medications, which include amphetamine (Adderall) and methylphenidate (Ritalin), are prescribed for patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. In some cases, they are also used in patients who are struggling with obesity.

Side effects of stimulants include euphoria and an increased sense of alertness and energy. Also, patients using these medications may experience loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, agitation, and high body temperature. When taken in high doses, the drugs can cause organ failure and long-term changes to brain chemistry.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines have the opposite effect to stimulants: they block excess neurological activity and essentially slow things down in the brain and body. These drugs include alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan), and they are used to treat anxiety, seizures and insomnia. They are sometimes used to manage alcohol withdrawal, and as a pre-surgical medication to calm the patient.

The calming effects of benzodiazepines are exactly what makes this drug so addictive. Side effects include poor coordination, slurred speech, confusion and inability to concentrate, and dizziness. Higher doses can lead to a slowed heart rate, severe weakness, and difficulty breathing. Benzodiazepines are extremely dangerous when taken with alcohol.

Signs And Symptoms Of Prescription Drug Abuse

Anyone who is given a prescription for medication should take the time to learn how to recognize addiction to prescription drugs. They should do this before they start using the medication. With this knowledge, patients and their loved ones are in a better position to take action early if addiction develops.

Although common lore often says that addicts have to hit rock bottom before they can start to get better, this can be a dangerous position to take. For some people, “rock bottom” means permanent damage or loss of life. The sooner a person with addiction gets into a prescription drug addiction treatment program, the better the outcomes will be for them.

Some common signs of prescription drug addiction include the following:

  • You seek early prescription refills from your doctor or pharmacist, claiming that you have lost your prescription or medication
  • You forge prescriptions
  • You engage in “doctor shopping”: the practice of visiting more than one doctor in order to get additional prescriptions
  • You use medication that was prescribed for someone else, usually without their knowledge or consent
  • You take higher doses than prescribed, or you take additional doses
  • You use your medication for purposes other than those for which it was prescribed
  • If you run out of medication, you seek alternative “street” drugs
  • You lose the ability to make rational decisions
  • You experience excessive mood swings, which may come with displays of agitation or hostility
  • You sleep significantly more or less than you used to
  • You appear to be “high”, unusually energetic, or drowsy

Related article: Tips to Help You Prevent a Prescription Drug Addiction

How to Prevent Prescription Drug Addiction

How to Prevent Prescription Drug Addiction

Reading about the risk of prescription drug addiction can seem overwhelming if you are seeking treatment for a medical condition. 

While it is advisable to pause before starting use of these drugs, remember that there are some measures you can take to reduce your risk of becoming addicted.

These include the following:

  • Have a conversation with your doctor about the risks and effects of the medication
  • Ask your doctor about potential alternative treatments with a lower potential for addiction
  • Agree to a schedule of doctor visits for the monitoring purposes
  • Talk to your family about the medication you are taking, and provide them with information that would allow them to recognize when a problem might be arising
  • If you feel that you are at risk of becoming addicted, have a family member dispense your medication to you as prescribed
  • If you have been using the medication for some time, talk to your doctor about how to safely taper off and then discontinue use

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment

If you feel that you have become addicted to prescription drugs, it is imperative that you seek help as soon as possible. Prescription drug addiction treatment starts with medically supervised detox, which ensures your safety as you go through withdrawal.

Why Can’t I Detox On My Own?

Depending on which medication you are withdrawing from, you may experience some of the following withdrawal symptoms:

  • Difficulty sleeping in spite of fatigue
  • Vivid dreams and nightmares
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Paranoia, agitation and displays of aggressive behaviour
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramping
  • Sweating that may be accompanied by a fever
  • Muscle spasms, shakes and tremors
  • Cognitive difficulties, such as memory loss and an inability to concentrate
  • Suicidal thoughts and actions
  • High blood pressure and elevated heart rate
  • Restlessness
  • Headache and flu-like symptoms

These symptoms are uncomfortable and frightening at best, and at worst they can endanger your life. By choosing a prescription drug addiction treatment program that includes medical detox, symptoms can be managed as they arise, and you will not be in a position of seeking more drugs just to get away from the unpleasant effects of withdrawal.

What Happens After Detox?

At 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre, we provide top quality addiction treatment that is customized to the individual. You are unique, and your path to addiction does not look the same as anybody else’s. It stands to reason that your path back to recovery will be yours and yours alone. 

We will guide you through the process of delving into the root causes of your addiction. Furthermore, we will help you discover new ways of coping with the stresses of life without needing drugs. We will also help you have the conversations you need to with doctors, so you can find ways to manage the conditions you were originally using prescription drugs for. To get started, call us at 855-601-0555.

Related article: Why do People Get Addicted to Prescription Drugs

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Prescription Drugs Addiction

Prescription Painkiller

Prescription Painkiller

Canada is currently ranked 2nd for the world’s biggest consumers of pharmaceutical opioids. Despite the fact that the country is experiencing some of its worst numbers for opioid abuse and overdoses, the number of painkiller prescriptions continue to increase.

Ironically, another number that continues to increase is the number of therapies meant to treat dependency.

Prescription painkiller addiction in Canada is on the rise, and it’s not really a surprise—there were approximately 19 million prescriptions dispensed to Canadians in the year 2016. This number has increased from the year prior, when nearly 18.9 prescriptions were handed out.

Even as the country continues to struggle with addiction, painkiller prescriptions have climbed 6% in the last 5 years.

What is the problem?

Prescription painkiller use in Canada can be blamed by over prescribing, with far too many doctors abusing their powers. Patients continue to be sent away with more orders for painkillers, opening up brand new opportunities for painkiller abuse and addiction with each new client.

An increased number of deaths have occurred in the last few years, a result of both accessibility to these painkillers, as well as the introduction of the opioid known as fentanyl.

Although the provinces are more than aware of the growing issue, all provinces have failed to make changes to their prescription requirements. Not only are doctors sending away clients with unnecessary prescriptions, but they’re also helping the drug market to thrive.

Drugs such as Oxycodone and fentanyl are booming markets, both legally and illegally. Attempts to try and educate doctors on the dangers of overprescribing are falling on deaf ears; the easy solution is far too attractive than the alternatives.

Related article: Tips to Help You Prevent a Prescription Drug Addiction

Opioid Epidemic

Patients who were being treated with drugs for opioid addiction have grown exponentially in the last few years. In 2013, more than 40,000 Ontario citizens were prescribed drugs for their addiction. By 2016, the number had reached almost 60,000.

As doctors continue to carelessly prescribe these addictive drugs, more and more clients are becoming dependent on them. Instead of going to their doctor for more inventory, clients turn to the illegal drug trade to get fixes that are cheaper. As time goes on, clients require larger doses to maintain their high, which only helps to improve the success of the illegal drug trade further.

In an effort to reduce prescription painkiller use in Canada, the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their guidelines in 2016. The goal of the updated version was to educate doctors about the epidemic, and to urge them to consider drug-free methods for their clients before they turned to painkillers.

For some doctors who are newer to the profession, their struggle is with clients who have already been using prescription painkillers by means of their retired physicians. To counteract these clients, doctors are encouraged to avoid this tactic with new clients.

More than 2,800 Canadians died from prescription painkillers and fentanyl overdoses in 2016; that’s an average of eight deaths per day. British Columbia suffered the highest number of opioid-related deaths in 2016, while Ontario suffered the highest number of opioid-related hospitalizations.

Prescription painkiller use in Canada is a very serious problem; for those clients who have the option to obtain prescription painkillers, it is suggested that they request other options for treatment whenever possible. Contact 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre for addiction treatment programs.

Related article: Why do People Get Addicted to Prescription Drugs