Be aware about Prescription Drug Abuse!

Why Do Some People Abuse Prescription Drugs?

There are certain people who tend to abuse prescription drugs for various reasons. There are those who abuse them because they think the drugs will make them study more effectively, there are those who think that drugs will make them lose weight or stay fit and there are also people who think that prescription drugs will help them in having more fun. In some cases, prescription drugs can be obtained much more easily than street drugs because friends or family members may have them simply because they use them for the treatment of some medical condition. Sometimes certain prescription drugs can be purchased on the street like any other type of illegal drugs. There are a large number of people who tend to believe that prescription drugs are much less addictive and safer than illegal drugs. This could not be further from the truth as prescription drugs can be considered safe only by those who actually got the prescription from a professional healthcare provider. There are also people who tend to abuse prescription drugs because they think that by not doing anything illegal they are completely safe from harm. Taking prescription drugs without a prescription is actually illegal and it means breaking certainlaws.

Statistical Data

According to certain statistical data, prescription drug abuse is constantly on the rise, which is not good news. These drugs are at the second place on the list of most commonly abused category of drugs, right below marijuana. There are almost 20 percent of citizens of the United States who use prescription drugs for various different types of non medical purposes. One of the biggest problems associated with prescription drug abuse is steroid abuse. This type of abuse is reported in men much more than in women. Almost half of all cases of hospital emergency admissions for drug overdoses take place because people abuse prescription drugs. Over the years, various different types of prescription drugs have grown gradually available from various alternative sources. In general, prescription drug abuse is pretty much the same in both men and women.

List of Drugs Which Are Abused

There are a large number of prescription drugs which are commonly abused by a significant number of people but they can easily be divided into three distinct categories. Stimulants are one of those categories. These medications are known for increasing the activity of the brain which leads to greater energy, attention and alertness. They are commonly used for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy. The most commonly abused stimulants include amphetamines and methylophenidate. The second category of abused prescription drugs are medicaments commonly referred to as central nervous system depressants. These medications are known for slowing down the activity of the brain and providing a rather calming and drowsy effect on those who abuse them. These medications are commonly used for the treatment of various different types of sleep disorders, panic attacks, tension and anxiety. The most commonly abused types of central nervous system depressants include alprazolam, diazepam and pentobarbital sodium. The third category of commonly abused prescription drugs are opioids. They are known for attaching to certain types of receptors in the brain and the spinal cord so that they could prevent the brain from receiving any pain messages. These medicaments are commonly used for the treatment of diarrhea, cough and various sorts of painful sensations. The most common opioids include meperidine, hydrocodone and oxycodone. There are also people who abuse and become addicted to a large number of different types of over the counter medications. These addictions may often be associated with numerous sorts of side effects such as hallucinations, numbness, stomach pain and confusion. Use of all different types of prescription drugs may be associated with various sorts of side effects characterized by different stages of severity. Some of them may even lead to death. The risk of any side effects is much greater when the drug gets mixed with other drugs or alcohol. The biggest problem associated with prescription drug abuse is addiction. Addiction can be recognized by numerous different signs such as changes in interests, changes in weight, changes in mood and the need to take the particular drug. The good news is that most types of prescription drugs can be treated by certain treatment methods.

Tips for Taking Prescription Medication

All prescription medications need to be taken according to the guidelines provided by the professional healthcare provider. All the directions always need to be followed closely. All the doctor’s appointments need to be kept. It may also be wise to take notes of all the effects the particular drug has and inform the doctor about them. All the guidelines given by a pharmacist also need to be taken into consideration. One should never change the dose of the medication without consulting the doctor first.