Prescription Drug Addiction

The most popular prescription drugs of abuse are pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives. The most common categories of prescription drugs that can lead to prescription drug addiction are:

• Opioids, which are prescribed to treat pain, most commonly known as narcotic painkillers.  Some examples of these prescription drugs are morphine, codeine and oxycodone
• Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants, such as sedatives and tranquilizers, prescribed for sleeping disorders and anxiety disorders.  Some examples of these prescription drugs are Mebaral, Xanax, and Valium.
• Stimulants, prescribed for ADHD and narcolepsy.  Some examples of these prescription drugs are Dexedrine, Adderall and Ritalin.

The Growing Population of Prescription Drug Addicts

Prescription drugs are used in a non-medical capacity, or abused, by 20 percent of Americans.  Abuse of prescription drugs is simply defined as using prescription drugs that were not prescribed for the individual by a physician; or medications that were used only for the experience of using the prescription drugs. With 48 million people abusing prescription drugs, the medical community is taking note.  Theories to the rise of abuse are that more drugs are being prescribed than ever before, and many are gaining easy access with online pharmacies. Senior prescription drug addiction is a growing trend. This population is among those most vulnerable to prescription drug abuse or misuse because they tend to be prescribed more medications than younger people. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that youth who use other drugs are more likely to abuse prescription drugs.  Some people experiment with prescription drugs and find them easier to obtain than street drugs, gaining access to them from their own household or from friends and family members. Like all drug abuse, using prescription drugs for the wrong reasons has serious risks for a person's health.

Withdrawal from prescription drug addiction can be dangerous when it's not monitored. The addiction treatment services at Lakeview Health Systems can provide safe medically managed drug detox and clinical therapy and counseling in order to treat the body, mind and spirit of every individual patient.  Recovery from prescription drug addiction is possible. Call us 24/7 toll-free at 1-800-884-1727 for more information on effective prescription drug addiction treatment at our licensed and accredited facility.  All calls are strictly confidential.