Prescription Drug Abuse

Prescription drug abuse has become the biggest drug abuse problem in the nation, and is also the least understood. Prescription drugs are the second most commonly abused type of drug, behind marijuana and ahead of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and other drugs. Individuals who abuse prescription drugs often do not realize that taking pharmaceuticals without a prescription or under doctor's supervision can be just as dangerous as taking illicit drugs or alcohol. Abusing painkillers for instance is like abusing heroin as the content is chemically very similar.

Prescription medications are powerful substances that can have powerful effects and side effects. While legitimate ailments can be treated with prescription drugs with very little or no ill effects, prescription medication can have a very different impact on a well person who abuses them. Additionally, mixing prescription drugs with other illegal drugs or prescription drugs can cause dangerous chemical interactions in the body.

Most individuals use prescription drugs responsibly, but an estimated 9 million Americans used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in 1999, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Misuse of prescription drugs often occurs for recreational effects and to get high, to have fun, to get a lift, or to calm down. Prescription drug abuse however is no different from recreational drug addiction, alcoholism or an addiction to any other substance.

The two types of prescription drugs which are most commonly abused are opioids and benzodiazepines. Opioids are generally prescribed to control or relieve mile, moderate and severe pain. Benzodiazepines, or tranquilizers, are used to treat and manage anxiety. These prescription drugs are typically used on a short-term basis to treat acute pain and anxiety, and are not normally recommended for long-term use.

There seems to be a common misconception, especially among younger people involved in prescription drug abuse, that these drugs are safer than illegal street drugs. This can be a problem because most adults don't lock up their prescription medications, nor do they discard them when they are no longer needed for their intended use. This makes these powerful prescription drugs available theft or misuse. According to a recent survey, 12 percent of 12th graders used prescription pain medications to get high in the past 30 days. The same survey showed that alarming number of younger kids experiment with these drugs. The Office of National Drug Control Policy reports that nearly 50 percent of teens get prescription drugs from their friends for free, 10 percent buy them from their friends and another 10 percent take them from friends without asking.

Years of research have shown that addiction to illegal drugs and addiction to prescription drugs are the same when it comes to treatment and recovery. A drug rehab that handles prescription drug abuse can help individuals achieve lasting abstinence from prescription drug use. The goal of a drug rehab is to help the individual through detox and withdrawal from prescription drugs and to help them with the psychological and emotional aspects of addiction. This type of prescription drug treatment is available to anyone struggling with prescription drug abuse.