Why These Prescription Drugs Are Highly Addictive
Addiction is a recurrent disease that impacts the mind with the desire to engage in compulsive behaviors that are unhealthy. Millions of people report needing treatment for drug or alcohol problems, yet only a small percentage get the help they need. Prescription drug abuse is on the rise. Find out what prescription drugs are being used and why they are addictive.
Addictive Properties
Certain medications are addictive by nature. Tylenol is not a psychically addictive medication. The base ingredient, acetaminophen, has no properties that allow for dependency to grow. Once this dependency develops, the person feels he cannot function without the substance. Withdrawal symptoms set in that make going without the substance unbearable. Some withdrawal symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Diarrhea
- Drug craving
- Coma
- Mood swings
Aside from withdrawal, dependency on drugs can be suspected if the following signs are present:
- Doctor shopping
- Tolerance to medication that leads to need for larger dose of the drug
- Decreased contact and interaction with friends and family
Purpose
Prescription drugs are rapidly growing in popularity among the drug abuse community. While hard substances like heroin and cocaine may pose serious threats to health, the average person is actually less likely to encounter substances in their lifetime than prescription drugs. Many prescription drugs are habitually used for medical reasons but begin to be abused.
Some of the drugs most abused for the purposes of getting high include:
- Opioid pain relievers
- Benzodiazepines
- Stimulants
- Barbiturates
Among opioid painkillers, drugs like oxycodone, Demerol, and codeine are popularly prescribed and are addictive. Xanax and Klonopin fit the bill and are among stimulants that remain addictive. Benzos come in as another addictive drug with millions of people using them. Of all barbiturates, sleeping pills are the most commonly prescribed, totaling nearly 20 million scripts being written. Some alternatives to addictive medicine include acupuncture, exercise, yoga, meditation, and diet changes.
The Palmetto Center is based on a Therapeutic Community model. We help people learn how to live free of addiction. Our community support provides structure while trained counselors offer life skills training and therapeutic techniques to help you move past addiction. Our program provides special focus for professionals including chiropractors, nurses, doctors, lawyers, and more who need help with addiction recovery. Call us to find out more: 866-848-3001.