Prescription drugs are usually potent medications that will have been prescribed explicitly to an individual who has been assessed by a medical professional. There are three kinds of prescriptions drugs that have been seen to be commonly abused, these drugs include:
- Stimulant – Used for treating disorders such as ADHD
- Opioids – used to relieve and treat pains throughout the body.
- Depressants – used to relived mental health issues such as anxiety. Depressants are also used to help an individual who may be suffering from insomnia.
Prescription drug abuse has become a rather sizeable public health problem throughout America, especially with young people. Many people associate drug misuse with illegal drugs or “street drugs,” however drug addiction with prescription medication has become far more common.
No matter the prescribed medication, there will always be side effects. On more occasions than not, prescription medication can have serious side effects on the individual if not monitored by a doctor. These side effects can include a severe addiction and a high possibility of death.
The top misused prescription drugs
Prescription drugs have rapidly become the ultimate quick fix in a variety of situations. From overwork and stressed students to individuals trying to manage their physical pain after an accident to individuals attempting to self-medicate their mental health disorders, prescription drug abuse is quickly increasing within the United States.
There are three commonly abused prescription drugs; the first is Opioids, which are steadily followed by Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants, and lastly, Stimulants. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services studies, the majority of Americans are blissfully unaware of the danger of providing prescription medications to someone who is not the intended patient.
Prescription opioids
Prescription opioids are a powerful painkiller and have quickly become the most misused drug within the United States. Opioids are a highly lethal prescripted drug that gets abused. According to research commenced by the CDC, the USA is currently in the middle of a prescription drug abuse epidemic. Many young adults who get involved with drugs often start with prescription medications because they view them as safe since a doctor prescribed them.
Opioids have the chemical properties to numb nearly all types of physical pains; however, individuals will, in addition, experience a sense of relaxed euphoria. This pleasurable sensation, combined with the nature of the addictive substance, can quickly trap you in a cycle of continuous drug abuse and addiction if you are not monitored by a medical professional.
Prescription stimulants
Stimulants are typically prescribed to treat individuals who suffer from mental health disorders such as ADHD and narcolepsy. Stimulants have been designed to:
- Increase attention
- Increase your energy levels
- Increase your alertness
This is achieved by increasing various chemicals within the brain, including dopamine, which is heavily linked to the brain’s pleasure center. Similar to the effects of opioids, stimulants are highly addictive medications that will have pleasurable and euphoric sensations on the brain.
Prescription depressants
Depressants are medicines that include, Hypnotics, Tranquilizers, Sedatives. These drugs will slow down an individuals brain, making them helpful in treating a range of mental health disorders such as:
- Anxiety
- Acute stress reactions
- Panic attacks
- Seizures
- Sleep disorders (insomnia)
- Certain other psychiatric and medical conditions
Prescription depressants cause an individual to feel relaxed, calm, and serene; all of these feelings can be highly addictive to individuals who suffer from severe mental health disorders.
What happens to your brain when you become addicted to prescription drugs?
The brain is an extremely exception part of the body; the brain’s neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, will send messages to the brain by attaching themselves to receptors on nearby cells. The reaction of these neurotransmitters and receptors causes the effects of prescription medication. While each class of prescription medication works slightly differently on the brain, it can cause similar reactions to highly illegal drugs:
Prescription depressants: This drug is used to make individuals feel relaxed and calm within their surroundings and themselves. This has the same type of manner as the “Club drugs: GHB and Rohypnol.
Prescription opioids: Opioids receptors are the same receptors that respond to heroin. These receptors will be found on the nearby nerve cells in various areas of the brain and body, very often in areas of the brain that involve the perception of pleasure and pain.
Prescription stimulant: This medication is known to have very similar effects on the body as cocaine. This is by causing a build-up of dopamine and norepinephrine around the brain.
Prescription drug addiction help
If you become addicted to prescription drugs, which can happen exceptionally quickly. The possibility of losing control of how often and how much of the medication you take rises significantly. Your addiction will rapidly worsen as time goes on, which will result in a detrimental impact on your:
- Mental health
- Physical health
- Quality of life
- Overall wellbeing
It is essential to understand that you are not alone or the only person who has dealt with this type of addiction. There is expert help, treatment, and therapy available. At Shoreline Sober Living, our prescription drug addiction teams are dedicated to providing comprehensive support, enabling you to reduce and eventually completely stop abusing prescription drugs and get back on the road to living a successful, addiction-free life.
Why choose a structured living program at Shoreline Sober Living?
The structured living program at Shoreline Sober Living has been shown to increase the chances of recovery due to the daily plan firmly kept in place for all residents. It enables individuals to reintegrate with everyday life while providing help and support with job seeking. The team at Shoreline Sober Living will encourage its residents to build relationships with peers and re-establish relationships with loved ones while abstaining from drugs. Shoreline has the experience and technologies to provide a solid foundation on your road to recovery.
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