Currently, prescribed drugs fall among some of the most regularly abused drugs, including things like methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Doctor prescribed drug abuse also occurs when one takes prescribed drugs that have not prescribed to them by a medical doctor, get more related topics here https://lighthousetreatment.com/drug-rehab-orange-county/.
Most prescription drugs return to being prescribed legitimately and they still turn out in the ownership of people who want to abuse them.
Any individual at any age can abuse doctor's prescription drugs for reasons consisting of:
- Feeding an addiction
- To take drugs legitimately because some people think it is legal to take doctor's prescription drugs without any doctor prescribed
- People take doctor's prescription drugs because they think it is safer than taking street drugs
- Peer pressure to become accepted
- For experimentation
- Reduction of appetite
- To ease tension or relax
- To get high or feel good
Given the sudden increase in prescription drug use, which has taken a significant toll, more people are mosting likely to hospital for prescribed medication drug overdoses or even death.
Generally Abused Doctor's Prescription Drugs
The biggest group of doctor prescribed drugs being abused includes:
a) Opioids i.e. painkillers
b) Stimulants
c) CNS (central peripheral nervous system) depressants i.e. sedatives and tranquilizers
Opioids
Physicians have been prescribing opioid medications since the 1990s and these prescribed medications have improved significantly since then. Opioids can be used to treat any kind of pain varying from pain resulting from medical procedures to pain created by injury. When one takes an opioid, it works by fastening itself to the brain's opioid receptors or those in the spinal column.
As the person returns to taking the opioid drug to experience a euphoric feeling, the body starts establishing tolerance to the said drug, which in turn reduces the effect of the dosage one takes. Dependence on a specific prescribed drug does not have a timeline as it can escalate quickly once the user starts using the drug beyond casual indulgence. Prescribed drug abuse differs slightly from dependence because once a user is addicted he or she feels the compulsive need to seek the drug for use.
After one becomes dependent on prescribed medication drugs following abuse, he or she discovers that it is difficult to stop using the drug because the withdrawal symptoms are often painful. Most users thus continue taking prescribed medication drugs as is the case with hard street drugs such as heroin, so they do not have to go through the withdrawal manifestations of opioid dependence, related news https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-medicare-prescription-drugs-20181126-story.html.
Stimulants
Amphetamines are involved in this group of prescribed drugs. When they are taken in larger doses they create a euphoric feeling enjoyed by most people who engage in doctor prescribed drug abuse. Stimulant users can also become addicted or dependent on these drugs and this can also cause withdrawal signs once one reduces or ceases drug use.
Depressants
Depressants are also referred to as sedatives or tranquilizers and they reduce brain activity when taken to provide acquittal anxiety or enable restful sleep when taken. Depressant drugs make one drowsy and calm with prescribed use. When depressants are taken in higher doses than prescribed, they can also produce a pleasurable and euphoric feeling. Long-term use of depressant doctor's prescription drugs can induce the user's body to develop a tolerance, after which dependence follows. There will be unpleasant withdrawal signs if you try to reduce or stop using them once you become dependent on depressant prescribed drugs. Besides the dangers of withdrawal, it is very easy to overdose on certain prescribed depressants because there is a very small variation between what is considered a safe dose and an overdose. If one reaches the overdose level, there can be serious consequences to his/her health as well as enhanced depressant use can induce addiction and dependence.
Risk of Prescribed Medication Drug Abuse
It should also be noted that abuse of doctor's prescription drugs is commonly an indication of usage of other drugs. Research shows that people involved in prescribed substance abuse have a higher likelihood of using other drugs compared to people using illegal drugs mainly. Because they are often prescribed a large amount of drugs for long-term usage, older patients are also at a higher risk for developing an addiction to prescribed medication drugs mainly. When combined with cognitive difficulties, this can affect one's short-term memory of the amount of prescribed drugs one has taken.
Addiction to Prescribed Drugs
Doctor prescribed drug addiction is mainly identified by the user's uncontrollable need to obtain extra amounts of the drug. Health professionals are the main source of prescribed medication drugs and thus users who are addicted will find ways to look for health professionals who will give them their desired prescribed drugs.
It is thought that because extra drugs are readily available to people, it makes it easier to fall into drug abuse. Specialists are also reporting a surge in doctors prescribed for patients, which includes things like doctor's prescriptions for the above-mentioned frequently abused drugs. Most of these teenagers do not know anything about the effects of the prescribed medication drugs they are abusing and the dangers of mixing them with other drugs.
Often these doctor's prescription drugs are mixed with alcohol and this can result in side effects such as loss of coordination, fainting, drowsiness, headaches, vomiting, and nausea. Aside from these dangers, alcohol also renders doctor's prescription drugs ineffective if not less effective or it can make the drugs harmful or toxic to the body. Older people also have a higher tendency to take prescription medication with alcohol adding to the fact that they ordinarily have to take much more than one of such medications.
Trends in Doctor Prescribed Drug Use Among Different Generation
Seniors and the elderly are at a high risk for abusing doctor prescribed drugs by unintentionally or intentionally taking unnecessary medications or far too much medication. Additionally, a significant quantity of these older adults use dietary supplements and over-the-counter medicines, which they combine with alcohol sometimes. This can raise their potential for cognitive impairment and harmful drug interactions.
Abusers in this age group mistakenly think that because doctors prescribe these drugs, they are safer for use compared to street drugs. The risk of accidental overdose has boosted significantly due to the possible combination of these prescribed medication drugs with alcohol, get more information here https://lighthousetreatment.com/what-is-doctor-shopping/.
