Prescription drug addiction is defined as the use of prescription medication in a way not intended by the prescribing physician.

More About Prescription Drugs

Learn More About Prescription Drugs

This type of behavior can include taking another person’s prescription medication or crushing and injecting pills as a means to get high. Individuals who are addicted to prescription medications will continue to abuse these drugs even if they’re causing a number of negative consequences. The most common types of drugs abused include prescription painkillers, CNS depressants, and stimulants. Since these drugs are prescribed by a physician and regulated by the FDA, many people mistakenly assume that they are safe. This is not the case – prescription drugs act the same way as illegal drugs do and can lead to very serious consequences. With early identification of prescription drug abuse and early intervention, treatment professionals may be able to prevent this type of behavior from turning into an addiction.

Statistics

Statistics on Prescription Drug Addiction

In 2010, about 7 million people (or 2.7% of the United States population) were current users of psychotherapeutic drugs used for non-medical purposes.

What Causes Prescription Drug Use?

Learn About the Causes and Risk Factors for Prescription Drug Addiction

Most researchers believe that addiction is caused by a number of risk factors working together to create addiction to prescription drugs. The most commonly cited causes for prescription drug abuse include:

Genetic: People who have first-degree relatives, such as a parent or sibling, who struggle with addiction are at a greater risk for developing an addiction as opposed to people who do not have a similar history.

Physical: People who struggle with chronic health conditions, such as pain-related conditions, or mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorders, are at greater risk for developing addiction to prescription drugs. These individuals may begin using medications in order to help with the pain they are experiencing or to control symptoms of other disorders only to come to rely on them to get through the day.

Environmental: Environmental stressors can have a huge impact in the development of addiction. People who began to abuse drugs and alcohol early in their youth are at greater risk for developing an addiction later in life. Additionally, having a peer group or circle of friends who abuse drugs may influence someone to abuse prescription medication.

Risk Factors:

Addiction to other substances
Lower socioeconomic status
Younger age – between the teen years and early 20s
Presence of mental health disorders
Easy access to prescription drugs
Lack of knowledge about prescription drugs

Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction

Signs and Symptoms of Prescription Drug Addiction

The symptoms of prescription drug abuse will vary based upon the type of drug abused, individual genetic makeup, frequency of use, amount of drug used, and length of use. The most common symptoms of prescription drug abuse include:

Prescription Painkiller Abuse Symptoms:

Mood swings
Confusion
Drowsiness
Constipation
Hypotension
Depression
Impaired coordination

Sedatives and Anti-Anxiety Agent Abuse:

Poor judgment
Nystagmus – involuntary, rapid movement of eyeball
Dizziness
Drowsiness
Confusion
Unsteady gait

Stimulant Abuse:

Hypertension
Cardiac arrhythmias
Restlessness
Weight loss
Agitation
Irritability
Insomnia
Impulsive behaviors

Other Symptoms:

Drug-seeking behavior
Continuing use against medical advice
Taking higher doses than prescribed more often than intended
Lying to others about drug use
Stashing drug in various places around home, work, and car
Withdrawing socially
Inability to fulfill responsibilities at work, school, or home
Withdrawing from once-enjoyed activities
Seeking prescriptions from more than one doctor
Appearing unusually high, intoxicated, or amped up
Poor decision making
Sudden changes in behavior
May borrow or steal from others
Frequent doctor visits

Effects of Prescription Drugs

The Effects of Prescription Drug Addiction

Prolonged abuse of prescription drugs can lead to a wide range of unpleasant complications that can destroy an individual’s life. The effects are most notable when people abuse several drugs at once. The most common long-term complications of prescription drug abuse include:

Prescription Painkiller Effects:

Increased risk of aspiration and choking
Hypotension
Slowed respiration rate
Respiratory depression
Respiratory arrest
Coma

Anxiolytic Effects:

Loss of normal coping abilities
Impaired memory
Needing more medication to achieve the same effects
Hypotension

Stimulant Effects:

Hypertension
Seizures
Tremors
Dangerous hyperthermia
Cardiovascular complications
Hallucinations
Aggressiveness
Paranoia

Other Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse:

Poverty
Worsening mental health
Addiction
Incarceration
Decline in work performance or job loss
Homelessness
Organ system damage and failure
Seizures
Self-harming behaviors
Coma
Suicidal ideation
Death

Withdrawal & Overdose

Learn What Happens During Prescription Withdrawal & Overdose

Overdose: When abusing prescription drugs, there is always the chance of an overdose. Many individuals who abuse these substances often use multiple drugs at once and may combine it with alcohol to increase the feelings of happiness and reduce unpleasant side effects. This can very easily lead to overdose. If you suspect someone you love is experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately. Common symptoms of overdose on prescription medications include:

Prescription Painkiller Overdose Symptoms:

Awake but unable to talk
Vomiting
Loss of consciousness
Respiratory depression
Respiratory collapse
Limp body
Pale, clammy skin
Cyanosis
Slow, erratic heart beat
Choking sounds
Coma
Death

Anxiolytic Overdose Symptoms:

Confusion
Stupor
Nystagmus
Falling
Seizures
Coma
Death

Stimulant Overdose Symptoms:

Tachycardia
Large pupils
Seizures
Muscle cramping
Rapid respiration rate
Chest pain
Dizziness
Coma

Withdrawal: When a person becomes physically dependent upon a prescription drug, they will experience a number of withdrawal symptoms when the drug is abruptly discontinued. The most common symptoms of withdrawal include:

Prescription Painkiller Withdrawal: