Any individual who takes prescribed medication drugs that have not been prescribed for them by a health care provider or by any means that has not been endorsed by a physician is placing himself or herself in danger as this can possibly be fatal. Currently, doctor's prescription drugs fall among a couple of the best regularly abused drugs, consisting of methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Certain doctor's prescription drugs have a tendency to become addictive, particularly when in taken ways or dosages inconsistent with their prescribed. When one takes prescription drugs that have not prescribed to them by a specialist, doctor's prescription drug abuse also occurs, get more https://lighthousetreatment.com/orange-county-detox/.
Most doctor prescribed drugs continue being prescribed legitimately and they still result in the assets of people who aim to abuse them.
Any person at any age can abuse doctor prescribed drugs for reasons consisting of:
Feeding an addiction
To take drugs lawfully because some people think it is legal to take prescribed medication drugs without any prescribed medication
People take prescription drugs because they think it is safer than taking street drugs
Peer pressure to become accepted
For experimentation
Reduction of appetite
To alleviate tension or relax
To get high or feel good
Given the unforeseen rise in doctor prescribed substance abuse, which has taken a significant toll, much more people are likely going to hospital for doctor's prescription drug overdoses and even death.
Generally Abused Prescribed Medication Drugs
The biggest group of doctor prescribed drugs being abused involves:
a) Opioids i.e. painkillers
b) Stimulants
c) CNS (central peripheral nervous system) depressants i.e. sedatives and tranquilizers
Opioids
Opioids are mainly used to relieve pain. Health care providers have been prescribing opioid medications since the 1990s and these prescribeds have boosted significantly ever since. Opioids can be used to treat any kind of pain ranging from pain arising from medical procedures to pain created by injury. Examples of opioid analgesics consist of codeine, fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. When one takes an opioid, it works by attaching itself to the brain's opioid receptors or those in the spine. Once it is in place and prevents them from being broadcast via the nerves to the brain, the opioid then obstructs any pain messages. This helps to decrease the amount of pain being felt by the user.
As the person reinstitutes 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. Doctor 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 drugs following abuse, she or he discovers that it is difficult to stop using the drug because the withdrawal indicators are often painful. Most users thus continue taking doctor prescribed drugs as is the case with hard street drugs such as heroin, so they do not have to go through the withdrawal signs of opioid dependence. The indicators can occur almost as soon as one takes the last dose, which is ordinarily within a 24-hour period. Opioid withdrawal signs can consist of muscle pain, restless leg syndrome, vomiting, cold flashes, diarrhea, and restlessness just among others.
Stimulants
Amphetamines are involved in this group of prescription drugs. When they are taken in larger doses they create a euphoric feeling enjoyed by most people who engage in prescribed drug abuse. Stimulant users can also become addicted or dependent on these drugs and this can also create withdrawal indicators once one reduces or ceases drug use.
Depressants
Depressants are also regarded as sedatives or tranquilizers and they reduce brain activity when taken to provide remedy for anxiety or consider restful sleep when taken. Depressant drugs make one drowsy and calm with prescribed use. They can also generate a pleasurable and euphoric feeling when depressants are taken in higher doses than prescribed. Long-term use of depressant doctor's prescription drugs can create the user's body to develop a tolerance, after which dependence follows. Once you become dependent on depressant doctor's prescription drugs, there will be unpleasant withdrawal indicators if you try to reduce or stop using them. Apart from the dangers of withdrawal, it is very easy to overdose on certain prescribed depressants because there is a very small contrast between what is considered a safe dose and an overdose. There can be serious consequences to his or her health not to mention enhanced depressant use can trigger addiction and dependence if one reaches the overdose level, click here https://drugeducation.org/yestothetest/drug_education_prescription_drugs.html.
Risk of Doctor Prescribed Substance Abuse
It should also be noted that abuse of prescribed medication drugs is usually an indication of usage of other drugs. Research shows that people involved in doctor's prescription substance abuse have a higher likelihood of using other drugs compared to people using illegal drugs mainly. Older patients are also at a higher risk for developing an addiction to prescribed drugs mainly because they are often prescribed a large amount of drugs for long-term usage. When combined with cognitive concerns, this can affect one's short-term memory of the amount of prescribed drugs one has taken.
Addiction to Prescribed Drugs
Prescribed drug addiction is mainly identified by the user's uncontrollable need to obtain extra amounts of the drug. Medical doctors are the main source of prescribed drugs and thus users who are addicted will find ways to search for specialists who will give them their desired prescribed medication drugs. This is can render it difficult for health care providers when treating patients and making diagnoses, as they have to discern between patients who are genuinely looking for medication and those attempting to get to doctor's prescription drugs. Additionally, if the user has a real condition, then this can complicate things even further.
It is thought that because extra drugs are readily available to people, it makes it easier to fall into drug abuse. Medical professionals are also reporting a boost in doctor's prescriptions for patients, which consists of prescribeds for the above-mentioned frequently abused drugs. Most of these teenagers do not know anything about the effects of the doctor prescribed drugs they are abusing and the dangers of mixing them with other drugs.
Often these prescribed medication 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 prescribed 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 doctor prescribed medication with alcohol adding to the fact that they normally have to take more than one of such medications.
Trends in Prescribed Medication Drug Use Among Different Age Groups
Seniors and the elderly are at a high risk for abusing prescription drugs by unintentionally or intentionally taking unnecessary medications or a lot of medication. Additionally, a significant amount of these older adults use over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements, which they combine with alcohol at times. This can boost their potential for cognitive impairment and harmful drug interactions.
There has been a steady rise in prescribed medication drug misuse among teens and adolescents especially with steroids, stimulants, anti-anxiety medication, and pain relievers. With the increase in the variety of prepared prescriptions currently, these drugs are more easily available. Abusers in this generation mistakenly think that because specialists prescribe these drugs, they are safer for use compared to street drugs. The risk of accidental overdose has increased significantly because of the possible combination of these doctor prescribed drugs with alcohol, check this out https://lighthousetreatment.com/alcohol-rehab-orange-county/.