People trust the safety of the medications that are prescribed to them — and for good reason. When used as directed, prescription drugs can help relieve the physical and emotional symptoms that threaten to diminish their quality of life. However, rehabs in CT see many clients in need of addiction treatment after misusing their prescriptions.
What Is Prescription Drug Abuse?
Misusing or abusing prescription medication means taking larger or more frequent doses than a healthcare professional prescribed.1 Taking someone else’s prescription medication, even if you are diagnosed with the same condition, is also considered abuse. Purposefully combining medications with alcohol or other substances to amplify that medication’s effects is a form of abuse.
Prescription drug abuse affects people of all age groups, incomes, and backgrounds. It may seem that misusing medications is “safe” because a doctor prescribed them, but it can lead to substance use disorders and other health issues the same way using illicit drugs can.
Most Commonly Abused Prescription Medications
According to the National Institutes of Health, three classes of prescription drugs are the most commonly misused.2 Those classes are opioids, depressants such as benzodiazepines, and stimulants like ADHD medications.
Opioids
Opioids are pain-relieving drugs that block pain messages from the brain and increase feelings of pleasure.3 Examples of prescription opioids include:
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
- Codeine
- Methadone
- Fentanyl
- Hydrocodone
Opioids are generally prescribed for pain but may also be recommended for patients with chronic diarrhea or severe coughing. As demonstrated by the opioid epidemic that swept over the U.S. in recent years, opioids are one of the most highly abused drug classifications.
Depressants
Depressants are drugs that relieve anxiety, treat seizure disorders, and help people sleep.4 They may also be prescribed for the relief of muscle spasms. Examples include:
- Benzodiazepines
- Sleep medications such as Ambien
- Phenobarbital
- Diazepam
- Clonazepam
- Alprazolam
Depressants increase the activity of the neurotransmitter known as GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid), reducing brain activity. Increased GABA production produces a sense of calm and relaxation.
Stimulants
Prescription stimulants are often prescribed for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This class of drugs is also called central nervous system (CNS) medications. Prescription stimulants include:
- Amphetamine
- Dextroamphetamine
- Lisdexamfetamine
- Methamphetamine
- Methylphenidate
Stimulants increase the amounts of norepinephrine and dopamine to increase focus and fight the fatigue associated with ADHD.
Signs and Symptoms of Prescription Drug Misuse
The exact symptoms of abusing prescription medications depend on which medication a person is abusing. For example, the effects of misusing ADHD drugs are much different from the effects of misusing benzodiazepines. However, general symptoms help rehabs in CT decide whether a person needs treatment services.
Signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse can include:5
- Requesting early refills
- Often “losing” their medication
- Accusing others of stealing their medication
- Being drowsy or over-energetic much of the time
- Poor decision-making
- Changes in sleep habits
- Mood swings, hostility
- Stealing prescription medications from others
- Selling or trading medications
People can develop substance use disorders slowly without realizing they have become addicted. Treatment programs for prescription medication addiction are specifically designed to help people who need medication for legitimate medical reasons. Non-addictive alternatives to pain and mental health management are an essential part of prescription drug rehab programs.
The Risks of Prescription Drug Abuse
The abuse of prescription drugs can have both short- and long-term effects on a person’s health. Effects vary depending on the individual, the type of medication they are abusing, and how long they have been abusing it. For example, abusing benzodiazepines even once could cause a person to fall asleep while driving. Long-term abuse could lead to memory loss, falls, and cognitive decline.6
Other risks of prescription drug abuse include:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Stroke
- Respiratory disease
- Mental health disorders
- Increased risk of some cancers
- Hepatitis B and C
- HIV/AIDS
- Addiction
- Fatal overdose
The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics reports that nearly 98,000 people die from drug overdose each year, and 1 million lives have been lost to overdose since 1999.7 This number includes deaths caused by prescription drug abuse. Treatment programs such as rehabs in CT play a significant role in preventing drug-related deaths and helping individuals reclaim their lives after addiction.
How Can Treatment Facilities Help?
Treatment centers provide comprehensive, evidence-based therapies to help those struggling with addiction to prescription medications. Providing treatment for the whole person is key. Those with chronic pain, ADHD, or mental health disorders must be provided with adequate alternative treatments to be successful.
Depending on an individual’s needs, therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and group and individual counseling may be included in their treatment plan. Short-term treatment lasting up to six weeks is an intense program providing a high level of care.
Those who have experienced relapse before and those with severe or long-term addiction issues may opt for a long-term outpatient program. Long-term programs can focus more on relapse prevention and other individualized therapies.
A rehab center can also provide the specialized care needed to safely detox from prescription medications without excessive pain or adverse health reactions.
Looking for Rehabs in CT? Contact the Connecticut Center for Recovery
Prescription drug abuse is defined as using prescribed medication in ways it was not recommended. That can include using larger or more frequent doses or mixing the medication with other substances. Opioids, depressants, and stimulants are the most commonly abused medications, and all three can cause dangerous side effects, including death.
If someone you know frequently complains about losing or being “short” on their prescription medications, they may be abusing them. Other signs include mood swings, changes in sleep patterns, and selling or trading their medications.
Rehabs in CT can help. Contact the Connecticut Center for Recovery if you or someone you care about is showing signs of drug abuse. Our drug rehab center provides a compassionate, non-judgmental approach to recovery with evidence-based therapies.
Sources:
[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/symptoms-causes/syc-20376813
[2] https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/overview
[3] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/expert-answers/what-are-opioids/faq-20381270
[4] https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/Depressants-2020.pdf
[5] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/symptoms-causes/syc-20376813
[6] https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/treatments/mental-health-medications/risks-of-benzodiazepines/
[7] https://drugabusestatistics.org/drug-overdose-deaths/
Alexis earned both a B.S. in Psychology and a B.S. in Family and Child Sciences from Florida State University and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. She holds licenses in Marriage and Family Therapy in Florida, Connecticut, and Massachusetts and is also a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).
Alexis works with families, couples, children, and groups and also has a sub-specialty in addiction and recovery. She utilizes an integrated, systemic approach to counseling; empowering people to define what is not working for them in their lives and to discover the possibilities for making life work. In doing this, clients are guided towards identifying their strengths, accessing their resources, tapping into their potential for success, and taking action toward achieving their desired goals.
Alexis also has extensive experience in the administration of behavioral health organizations. She has developed, built, and supervised several facilities encompassing all levels of care while leading them through state licensing and The Joint Commission accreditation process.
