When people think of drug addiction, they most often tend to think of drug users living in dingy alleyways or purchasing illegal narcotics on the streets. However, the reality is that large numbers of people get addicted to prescription drugs as well.
In fact, in the United States, many of the most endangered drug addicts were actually first introduced to drugs by their physicians. In this article, we’re going to talk about how people can end up getting addicted to prescription drugs.
What? Prescription Drugs Are Addictive?
That’s right – drugs are drugs.
In fact, a large number of psychoactive prescription drugs are the same drugs that are sold on the street. The main difference is that they’re produced in pharmaceutical-grade laboratories, and are thus less likely to contain impurities.
That does not, however, mean that they’re safe.
Prescription drugs are just as likely to cause addiction and withdrawal as other drugs. And, unfortunately, many doctors aren’t fully aware of the dangers of prescription drugs that they prescribe.
This leads to huge numbers of people every year becoming addicted to prescription drugs. There have been innumerable cases where someone becomes addicted to drugs prescribed by their physician. Once their prescription runs out, they are faced with difficult withdrawal symptoms that they are unsure of how to cope with.
Without being given proper education, they are unsure how to manage their withdrawal symptoms and end up going to score drugs off of the street.
What Is Prescription Drug Addiction Like?
Prescription drug addiction is similar to any form of drug addiction. You start taking the drugs because they help you overcome some problem, be it a mental health issue or a physical problem.
After a number of weeks or months, your tolerance to the drug begins to increase. You have to start taking larger doses of your drugs to achieve the same effects. This is usually around the time that you’re actually becoming addicted to the drugs.
However, since you’re drugs prescribed by a physician, you probably won’t know that you’re addicted. This is because you’ll have a steady supply of drugs as long as you’re able to pick up your prescription on time. Most street addicts recognize their addictions relatively early on because once they run out, they find themselves experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Unfortunately, many prescription drug users don’t realize that they’re addicted until they decide to try and stop using their drugs.
Prescription Drug Withdrawal
Prescription drug withdrawal can affect people the same way that illicit drug withdrawal. You may experience symptoms like sweating, shaking, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, or delusions when you stop taking your medication.
Make sure that your doctor gradually reduces the dosage of your prescription medication when you decide to stop taking them. This will reduce the severity of withdrawal.
Conclusion
If you’re worried that you might be addicted to prescription drugs, don’t hesitate to seek treatment at the San Diego drug treatment center.
