What Do You Know About Prescription Drug Abuse?
Prescription medications can successfully and safely treat mental and physical illnesses. But some medications can be addictive and many can be abused. Being aware of these potential harms can help you prevent them. Learn more about prescription drug abuse by taking this quiz, based on information from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
1. People of any age, income, education level, and gender can abuse prescription drugs.
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In 2010, the latest statistics available, about 2.4 million Americans had used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons for the first time. About a third of them were teens ages 12 to 17. The NIDA says that adults 18 to 25 are the age group most likely to abuse prescription drugs. But older adults are at higher risk for misuse of prescription drugs because they take more medications than younger people.
2. If you continue to refill a prescription for a painkiller after the medical condition for which it was prescribed has been cured, you could be addicted.
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Strong painkillers are prescribed for moderate to severe pain that is present day in and day out. Over time, a strong painkiller can lead to a physical dependence, which means that your body has become used to the presence of the drug and will develop symptoms of withdrawal if the drug is suddenly stopped. Physical dependence can develop for certain medications when used over a long period of time even when they are used appropriately. If dependence occurs, the medication can be stopped gradually, by slowly decreasing the dose. Addiction, however, refers to a compulsive craving for the medication or drug. People who are addicted can’t quit without help.
3. Most people who take prescription pain medications become addicted or physically dependent on them.
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Most people don’t become addicted to a medication while they’re using it for a legitimate purpose and taking it as directed. To help prevent problems, you should never stop taking or change how you’re taking a medication without first talking with your doctor. Don’t use another person’s prescription. When your doctor prescribes a new medication, make sure that he or she knows about all other medicines, herbs, and dietary supplements you take.
4. Medications that most commonly lead to overuse and addiction are those that affect mood or behavior by changing the brain’s chemistry.
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The NIDA says that the most commonly abused prescription drugs fall into these three types:
- Opioids, which are painkillers like oxycodone, morphine, and hydrocodone
- Central nervous system depressants, which are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders
- Stimulants, which are often prescribed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
5. Addiction to prescription drugs usually builds gradually.
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Once addiction occurs, however, it can be as deadly as addiction to certain street drugs. For instance, people who abuse oxycodone, sold as OxyContin, may snort or inject it, greatly boosting their risk for overdose and other medical complications.
6. The following behavior may signal abuse: hiding the fact you're still taking a medication after an illness has been cured.
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Another sign is trying to get two different doctors to give you prescriptions for the same medication at the same time. Yet another is switching pharmacies to make it harder for professionals to track how much of the drug you're getting.
7. In addition to taking medication, people dealing with chronic pain should work with their doctors to develop other ways to ease their discomfort.
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About 116 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, and their doctors struggle with how to provide pain relief without the risk for dependence or addiction. Alternatives to pain medication vary in how well they work, but range from relaxation and meditation or acupuncture and massage.
8. Many people who abuse prescription drugs also abuse alcohol and illegal drugs.
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The combinations can be fatal, particularly with medications such as opioids and central nervous system depressants like barbiturates and benzodiazepines.
9. Most people addicted to prescription drugs can kick the habit on their own.
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Work with your doctor, a substance-abuse counselor, or a mental health professional, any of whom can see you through safely. Treatment may include a combination of detoxification, counseling, and other medications.
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