Prescription Drug Addiction
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Prescription drug addiction is THE addiction
for the new milleneum. Prescription drug addiction, while
not new, has gained favor among many classes of people who
deny having a problem since their medication was "prescribed
by a doctor." While prescription drug addiction may not
be new, the numbers are. According to the National Institute
of Drug Abuse (NIDA), upwards of 20 million people have used
prescription medication for non-medical uses. Prescription
drug abuse often leads to to full-blown addiction.
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Prescription drug addiction is centered on three types of drugs:
opioids, Central Nervous System (CNS) depressants and stimulants.
Opioids are most often prescribed to treat many varieties and causes
of pain. CNS depressants are prescribed for anxiety and sleep disorders.
Stimulants are typical prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), obesity and narcolepsy sleep disorder.
Opioids
Prescription drug addiction to opioids (narcotics) is a serious
matter and radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh found out. His prescription
drug addiction was to a medication called OxyContin for pain relief.
Other brands of narcotics include: Morpheine, Codeine, Darvon, Vicodin,
Dilaudid and Demerol.
Symptoms of withdrawal from narcotics are legendary since they
can present the most dramatic of the withdrawal symptoms. Vomiting,
uncontrollable shaking, sweating, hot and cold flashes and diarrhea
can occur.
CNS Depressants
Barbiturates (barb, barbies) and benzodiazepines are the
two most common CNS depressants used in medicine found in
prescription drug addiction cases. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines
slow brain functions and produce a calming or sleepy effect.
For many years its been known that some addicts will use speed
to get them up and then barbs to take them back down. Withdrawal
from benzodiazepines can display serious symptoms, though
not usually life-threatening while withdrawal from barbs can
be life-threatening so it is best to check with a doctor before
starting detox treatment.
Stimulants
Stimulants have the opposite effect of depressants in that
stimulants speed up the brain's activity. Withdrawal symptoms
from stimulants are usually not life-threatening but the effects
of using the stimulants can be. In the movie Top Gun, Tom
Cruise said his famous line, "I feel the need, the need
for speed." Tom Cruise (Maverick) wasn't talking about
drugs, but some speed addicts report this same kind of euphoria
and need for euphoria associated with a dependence upon stimulants.
The life-threatening aspects of an addiction to stimulants
can be increased hostility and paranoia leading to accidents,
dangerously high body temperatures, irregular heartbeat, heart
failure and lethal seizures.
Unfortunately, there are too many street names for drugs
to mention here, but a comprehensive list can be found at
the official Office
of National Drug Policy Control site.
Click here for more information on the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, Prescription Drugs report.
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