An assortment of drugs on a table, some illegal, without any drug information.Doctors prescribe various drugs to treat health conditions all the time. However, the majority of prescriptions cause side effects, and some of them simply aren’t as safe as they sound. People who don’t know that often take prescriptions without asking for drug information. Learning about prescribed medications can help you make informed health decisions, and prevent drug abuse and addiction.

Prescription Drug Abuse

People may intentionally or unintentionally abuse prescription drugs. Doing so involves taking medicine in a way that doesn’t follow doctor orders.

Sometimes people abuse drugs because their bodies build a tolerance to them. They take more than the doctor tells them, because they want or need to feel the same effects. It’s similar to people taking more over-the-counter drugs than the drug information on the bottle says. However, taking more than the instructed dose for prescriptions is more dangerous.

People also abuse prescription drugs by taking meds that aren’t theirs and using them to get high. Taking medicines in unintended ways is also drug abuse. For example, they may crush tablets and then snort the powder instead of taking it as directed.

The Risk of Addiction Without Drug Information 

Prescription pill abuse has increased to levels that no one expected. Millions of Americans abuse prescription painkillers. Most of them misuse prescriptions they get from relatives or friends. Also, the U.S. Attorney General has called the thousands of annual painkiller overdose deaths a growing and urgent crisis.

However, painkillers aren’t the only prescriptions that people abuse. In addition, addiction is an equally concerning risk with other prescription drugs. Several categories of drugs are addictive by nature.

Along with causing tolerance and addiction, people can develop a physical dependence. The reason for this is because drugs change the chemical balance in the body.

Addictive Prescription Drug Information

Knowing that there’s a risk for prescription abuse and addiction isn’t enough for some people. They need more drug information to understand the dangers of taking certain meds. Learning about the most addictive prescription drugs is a good place to start.

Opiates and Opioids

These could be the most addictive prescriptions that doctors write. Some common examples include codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, and oxycodone. These narcotics relieve pain, but they’re derivatives of opium, just like heroin.

Opiates and opioids act on receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) to block pain signals throughout the body. They change how the body responds to pain, too. They also cause side effects such as constipation, drowsiness, and sedation. Arrested or slowed breathing is the most dangerous effect.

Many people can take prescription opiates and opioids for short periods without any problem. However, others can quickly develop tolerance, dependence, and then addiction.

Depressants

These drugs also act on the CNS, and do exactly as the category says. They depress the CNS to calm the nerves and relax the muscles. People may also know these drugs as sedatives or tranquilizers. Doctors prescribe depressants to treat conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and, of course, depression.

Some examples of prescription depressants include Ativan, Nembutal, Valium, and Xanax. They usually come in brightly colored capsules or tablets.

They create a calming and relaxing effect on the brain. Many people describe it as a warm blanket. However, they can cause slowed breathing just like opiates and opioids. They can also cause blackouts.

Stimulants

This category of drug acts on the CNS to increase alertness, cognitive function, and energy. Doctors use prescriptions such as Adderall and Ritalin to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. Some stimulants such as Desoxyn and Ephedrine are useful for treating obesity.

Since students receive these prescriptions most often, they could give in to the temptation to share them. In fact, most people who abuse prescription stimulants don’t have a prescription. Although doctors prescribe them to students more often, they also prescribe them to adults. Abusing these meds is dangerous, because they change the hormone balance in the brain.

Get Treatment for Prescription Drugs at Beaches Recovery

With good drug information, people can make better health decisions for themselves and prevent cases of abuse. Even when they’re careful, however, tolerance can lead to abuse and then addiction. If you have a drug problem of any kind, talk to us at Beaches Recovery. We offer a range of substance abuse treatments, including:

With various levels of care from outpatient to inpatient, Beaches Recovery makes sure that treatment addresses each person’s needs. Our premier rehab center designs each treatment plan with a mix of therapies. Some examples include cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior, and trauma therapy. We also offer holistic treatments such as art, music, equine, and fitness therapy.

Don’t let your prescription drug problem drag you down even further. Get your life back on track with our help. Call Beaches Recovery now at 866.605.0532 for more drug information and program details.