Over the Counter Drug Abuse Statistics

If you question whether you or your loved one has a problem with over the counter (OTC) drug abuse, simply look to the OTC drug use habits. Also, learn about over the counter drug abuse statistics to understand how these drugs take hold. You can soon see how your questions raise the red flag of potential problems in your life. But you can get the help you need from a quality OTC addiction treatment program in order to put these problems well behind you.

What is OTC Drug Abuse?

OTC addiction is a significant problem in America. In fact, you can think of it as an epidemic. The most highly affected group of people who abuse these drugs include our youngest citizens, including pre-teens, teens and young adults. Young people turn to OTC medications because they can easily buy them without a prescription. They also find them in their household medicine cabinets, for easy access.

Addiction to any substance causes dysfunction in your life. This is true of OTC drugs, too. This addiction can damage your physical, emotional, mental, legal and financial well-being. You also suffer a legitimate disease once addiction takes hold. This disease causes many symptoms and problems which may require young adult rehab programs including:

• Using more of the drug than you intended to
• Wanting to quit but being unable to do so
• Spending a great deal of time trying to obtain more of your drug
• Using your substance despite knowing the harm it causes
• Failing to meet your goals or responsibilities because of drug use
• Feeling cravings, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms

Over the Counter Drug Abuse Statistics

Over the counter drug abuse statistics prove pretty shocking. Few people realize the danger lurking in their medicine cabinets, until seeing these statistics.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), about one million teens and young adults used cough and cold medicine specifically to get high within the past year. The National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health reports that about 40 percent of young people believe that abusing over the counter drugs is safer than abusing street drugs or prescription medication. Also, up to 3.6 percent of eighth to 12th graders abused over the counter cough medication in the past year, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

Finding the Right OTC Drug Addiction Treatment

Finding the right treatment for your OTC abuse or addiction comes down to locating a program that meets your individual needs. You want a program that engages you in treatment, keeps you motivated to recover, and treats your addiction along with any co-occurring mental health disorders. The programs and therapies you may need for OTC drug recovery include:

• Medical detox
• Behavioral health services
• Anger management
• Dual diagnosis treatment
• Experiential therapy activities

In Jacksonville, Florida, Beaches Recovery provides accredited OTC drug treatment. This treatment makes the difference in recovery versus becoming an over the counter drug abuse statistic. Call Beaches Recovery now at 866.605.0532 for more information about the help you or your loved one need.