Prescription drugs are powerful medications, hence the reason why you need a prescription to access them. Every medicine has some side effects; the only difference is that some of these effects are serious. Before prescribing any medication to a patient, doctors factor in things like the weight of the patient and prescription history. However, all patients should understand that misusing prescription drugs may expose them to the same negative effects that alcoholics experience.
While taking care of how you consume prescription drugs, you should know that opiate-based drugs are the most addictive prescription drugs in the market. The problem is that people consume these drugs with different intentions to the ones that the doctor prescribed. The worst thing is that even people that take opiate-based drugs to treat some conditions end up getting addicted.
Regular Use becomes an Addiction
All medications that have any effects on the brain might change how it works when consumed for an extended period of time or in escalated doses. The moment the rewarding system of the brain is altered, someone cannot feel good without consuming the drug. Eventually, the craving for more drugs intensifies and the person becomes entirely dependent on the drug.
Physical dependence is vital in the cycle of addiction. Once the brain and the body get used to a certain drug, the person becomes dependent. For someone to get the feeling that was felt initially, the person needs to use higher dosages of the drug. When the drug cannot be accessed, the person experiences withdrawal symptoms. A drug is termed to be addictive if someone still uses it despite its many adverse effects.
To avoid addiction, it is better to follow the prescriptions provided by the doctor because he or she understands the dosage that can be supported by the human body. However, sometimes taking prescription drugs such as benzodiazepine for treatment in New Jersey exposes someone to the risk of addiction.
The most important thing is being honest with your doctor when getting the prescription. Additionally, all patients should take time and compare the risks and benefits of prescription drugs before using them.
Some Prescription Drugs are Dangerous
A common prescription drug that is addictive is OxyContin because it has the potential of abuse. When the patients inject themselves with this drug, they tend to get a higher prescription than what is intended. Once someone feels high, there is an increased chance he or she may want to use more of the drug. Using OxyContin is excess puts you at risk of overdosing.
Should you Seek Treatment?
Yes, you should definitely seek treatment if you experience any of the above addiction symptoms from taking prescription drugs. You know that an addiction can strain your finances as you struggle to satisfy it. An addiction can also cause your health to deteriorate. If you don’t want to spend the rest of your life in rehabilitation centers or hospital beds because of drug abuse, you should seek help when you realize that you have a prescription drug addiction.
Treatment of Prescription Drugs Addiction
According to research, substance abuse disorders are brain disorders that can be well treated if the right procedure is followed. When treating a patient with such an addiction, you need to consider the type of drug and the needs of the individual. For a treatment to be successful, some components like counseling, detoxing, and medications have to be put into practice.
Drug use disorder can be treated in two ways; behavioral treatment and medications. In behavioral treatment, the patient is taught how to deal with cravings and avoid situations that may cause a relapse. Additionally, behavioral treatment may involve family and friends of the affected person. They need to be advised on how to handle the person trying to recover from addiction. The good thing about this type of treatment is that the person is trained to interact with people at the workplace and the community.
Addiction to prescription drugs can be treated using medications like naltrexone and methadone. These drugs help the patient to deal with cravings and protect the brain against any effects caused by opioids. In most cases, medications are administered at the same time with psychosocial support to help the patient recover fully.
To learn more, please visit https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/prescription-drug-addiction/.
