Prescription Pill Addiction
Prescription Pill Addiction - What Gets Abused?
Just like an addiction to any drug, prescription pill addiction can affect absolutely anyone. Thousands of suburban dads, moms, teachers, teenagers, and even nurses suffer from prescription pill addiction. Many have died because of this addiction.
There are three main types of prescription drugs that usually get abused and misused.
1. Stimulants – Ritalin, Adderall
2. Depressants – These include Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, etc., which depress your central nervous system.
3. Opioids – Vicodin, Percocet, and Oxycodone
Part of what makes prescription pill addiction so dangerous is that doctors prescribe them, so people think they are safe. Also, when used properly, they work. But when you abuse it, it stops working, and your body becomes incredibly dependent on it. A significant number of people who are addicted to prescription pills started using these prescriptions legally and properly. Someone gets their wisdom teeth out, and the dentist prescribes Percocet. Another person gets into a car accident, and their doctor prescribes Oxycodone.
In the immediate short-term, the painkillers are helpful and may be necessary. But without proper oversight from doctors, people end up becoming dependent on these prescription pills. Even if the doctor is vigilant, some people still become addicted and then turn to the streets to buy pills and, eventually, other cheaper drugs, like heroin or fentanyl.
The Negative Effects
Addiction to prescription pills will likely take a significant toll on your emotional health, physical well-being, relationships, and finances, to name a few. In particular, it attacks your liver. A healthy liver is supple and spongy. If you take too many pills, your liver will need to work very hard to clear all the toxins in your body. It will turn a greenish hue and become soft. If the abuse continues for many years without any effort at all to seek help from a drug abuse treatment center, expect your liver to suffer terribly. Over time, the liver will scar and turn into a shriveled, cirrhotic organ.
This is why many addicts experience liver cirrhosis and chronic liver diseases — and there is nothing at all pretty or nice about cirrhosis. When you have cirrhosis, your liver undergoes sure destruction, which in most cases results in death.
The natural progression of prescription opiate addiction is the turn to heroin or fentanyl.
The pills are too expensive on the streets, and the human body builds a tolerance, at which point the person needs more and more of the drug just to feel normal. The easiest solution to this problem is to turn to cheaper, more potent drugs.
Other adverse side effects of prescription pill addiction can include the following:
- Drowsiness
- Lethargy
- Poor concentration
- Memory Problems
- Constipation
- Slower breathing rate
- Slower reactions and movements
- Irritability
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Aggression
Rehabilitation for Prescription Pill Addiction?
Many people end up in a rehabilitation facility for prescription pill addiction, which is the best place to be. At a facility with trained doctors and addiction professionals, they will be able to determine how to help you. That may include methadone, suboxone, or just tapering you off of your prescription medication. Prescription pill addiction is serious and shouldn’t be deal with alone.
The good news is, it doesn’t have to end in permanent liver damage. Addiction doesn’t have to end in financial ruin or death. If you can get the help you need, you can recover. Once you stop abusing pills and start making healthier lifestyle choices, you give your liver (and everything else) time to recover. The result? The liver is often able to regenerate itself and go back to its pre-addiction state.
Whether you know it or not, someone you know is most likely fighting a prescription pill addiction. One of the most problematic aspects of prescription pill addiction is the legality of these pills. Because doctors, who we generally trust, prescribe these pills, many fail to see that these pills are just as devastating as cocaine, crack, meth, or heroin. If left untreated, this addiction kills, just like any other drug (or alcohol) addiction.
If you are addicted to prescription pills or know someone who is, do not wait. Seek help right away. Whether this help comes from drug rehab facilities, family, or a trusted doctor, it is help that could save your life or the life of someone you love.