subject: Information On How Individuals Can Become Dependent On Prescribed Medications [print this page] Prescribed medicine addiction is an addiction to either legal or illegal drugs. Some legal prescriptions may be acquired by clients illegally which results in drug dependence. No matter how a patient obtains the medicines that he is addicted to, he needs help when he withdraws from the substance and he should be aware of the risks of a sudden cessation.
A lot of medication classes can lead to drug abuse. Opioids or pain relievers, benzodiazepines, stimulants and some barbiturates are the most typical groups of medications that can result in addiction. There are also other medicines that belong to other classes that usually create addiction. According to many alcohol treatment programs specialists, people may develop prescription medicine addiction with one class of medications. However, some become addicted as they try to use other classes to deal with the effects of other medications.
Prescription drug addiction takes place when an individual uses a drug that they don't actually need. Often, they use it without their doctor's prescription or have it from a physician in a dishonest manner. When the person tries to stop taking the medicine, he may go through several withdrawal symptoms. As his body builds tolerance to the medication, he is often compelled to use more of the medications regularly.
The strong need of the individual to use the medications frequently will put his health at risk. For example, when he takes too much of Vicodin or some other pain-killers, he is overdosing amphetamines which will damage his liver. The use of any drug in higher amounts than required is toxic which may lead to overdose. Furthermore, when an individual uses a cold turkey technique in stopping his addiction to the medicine, it can become more dangerous for him. Many addiction treatment specialists say that stopping the use of benzodiapines instantly may result in seizures.
An addiction to prescription medications is compared with a dependency on such medications which often results from a long-term use of the substances. A lot of drug dependent people use the medications as recommended but their body becomes dependent on them over time. However, because they get the drugs legally, their physician can always set up a tapering program for them.
People who are dependent on prescribed drugs should be medically supported so that they can stop their addiction without risking their lives. Addicts who are addicted to illegal medications are likely to be hospitalized so that they stop taking the substances. They may be suggested to go through ongoing drug counseling so that they can maintain a life that is free from drugs.
