At Moonlight Mountain Recovery, our team of compassionate and experienced experts have helped many people to wrestle their lives back from the grip of prescription drug abuse and addiction. No one starts with the intention of becoming addicted but often find themselves in a position where medication is started as prescribed by a doctor and addiction results.
Addiction to prescription medication is an issue for many Americans. It is important to understand which medications are commonly abused and how addiction occurs. Here’s what you need to know.
Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs
There are many different categories of prescription drugs and some are more addictive than others. The most common include:
Opioids
Opioids are given to help control pain. They include drugs such as:
- Vicodin
- Morphine
- Codeine
- Methadone
- Lorcet
- Lortab
- Fentanyl
Depressants
Depressants are given for a wide variety of medical conditions such as sleep disorders and anxiety. A few of the depressant medications people tend to become dependent on include:
- Ambien
- Phenobarbital
- Ativan
- Valium
Stimulants
Stimulants are another medication commonly prescribed for issues such as attention deficit disorder and include medications such as:
- Adderall
- Methylphenidate
- Amphetamines
- Dextroamphetamine
Cough Syrups
Even some cough suppressants can be habit-forming. The most common cough syrup that can become habit-forming such as dextromethorphan.
How Does Someone Become Addicted?
When you see the doctor, you go with the hope of getting an effective treatment approach for a specific condition. The medication you are prescribed by a doctor can lead to issues with addiction, even though you may seek them out for legitimate reasons. How does this happen?
The problem is that, as you take the medications, you may develop a tolerance to them, requiring you to take the medication more frequently and in larger doses in order to get the relief you need. Your brain may then begin to rely on the drug, and this can lead to becoming dependent on it.
Signs of an emerging addiction to prescriptions include:
- Misuse of the medication by taking more than you should or taking it the wrong way, such as crushing, snorting, injecting, etc.
- Hiding or denying how often you use the medication
- Feelings of nervousness when you think about stopping
- Feelings of guilt or embarrassment when thinking about how you use the medication
- Getting medication from someone other than your doctor
If you feel as if any of these things have described you or someone you love, then addiction may be taking hold. That’s why it’s important to get into rehab in as early as possible, if a problem becomes present. Professional guidance can help you to overcome your challenges and live a full life, free of substance abuse and addiction.
Contact the professionals at Moonlight Mountain Recovery today to learn more about our addiction recovery and rehab programs in Pocatello and Nampa, Idaho.
Call Now 208-505-9990
