PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADDICTION
Understanding Prescription Drug Addiction
Although drug addiction (substance use disorder) is normally associated with illicit drugs like cocaine, meth, and heroin, addiction to prescription drugs also raises cause for concern.
Data from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) indicate that 3.5 million U.S. adults misused prescription medications in 2020.
This guide explores how addiction to prescription drugs develops and highlights the most addictive prescription medications. You can also discover how to get help to tackle substance use disorder, a chronic and relapsing condition.
By: Renaissance Recovery
Clinically Reviewed by: Diana Vo, LMFT
Last Updated:
03/24/2024
Prescription Drug Abuse Defined
Using any type of prescription medication for purposes other than as prescribed is considered prescription drug abuse. This includes:
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Using someone else’s prescription.
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Taking more of a medication than directed.
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Using an alternative route of administration – dissolving tablets to inject or snort nasally, for example).
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Taking a prescription medication more frequently than directed.
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Using prescription medications for recreational and nonclinical purposes.
The adverse effects of using prescription medicine and drug abuse will differ depending on the medication, and may include addiction in the form of substance use disorder.
Are Prescription Drugs Addictive?
Any prescription drug misuse or medication abuse may lead to the formation of physical tolerance and dependence. When tolerance forms, you will need to use more of the prescription medication or to increase the frequency of doses to achieve the initial effects. Tolerance is a diagnostic criterion for addiction and often creates physical dependency on the prescription medication.
If you become dependent on a medication, you will experience intensely uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when you moderate or discontinue use. Withdrawal is also a DSM-5-TR symptom of addiction.
All prescription medications that are abused activate the reward center of the brain. Sustained drug use also brings on functional and structural brain changes, potentially leading to addiction, a chronic, relapsing condition characterized by the compulsive use of drugs regardless of negative consequences.
Signs of Prescription Drug Addiction
The signs of prescription drug abuse differ from substance to substance – more on these medications below. That said, these are all early indicators of serious prescription drug use and abuse:
Requesting early refills
Pretending to lose prescriptions
Stealing prescriptions
Obtaining more than one prescription by doctor shopping
Forging prescriptions
Impaired decision making
Disrupted sleep patterns
Over-sedation
Increased energy levels
Taking more of the drug than prescribed
Abusing prescription drugs may also cause behavioral changes, including:
Dramatic mood swings
Aggression
Hostility
Irritability
Disruption to routine
Neglecting commitments
Problems in personal or professional life
Am I Addicted to Prescription Drugs?
Consider these questions that may help you establish if you are addicted to prescription drugs:
Prescription drug addiction questionnaire
Have you taken more of the drug than directed or used the drug for longer than prescribed?
Have you tried and failed to moderate or discontinue use of the medication?
Do withdrawal symptoms present when you attempt to stop using the drug?
Are you continuing to use the drug even though it is triggering negative consequences like financial stress, legal problems, or relationship issues?
Does your use of the prescription drug interfere with your personal or professional life?
Do you believe that you require the prescription drug to function normally?
If you responded positively to more than one of the above questions, you may be dealing with an addiction to prescription medication. It’s essential to seek help from a professional healthcare provider or addiction specialist. With an accurate diagnosis, you can then explore addiction treatment options.
Fight Back Against Prescription Drug Addiction
Get evidence-based treatment to overcome prescription drug addiction at Renaissance Recovery. Call our team now to learn more about the process.
Prescription Drugs that Lead to Addiction
There are many prescription drugs that have the potential to lead to addiction, especially if they are not taken as prescribed or abused. Here are some examples:
Habit-Forming Prescription Drugs
Opioids: Prescription opioids are powerful painkillers that include drugs like hydrocodone, oxycodone, codeine, and morphine. Some of the most common brands of opioids include Vicodin, Demerol and OxyContin. All opioids are highly addictive and can provoke the development of tolerance, physical dependence, and withdrawal symptoms.
Benzodiazepines: Benzos are tranquilizers that are commonly prescribed to treat anxiety disorders and sleep disorders. Common examples of benzos include drugs like Klonopin, Xanax, and Valium. Benzodiazepines are powerfully addictive and can trigger dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms.
Stimulants: Prescription stimulants are drugs that are indicated for the treatment of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and narcolepsy. They include drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall, and Vyvanse. Stimulants can be addictive, causing dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal.
Barbiturates: These are drugs that are used as sedatives and hypnotics – phenobarbital or secobarbital, for instance. Barbiturates are highly addictive and have now been largely replaced by benzos in the United States.
Antidepressants: Although these drugs are not typically considered addictive, some people may develop a dependence on them. Withdrawal symptoms can occur when someone stops taking antidepressants abruptly.
Not everyone who takes the above prescription drugs will become addicted. That said, you should only take these and other drugs, as prescribed. Consult your prescribing physician if you have any concerns about their use.
What Are The Three Most Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs?
The effects of prescription drug abuse vary by substance. Each drug will affect the user in different ways according to its own specific nature.
Three of the most routinely abused classes of prescription drugs are:
Benzodiazepines
Opioids
Barbiturates
Click each type of prescription medicines in the drop down menu below to learn more.
What to Do When You Notice the Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse
If you familiarize yourself with the signs and symptoms of prescription medication abuse, this can help you prevent these adverse outcomes:
Overdosing on CNS depressants is linked to life-threatening coma. If you suddenly stop using this class of medication, it can trigger withdrawal symptoms that include seizures.
Abusing opioids can slow or stop breathing. Respiratory depression can be life-threatening without intervention. The opioid antagonist Narcan (naloxone) can reverse the effects of opioid overdose.
Stimulant abuse can bring about elevated core body temperature, cardiovascular complications, and ongoing episodes of paranoia.
The sustained use of any type of prescription medication is liable to trigger the development of tolerance and physical dependence. While dependence is not synonymous with addiction, substance use disorder often manifests and requires ongoing treatment to address the psychological component of addiction.
Seek Treatment for Prescription Drug Abuse
If you believe that you are addicted to a prescription medication, first schedule an appointment with your prescribing physician. They may provide a referral to a mental health expert or rehab center.
Luckily, most addictions to prescription drugs respond favorably to individualized and science-backed treatment. We can help you from detox to discharge and beyond at Renaissance Recovery Center in Huntington Beach.
Get Help for Prescription Drug Addiction at Renaissance Recovery
At Renaissance Recovery, we specialize in treating all types of addictions and mental health conditions at Renaissance Recovery in an outpatient setting. This allows you to address your prescription drug addiction while remaining anchored to your everyday life.
Our Admissions Process for Prescription Drug Abuse
We determine the levels of care needed for each individual based on each persons specific substance abuse history. Factors we take into consideration before recommending a treatment protocol includes the type of drug being used, length of use, and any existing mental and physical health concerns.
After we identify these factors, a clinical assessment is done to determine if you or your loved one are a good candidate for our treatment services. Then, we will determine your appropriate levels of care and you can begin treatment with us.
Levels of Care
At Renaissance Recovery we offer the following programs to ensure the addiction is being treated from the mind, body, and spirit:
Detox
Residential/Inpatient treatment
PHPs (partial hospitalization programs)
IOPs (intensive outpatient programs)
Dual diagnosis treatment programs (for co-occurring disorders)
All treatment programs at our facility provide access to these interventions to provide a safe and comfortable treatment from prescription drug abuse.
Medication-assisted treatment
Psychotherapy
Individual counseling
Group therapy
Family therapy
Holistic therapies
- Aftercare
At Renaissance Recovery, we treat individuals struggling to overcome addiction with compassionate and evidence-based care.
Our team of professional addiction specialists and therapists will give you the proper treatment you need to achieve lasting recovery. Take the first vital step to recovery by calling admissions today at 866.330.9449.