You may often associate addiction with illegal drugs. You can easily become addicted to prescription drugs, though. A previous blog discussed the hazards of abusing prescription drugs. This week’s blog will focus on the kinds of drugs which are most often abused.
One class of drugs that is frequently abused is prescription opioids. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says that this kind of drug can be abused because it sometimes makes people experience euphoria. A prescription opioid might be called Codeine or Hydrocodone and you may receive this drug in the form of a liquid or a tablet. This prescription drug can be particularly dangerous if you mix it with alcohol, as your breathing and heart rate may sometimes slow down. As you go through withdrawal from a prescription opioid addiction, you might experience vomiting, restlessness and insomnia. You may sometimes be able to overcome this addiction with behavioral therapy or with a medication.
You may also abuse steroids if you are trying to achieve a better athletic performance. When these drugs are misused for long periods of time, you might experience mood swings and impaired judgment and may also develop long-lasting medical problems, such as liver or kidney damage. Your health can also be affected if steroids are abused for a short time. Yellow skin and headaches are some of the health problems you might experience. You usually require hormone therapy to treat a steroid addiction.
Sedatives are another kind of prescription drug that can be easily abused. These can include Valium and medications to help you sleep. Addiction to these drugs can be particularly dangerous, as withdrawal symptoms sometimes include seizures. It is usually best for you to speak to your doctor if you realize you are addicted to sedatives, as you typically need medical assistance to slowly lower the dose.
This information is general in nature. It should not be used in place of legal advice.
