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Brief Description of Prescription
Drug Abuse
Prescription drug abuse means taking
a prescription medication that is not prescribed for
you, or taking it for reasons or in dosages other than
as prescribed. Abuse of prescription drugs
can produce serious health effects, including addiction.
Treatments for Prescription Drug Abuse
Several options are available for effectively treating
addiction to prescription drugs, depending
on the medication being abused. Approaches to treating
addiction to pain relievers are drawn from research
on treating addiction
to heroin, also an opioid, and include medications
such as naltrexone, methadone, and buprenorphine, combined
with behavioral counseling.
NIDA's National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials
Network is sponsoring the first large-scale, multi-site
study to test the effectiveness of buprenorphine/naloxone
– a medication used to treat heroin addiction
– as a treatment for addiction to prescription
pain medication.
Treatment of addiction to prescription
stimulants, such as Ritalin, is often based on behavioral
therapies that have proven effective in treating addiction
to cocaine and methamphetamine. While no medications
have yet proven effective for the treatment of stimulant
addiction, NIDA is supporting a number of studies examining
medications with this potential.
Commonly abused classes of prescription
medications include:
Opioids (for pain), central nervous system depressants
(for anxiety and sleep disorders), and stimulants (for
ADHD and narcolepsy). Opioids include hydrocodone (Vicodin®),
oxycodone (OxyContin®), propoxyphene (Darvon®),
hydromorphone (Dilaudid®), meperidine (Demerol®),
and diphenoxylate (Lomotil®). Central nervous system
depressants include barbiturates such as pentobarbital
sodium (Nembutal®), and benzodiazepines such as
diazepam (Valium®) and alprazolam (Xanax®).
Stimulants include dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®),
methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®), and
amphetamines (Adderall®).
Common Street Names for Prescription Drug:
Depressants; methaqualone, Street Term: Ludes
OxyContin, Street Term: Hillbilly heroin
Ritalin (methylphenidate), Street Term: Vitamin R
Effects of Prescription Drug Abuse
Long-term use of opioids or central nervous system
depressants can lead to physical dependence and addiction.
Opioids can produce drowsiness, constipation and, depending
on amount taken, can depress breathing. Central nervous
system depressants slow down brain function; if combined
with other medications that cause drowsiness or with
alcohol, heart rate and respiration can slow down dangerously.
Taken repeatedly or in high doses, stimulants can cause
anxiety, paranoia, dangerously high body temperatures,
irregular heartbeat, or seizures.
Risks of prescription drug abuse
Opioids:
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High risk for addiction
and overdose. This is a major concern, particularly
for recently synthesized slowrelease formulations,
which abusers override by crushing the pills and
injecting or snorting the contents, heightening
their risk for respiratory depression and death.
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Dangerous combination effects. Combining
opioids with other drugs, including alcohol, can
intensify respiratory distress. |
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Heightened HIV risk. Injecting opioids increases
the risk of HIV and other infectious diseases through
use of unsterile or shared equipment. |
CNS Depressants:
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Addiction and withdrawal
dangers. These drugs can be highly addictive and,
in chronic users, discontinuing them absent a physician's
guidance can bring about severe withdrawal symptoms
that must be properly managed by a medical professional.
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Risk of overdose. Overdose can cause
severe breathing problems and lead to death, especially
when these drugs are combined with other medications
or alcohol. |
Stimulants:
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Reputation as performance
enhancers. Incorrectly perceived as safe for enhancing
academic achievement and weight loss, these drugs
are highly addictive and potentially harmful. |
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Range of risky health consequences. These include
risk of dangerously high body temperature, seizures,
and cardiovascular complications. |
Information contained above is courtesy
of The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) for more
information please visit: http://www.nida.nih.gov
If you have come across our Addiction Treatment
Center web site, is because you or someone
you love is in need of help for prescription
drug addiction. Cove Center for Recovery is
an Addiction Treatment Center offering
a premier drug addiction treatment program
that can help you or your loved one. Our aim is to treat
the whole person, and not just an isolated symptom.
During the addiction treatment process
we will work with the client to identify the factors
that may have contributed to their addiction–
home, work, relationships and medical history. We also
believe that families have a vital role to play in the
recovery process, and each program has a place for family
participation, to educate them in the addiction
treatment process and to equip them for their
role as supporters.
Call us at 1-888-387-6237 for further information on
our prescription medication addiction treatment
program. Together, we can discuss how you may benefit
from seeking treatment at Cove Center for Recovery.
Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away.
If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate
attention you may contact us:
Addiction Treatment for adults and young adults: 1-888-387-6237
Addiction Treatment for Teens: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com
You may also send us e-mail.
Please keep in mind that e-mails are answered within 24 hours Monday
through Friday.
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