Understanding and Overcoming Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug abuse is one of the most common forms of addiction. 18.4% or 52 million Americans over the age of 12 have deliberately misused prescription drugs at least once in their lifetime. And 5.76% of Americans over the age of 12 currently abuse prescription drugs [1].  

In recent years, the opioid epidemic in America has caused a dramatic increase in deaths from prescription drug overdoses, killing over 81,000 Americans in 2022 [2]. And for those who have survived an opioid or prescription drug addiction, emotional and mental health problems often linger in their lives, causing ruptures in mental health, self-care, work performance, and interpersonal relationships.

Commonly Abused Prescription Medications 

About 16 million people in the US abuse prescription drugs. And the most commonly abused medications fall into the categories of painkillers, sedatives, and stimulants.

Abusing Prescription Painkillers 

9.7 million Americans abuse painkillers (9.3 million of those people abusing prescription opioids). Opiates consists of primarily Oxycodone, otherwise known as “oxy”, and Hydrocodone, which is the deadliest class of prescription drug [1].

Related: The Los Angeles Opioid Epidemic

Abusing Sedatives

5.9 million Americans abuse sedatives (4.8 million of those people abusing benzodiazepines). Ativan and Xanax, both benzodiazepines, are the more well-known sedatives meant to treat anxiety or panic disorders, seizure disorders, and sleep disorders. These drugs are commonly abused as their effects have a quick onset, which means users experience a high within minutes of ingesting the sedative[1].

Stimulant Abuse 

Adderall and Ritalin are the most popular stimulants to be used for self-medication, as people often use them as study aids. When taken as prescribed, stimulants can assist someone with ADHD to focus on tasks; however, when abused, they can increase anxiety, worsen impulsivity, and increase emotional instability [1]. 

While alcohol and marijuana are the most commonly abused substances, prescription drugs (particularly opioids) and synthetic drugs pose the highest risks of overdose and mortality due to their potency [3]. 

Consequences of Prescription Drug Abuse 

Abusing prescription medicine has an array of serious medical consequences.

Opioid use can cause slowed breathing and the potential to stop breathing. Anti-anxiety medicines and sedatives can cause memory problems and low blood pressure. Stimulants can cause heart problems, an increase in body temperature, seizures, high blood pressure, aggression, hallucinations, and paranoia. In severe cases, abusing any of these drugs can cause coma or death.

Abusing prescription drugs can also lead to drug dependence and addiction. Dependence, also called drug tolerance, refers to the body’s response to long-term drug use. If you become dependent on these drugs, you may feel the need to increase the dose to achieve the same effect and might experience withdrawal symptoms if you try to stop or take less of the medication.

Other consequences of prescription drug use include engaging in risky behaviors, escalating to using illegal or recreational drugs, being involved in crime, causing motor vehicle accidents, failing to perform at school or work, and struggling in interpersonal relationships [4]. 

Pathways to Prescription Drug Abuse 

Initially, you might seek out prescription drugs to find relief from everyday problems, including lack of sleep, muscle tension, chronic pain, inability to focus, and poor emotional or mental well-being. It’s common to begin taking these drugs as prescribed, then feel like your prescription is not working as well as it used to or should. In those instances, you might start to abuse your prescribed drug or turn to other prescription drugs to achieve the desired effect [1].  

Causes and Risk Factors of Prescription Drug Addiction

An array of factors can lead you to abuse a prescribed medication.  

Genetics play a key role in the likelihood of developing an addiction; having a family history of addiction significantly increases a person’s risk of developing prescription drug addiction. 

That being said, your environment also plays a major role in the likelihood of developing an addiction. A person’s upbringing can have a major impact on the development of addiction, especially if you grew up with substance use or alcohol use in the home. If your home life was stressful, and you watched a parent manage their stress with substances, there is a high likelihood that you will model that same addictive behavior as you grow up.  

There are other factors that can lead to abuse of prescription drugs, including pressure to do well in school or work, chronic pain from a sustained injury or medical problem, and difficulty coping with anxiety, depression, or other mental disorders [5].

Related: What is Drug Addiction — and How Can it be Treated?

Mental Health and Prescription Drug Abuse 

Pre-existing mental health issues can significantly increase the likelihood of abusing prescription drugs. If you struggle to manage your mental health symptoms, you might lean on medication for relief. You might use prescription drugs to reduce anxiety or numb feelings of sadness or hopelessness; however, in the long term, abusing these drugs can worsen these feelings.  

Additionally, you might use prescription drugs to suppress memories and/or uncomfortable feelings associated with trauma. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can often co-occur with addiction. In turn, abusing drugs can exacerbate PTSD as drug abuse increases the likelihood of engaging in risky behaviors.  

Mental health has been shown to play a significant role in causing drug abuse, and it is important to seek out treatment that treats both mental health and substance use problems, such as dual diagnosis treatment [5].

Related: What is Dual Diagnosis?

Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse 

If you or a loved one is using prescription drugs, you should be aware of the signs of drug abuse. 

General signs of prescription abuse include stealing, forging, or selling prescriptions, taking doses beyond the recommended amount, mood swings, hostility, unusual sleeping habits, poor decision-making, and doctor shopping or seeing an excessive number of medical professionals.  

Signs of increased opiate use include confusion, drowsiness, poor coordination, pinprick pupils, euphoria, slowed breathing, nausea/constipation, increased tolerance (the prescription is gone before the refill is up), and a higher sensitivity to pain.  

Oftentimes, when you are struggling with prescription drug abuse, it’s common to turn to more illicit and illegal drugs when your ability to obtain your drug of choice ends. For example, if you are seeking opiates but cannot get what you want, it is common to turn to drug dealers who have the opiate you are looking for in pressed pills. These pressed pills may also contain fentanyl, which has high overdose and death rates and is more commonly found in illegal substances. Even medications like Xanax or Adderall may contain fentanyl [1].  

Knowing the signs of opioid overdose if you or a loved one is struggling with prescription drug abuse can save a life. Signs of overdose include cold, sweaty skin, tremors or shaking, trouble breathing, difficulty speaking, seizures, and unconsciousness. If you are concerned about overdosing with your loved one or yourself, keep Naloxone with you in an accessible place. Naloxone is an antidote to opioid overdose and can reverse the effects of the overdose [6].  

Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment Options at Clear Behavioral Health 

We are dedicated to the treatment of prescription drug addiction. Our expert team of medical professionals will help you identify the underlying causes of addiction and prescription drug abuse, gain skills to achieve long-term sobriety, and build a community that will support your sobriety journey. 

We offer a full continuum of substance abuse addiction treatment including detox, residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs.

Medical Detoxification

If you are struggling with prescription drug abuse, it is important to seek professional help and detox safely. Our detox services in Gardena and Redondo Beach, California are provided by our dedicated team of nurses and doctors who provide around-the-clock care, helping you or your loved one safely detox from drugs or alcohol.

Drug and Alcohol Rehab in the Los Angeles, CA Area

Residential rehab treatment is a helpful next step after detox. In rehab, you will have more time to engage in therapy, focus on making connections to others who struggle with addiction, learn about 12-step programs, and develop healthy coping skills to manage cravings, prevent relapse, and understand the underlying causes of your addiction.

Outpatient Treatment Programs

Our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) are integrated programs in which you apply the skills gained in residential treatment as you transfer back into your home environment. We encourage you to attend 12-step meetings and engage in other recovery methods, including Celebrate Recovery and SMART Recovery, to further build a community of like-minded individuals who can support your continued sobriety.

Benefits of Our Addiction Treatment Approach 

All of our programs provide a variety of treatment modalities, including group therapy, individual therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, and holistic approaches. We offer yoga, breathwork, sound baths, and alternative therapies, including drama and art therapy, to teach you holistic skills to reduce anxiety, regain a sense of calm, and make thoughtful decisions. Every treatment plan is designed to focus on your individual needs and is updated daily to ensure that as your condition evolves, so does your treatment. 

While prescription drug abuse can be deadly, there is hope for you or your loved one who might be struggling. Know the signs and symptoms of addiction and seek help today to achieve long-term sobriety.  

If you or your loved one is seeking help for prescription drug addiction, please reach out to our team. We’d be more than happy to walk you through your treatment options and provide more information about our medical detox, drug and alcohol rehab, and outpatient addiction treatment programs throughout the Los Angeles, CA area. Call us today to start your journey in recovery.

References

1. Prescription Drug Abuse Statistics – NCDAS. (2024, May 2). NCDAS. https://drugabusestatistics.org/prescription-drug-abuse-statistics/
2. CDC WONDER. (n.d.). https://wonder.cdc.gov/
3. What is the scope of prescription drug misuse in the United States? | National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2023, December 14). National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/what-scope-prescription-drug-misuse
4. Substance Abuse: Facing the costs – Health Policy Institute. (2019, February 13). Health Policy Institute. https://hpi.georgetown.edu/abuse/
5. Substance use disorder. (2023, January 31). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/substance-abuse-chemical-dependency
6. Opioid overdose. (2024, May 1). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24583-opioid-overdose