{"id":46054,"date":"2022-01-12T06:00:36","date_gmt":"2022-01-12T05:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ccadicciones.es\/prescription-drug-abuse\/"},"modified":"2022-01-12T06:00:36","modified_gmt":"2022-01-12T05:00:36","slug":"prescription-drug-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ccadicciones.es\/en\/prescription-drug-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Prescription drug abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prescription drug abuse<\/strong> is more common than we might imagine. It can start by trying pills your neighbour recommends to help you sleep after months of insomnia, taking more painkillers than prescribed to avoid physical pain, or taking medication to calm your nerves during a stressful period. Even if the intention is to use the medication to address a health problem, if its use is not monitored by a specialist, it can create addiction. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is important not to self-medicate<\/strong> to avoid developing dependence, and to always see a medical professional to check whether you can take a medication and to ensure follow-up. If you have developed an addiction to a prescription medication, at CCAdicciones<\/strong><\/a> we offer a detox treatment. <\/span><\/p>\n

Prescription drug abuse disorder<\/b><\/h2>\n

Using medication without medical supervision and the free prescribing of medicines can lead to addiction. Even if they are recommended by a doctor, if they are taken in an uncontrolled way, they can cause a prescription drug abuse disorder. Increasing the dose and taking amounts higher than indicated, or continuing to take the pills when the healthcare professional considers they are no longer necessary, are two clear signs that a person has developed dependence on a medication. <\/span><\/p>\n

The danger of legal and over-the-counter medicines <\/b><\/h3>\n

Medicines can be obtained with a prescription issued by a medical professional, because they consider these drugs will be suitable for the patient to treat a specific condition, whether physical or mental. A medication is prescribed to a specific person after assessing their situation and taking their individual characteristics into account. <\/span><\/p>\n

A prescription is needed to take certain medicines because every case is different.<\/strong> Two patients may appear to have the same condition, but the ways to address it will be different. Whether because the prescribed medication does not work for one of them, causes a reaction, or they have an illness or other health problems that are incompatible with taking that drug. Each situation must be assessed individually to ensure there are no contraindications. <\/span><\/p>\n

So, taking a medication that has not been prescribed specifically for you, but for your friend, partner, or family member, poses a health risk. Not only because there is no guarantee the drug will actually work for you, but also because it can harm you since you do not know how your body will react and you do not have the knowledge of a healthcare professional. <\/span><\/p>\n

The consequences of medication abuse <\/b><\/h3>\n

Misuse of prescription medications can cause negative and counterproductive effects<\/strong> for the person taking them. The consequences will vary depending on the type of medication taken. <\/span><\/p>\n

We can distinguish three main groups of prescription medications. First, abuse of opioid painkillers<\/strong> can cause depression, disorientation, low blood pressure, and breathing problems. Next, sedatives and tranquillisers<\/strong>: drowsiness, confusion, unsteadiness, and tremors when walking are some of the symptoms that may be experienced. Finally, stimulants<\/strong>, which can cause insomnia, weight loss, irritability, and high blood pressure. <\/span><\/p>\n

When an addiction to any medication develops, there is a risk of withdrawal syndrome if it is stopped abruptly, because not only has an addiction developed, but also physical dependence. <\/span><\/p>\n

Why can medication abuse occur?<\/b><\/h3>\n

As with any addiction, the reasons that have led to dependence vary. Unlike other drugs, prescription drug abuse disorder is less commonly caused by social pressure or recreational use. Although the latter can occur, since throughout history some medicines have ended up becoming drugs used to achieve a specific sensation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Excessive use of legal medicines occurs because it can be a way of coping with problems, an escape route, or because a need has been created and the person feels a physical need to take that medication. <\/span><\/p>\n

You may wonder what signs warn that someone is suffering from an addiction, or you may notice suspicious symptoms in someone around you. The main signs are: forging prescriptions, taking a higher dose than prescribed, sleep problems, discomfort when it is noticed that few medications are left, always having extra pills as a backup, \u201closing\u201d prescriptions and going back to the doctor to have them prescribed again, etc. <\/span><\/p>\n

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