Prescription drug abuse can be defined simply as anytime an individual takes a prescription drug for a non-medical purpose. This includes taking prescriptions that were not prescribed for you, taking prescriptions in a way other than how they were prescribed, and taking them for the experience or feeling that they cause. This is not to say that all of them are bad. Most prescription drugs can be effective when taken responsibly. That said, when taken irresponsibly, many of these drugs can be highly addictive and result in chemical dependency and overdoses, and in some cases, death.

Prescription drug abuse is nothing new, but what is new is the exponentially increasing portion of the population that is engaging in it every year. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 16 million Americans reported using them for a non-medical purpose in 2010; 7 million in the past month.

Most Common Classes of Prescription Drug Abuse

The three most common classes of prescription drug abuse are the following:

Opioids- Most often prescribed to treat pain

Central Nervous System Depressants- Most often prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders

Stimulants- Most often prescribed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the sleep disorder narcolepsy

Opioids are a class of narcotic pain relievers that range from the extremely potent like morphine and oxycodone which is often prescribed for pre and post surgery and severe pain to the less potent like codeine which is used to treat milder pain. The largest risks associated with opioid prescription drug abuse are that of addiction and overdose. Opioids can be highly addictive, especially when taking into account that abusers will often alter the route of administration (i.e. snorting or injecting instead of taking orally) to intensify the effects of the drug. In addition, overdose rates of opioids are of equal concern as they’ve tripled since 2009.

Central nervous system depressants, or tranquilizers and sedatives as they’re often called since they slow down normal brain functioning, are also a growing class of prescription drugs that are abused. This class of drugs consists of barbiturates which are used to treat anxiety, tension and sleep disorders as well as benzodiazepines like Valium and Xanax, which are used to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions and panic attacks. Due to their highly addictive nature, benzodiazepines are traditionally only prescribed for short-term treatment and aren’t intended for long-term care. The dangers associated with central nervous system depressant prescription drug abuse are the same as opioids with one life-threatening addition, seizures that can come as a result of their withdrawal symptoms.

Stimulants used to be prescribed for many more conditions than they are now, like obesity and asthma for example, but their highly addictive nature led to a decrease in doctors prescribing them. That said, stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin, still make up a considerable portion of prescription drug abuse in this country. Serious risks associated with stimulant abuse include addiction and serious health complications like psychosis, seizures and cardiovascular issues.

Prescription drug abuse really has reached epidemic status in the United States for a variety of reasons. There’s a giant misconception out there that because these drugs can be obtained legally if your condition warrants it, then they must be safer than other illicit drugs. There is also a much larger amount of these drugs being prescribed every day than in recent decades. Regardless of the foundation, prescription drug abuse is equally as dangerous as illicit drug abuse and can bring you to your knees just as quickly.

In order to survive in this competitive world, frustration, depression and anxiety seems to be ruling our world at every step. To escape from all these troubles, drugs seem to be the most potent medium. Besides the illegal drugs, the prescription drug abuse also leads to a certain kind of addiction. It includes the use of sedatives, mood stabilizers and pain killers used by the victim against the prescription of the doctor ‘dosage. It has been found that a taking the drugs frequently leads to certain kind of addiction. Hence it is a kind of self medication, where the victim takes the drugs without even taking permission from the doctor. It has been found that the statistics of the prescription abuse is increasing day by day. Anti depressants and painkillers are the most frequently abused drugs.

Like many other drugs, prescription drug abuse also creates certain cravings within the individual. As a result, the person cannot resist himself from taking the drugs. He develops an insatiable craving, which becomes so much strong that he has to take one dose everyday at least. It has been found that teenagers are the worst victims of drug and alcohol abuse. Oxycodon and Vicodin are two of the most frequently abused drugs among the teenagers. They get abused to the drugs mainly at the social gatherings or at the parties. In the beginning they take the drugs just out of curiosity to find out what are the reasons for it. But gradually they develop the habit of taking it and finally this turns into an addiction process. So what was earlier a physical craving slowly becomes a psychological craving gradually.

The path to prescription drug abuse begins with experimentation. Though the reasons for drug abuse vary from person to person, yet some of the most common ones are genetics and the influence of social environment, any traumatic event in the childhood, abuse or neglect by the family members, early usage of drugs and also mental disorders like depression and anxiety. Though the symptoms vary from person to person, yet the effects of drug abuse remain almost the same. If the drugs start controlling your life, the more you are moving forward from abuse to drug addiction. This will create a negative impact on the social and the economic life of an individual. If you are on a dangerous path of drug abuse, it is always better to seek medical help as soon as possible.

One of the most dangerous effects of the prescription drug abuse is denial of the use of substances. Though the causes of drug abuse may vary from person to person, yet the mind will always try to rationalize it every time there occurs a severe urge within the body. You may underestimate the amount of drugs that you are taking, but this may create a serious impact on the life.

A drug problem is an everyday struggle of not only the user, although some users haven’t realized yet that it is a problem, but the users family, friends, or special loved one. You may not instantly determine or realize that someone you care about is having problem with drugs.

People involved with drug problems or know someone who has at times thinks that drug addiction and drug abuse are basically the same thing, and should just be used interchangeably. But actually they are both different terms with different meanings. Complexity revolving drug abuse and definition has become increasingly clear and several efforts have been done to look of the right meaning both terms.

Drug Addiction:

The World Health Organization committee (WHO) had collected numerous of definitions concerning drug abuse and addiction and had suggested a generic term “drug dependence”. This addiction is defined as a disorder wherein the drug user’s behavior is being strongly influenced and dominated by the drug. It is a condition of recurring intoxication that happens when there is constant consumption of drug. It has characteristics of intense need or desire of continuous use, tendency of increasing dosage, unfavorable effects on both individual and society, and dependence on effects.

Drug Abuse:

Drug abuse is defined as the misuse of the drug or substance according the culturally acceptable standard. It is simply an abuse usage of substance which may involve excessive and habitual use in order to attain a certain effect. These so-called substances may be illegal, can be taken from streets and syndicates against the law, or can be legal as well in a form of prescription that are used in a pleasurable manner rather than medical.

Causes of Drug Addiction and Drug Abuse:

As both terms have different definition, their causes are different as well. Drug abuse is more complicated than drug addiction, although drug addiction has more forceful motivational condition. With drug addiction, it comprises the drug’s effect on the brain wherein it can become a strong motivational factor to use the drug again. On the other hand, drug abuse as a misuse of a substance, may or may not go together with a strong motivational factor to continue the use of the drug. In many cases, therefore, drug abuse does not necessarily make drug addiction, but drug addiction can constitute drug abuse.

Patterns of Behavior:

Drug addiction and Drug abuse have basically the same effects. Both have unwanted or unfavorable consequences both to society and the individual. Some symptoms and patterns of behavior of drug addiction and abuse comprise an abnormally slow in speech, reaction or movement, cycles of restlessness, inability of sleep or intensified energy, sudden gain or loss of weight, series of excessive sleep, sudden constant wearing of long-sleeved tops even under high temperature just to hide scars of injection points, loss of physical control, sudden impulse and confidence in doing risky activities, and withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop drug use.

Knowing the fact that drug users are prone to deny their drug-related symptoms and behavior, the family, friends, and loved ones must be sensitive and be more aware of these signs.

Being with a Drug Abuse or Addiction Problem:

At times it is not easily recognizable that someone so important to you is struggling with drug problem. It could be that it has started very early but not noticeable since the progression is slow, and that person might have been good in hiding the level of drug use from you. Or since that drug has been used early on and slowly, you might have easily adapted to the users behavior to the point that it seems normal still. It can be that the realization that someone so important to you is a victim of drugs is painful. You should never feel embarrassed. There are so many people who are in the same position as you. Drug abuse and addiction have affected millions of families all over the world.

There are available help and support everywhere. You can start by looking for support groups locally. Support groups can be in your very own religious area, private or government institutions, and small communities. By just listening to others who share the same experiences and dilemmas can be a very good way of support and give comfort. Other sources to find support and help would include a therapist, spiritual leader, a trusted friend or family member.