How to identify prescription drug addiction
Welcome back! Got questions about addiction? Ask me and I'll respond in a video.
Every morning growing up, my dad would take a pill. Regular. Like clock-work. Sometime around coffee and the morning newspaper. And then if his broken ankle would swell in the evening, or if the humidity got to him, or if he would run the bases too quickly during softball he would take another pill at night. These pills, Percocet, were administered to him by his doctor, who kept filling the prescriptions month after month, year after year. It wasn’t until I was in a halfway house that I learned that you can get kicked out of halfway houses for taking Percocet, an opiate whose potential for abuse is somewhat limited by the presence of paracetamol (acetaminophen).”Weird,” I thought. Is my dad an addict?
When used to get high, or without the supervision of a physician, prescription drugs and cold and cough medicine can be every bit as dangerous as illegal drugs. According to a recent Partnership for a Drug Free America survey, more than half of teens who tried medication without a prescription think that they are more safe than street drugs (wrong). But what exactly are people who are abusing prescription medications taking? Mainly …
- Sedatives
- Stimulants
- Pain relievers
There’s no easy way to figure out if someone that you love is using scripts as drugs to get high. Many of the signs and symptoms of prescription substance abuse are also symptoms of mental health issues, including depression or anxiety disorders. Decide, in advance, how you’ll respond to possible addiction. Have a game plan when approaching someone you love to confront them about symptoms of addiction. Experts strongly recommend that your loved one be professionally assessed if you suspect something is going on. Some signs and symptoms of prescription drug addiction include…
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
- Accidents or injuries
- Avoiding eye contact
- Clenching teeth
- Depression
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent sickness
- Headaches
- Nosebleeds
- Poor hygiene
- Queasy, nauseous
- Red, flushed cheeks or face
- Runny nose, not caused by allergies or a cold
- Seizures
- Skin abrasions/bruises
- Sores, spots around mouth
- Sudden appetite or “munchies”
- Sweatiness
- Vomiting
BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS
- Change in relationships with family members or friends
- Deceitful or secretive
- Decreased motivation
- Disappearances for long periods of time
- Hostility or anger
- Hyperactivity
- Inability to focus
- Laughing at nothing
- Lethargy
- Loss of inhibitions
- Loud, obnoxious behavior
- Makes endless excuses
- Mood changes or emotional instability
- Periods of insomnia or high energy followed by “catch up” sleep
- Silent, uncommunicative
- Slurred speech, or rapid-fire speech
- Unusual lack of coordination
- Unusually elated
- Unusually tired
- Withdrawn, depressed
OTHER SYMPTOMS
- Cash flow problems
- Complaints from teachers or co-workers
- Disappearance of prescription of over-the-counter pills
- Failure to fulfill responsibilities
- Going out every night
- Locked doors
- Loss of interest in school or work
Do you have a story to share? Any feelings about prescription drug addiction? Do that here … your comments are welcomed and will be posted.
Monica
1 year ago
Sometimes, it’s hard to see addiction in the people that are closest to us. It seems normal. Thanks for sharing this powerful story.
Truby
1 year ago
Prescription drug abuse is very popular today especially amongst our young children. The sooner they quit, the better off they will be. They must first change their mind set before they attemp to get off of these prescription drugs. The battle will be hard but it can be done, no doubt.
Truby
nntrdr
1 year ago
Thank you for sharing that powerful story. The information you provided is very informative and helpful. Prescription drug use is becoming more and more of a problem in today’s society. I would also like to recommend another website with useful information on prescription drug use.
SARA
1 year ago
I was addicted to vicodin for 3 years and my life was a living hell. Constantly worrying about getting enough to stop the withdrawal, risking life and limb to keep supplied ,,not to mention the money. I lucked out and found a program locally that got me off that shit FOREVER..and I wish that everyone in my situation could find this kind of help. I went to Recovered Life and was treated with respect and total professional attitude–nobody was judgmental. I live in the Midwest US and the clinic is in Chicago. It seemed expensive at first but I researched it and they were the best deal. The nurse was with me by phone every step of the way but I never really suffered! I only missed one day of work. Suboxone is a miracle and Recovered Life has my vote for best treatment around.
Mike
1 year ago
thanks for the post. Yes, I agree how difficult it is to figure out if someone is addicted to pain killers or other scripts. Explaining you are concerned for them is always the first step. It can a helpful seed for them to ask their doctor if this the right medication. It could be a great eye openner.
Jessica Steinberg
1 year ago
When you grow up around an addict, their behavior may not seem unusual. Alternatively, I have found that many parents ignore the signs in their teenagers, taking their changed behavior as something that just comes with the difficult age.
Thank you for posting such a thorough article, it was a pleasure to read.
michele
1 year ago
My sister is an addict so i know how hard it is and now she is recieveing perscribeed suboxon in order to help her with the craving of the drugs she wants. so having this information can help alot of people to understand and see that this happens more then you think.