There is a huge variety of prescription drugs that people can become addicted to. Each one of them can make people feel different symptoms and can affect their lives in many different ways. 

Any type of legal prescription drug has the potential to be addictive or be misused, but the properties and effects that the drug has on people increases the likelihood that someone would end up misusing it. People keep taking drugs as they like the way it makes them feel, and they want to experience it again and again. It is not often people become addicted for no reason. 

 

Which are the most common prescription drugs people become addicted to?

Misusing prescription painkillers, psychoactive drugs such as benzodiazepines, and stimulant medications has become a lot more common in recent years. 

It is extremely dangerous to take these drugs for any other reason than for what they were prescribed. We explain each of these in more detail:

 

Prescription Opioids

Prescription Opioids are strong types of prescription painkillers. If taken in large doses, they can also cause you to experience feelings of euphoria in addition to numbing pain. 

This euphoric sensation can be enjoyable for some, and the addictive nature of opioids can very quickly pull users into addiction and misuse. Forms of prescription opioids include:

  • OxyContin
  • Percocet
  • Vicodin
  • Fentanyl
  • Codeine
  • Co-codamol
  • Tramadol

It is possible to be prescribed opioids by your GP if you have an injury or chronic illness causing moderate to severe pain. The drugs may potentially also improve your mood and reduce feelings of fever. However, these drugs are strong enough to cause death in large doses. 

 

Prescription Benzodiazepines

This type of prescription drug, commonly known as benzos, is very widely abused. Their proper use is to aid you if you are suffering from anxiety, seizures, panic attacks, and other psychiatric conditions. They slow down the body’s functions to relieve these conditions. 

Benzodiazepines can also cause people to feel extremely calm, serene, and relaxed – all of which people enjoy, and what causes users to become highly addicted. Consistent use leads to dependency and high tolerance. Someone addicted can end up taking dangerous volumes of the drug. Different types of this drug include: 

  • Valium
  • Xanax
  • Librium
  • Ambien

 

Prescription Stimulants

Prescription stimulant drugs are often prescribed for conditions such as ADHD and narcolepsy. Their proper use is to increase your attention span, energy levels, and overall alertness. They do this by increasing chemicals such as dopamine in the body. Dopamine is linked to the brain’s reward centre, which explains why these stimulants can be addictive. They give users feelings of pleasure and euphoria. Prescription stimulants drugs include:

  • Ritalin
  • Concerta
  • Adderall
  • Dexedrine

 

The danger of misusing prescription drugs can range anywhere from experiencing mild discomfort, to causing severe damage to your organs and body or even causing death. 

If you become addicted to them, you may end up taking more to feel the desired effects. You may lose all ability to control how much and when you are taking them. This can cause your addiction to get worse and have a detrimental impact on living your life.

 

If you are someone you know is struggling with prescription drug addiction, our treatment at Parkland Place can help. Each of our guests is unique, so the most appropriate way for us to begin the admissions process is to have a short assessment of the requirements of our prospective guests.

Contact us now on 01492 203 421 to begin your referral in complete confidence.

Summary
Types of Prescription Drug Addiction
Article Name
Types of Prescription Drug Addiction
Description
There is a huge variety of prescription drugs that people can become addicted to. Each one of them can make people feel different symptoms.