Prescription Medications Abuse is a serious health problem that can be dangerous to anyone from children to elderly patients. Millions of people misuse prescription drugs every year.
Drugs such as narcotic painkillers, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and stimulants are the most commonly abused medications. Each one can cause a variety of potentially life-threatening side effects.
Behavioral Changes
Prescription medication abuse occurs when an individual misuses a prescription drug that was prescribed by a doctor. This can include everything from taking a friend's prescription painkiller for backache to injecting or snorting ground-up pain pills to get high.
One of the most common side effects of prescription drug abuse is overdose. This happens because abusers often mix multiple drugs together and may have built up a tolerance to the drug, which means they take more and sometimes more of it to achieve the same effect.
Mood changes are another common side effect of prescription drug abuse. Users can become angry, irritable and volatile.
These changes can lead to increased stress and tension in relationships with loved ones. They can also cause depression and feelings of despair, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Physical Changes
Many prescription medications are ripe for abuse because they trigger the brain’s reward center. These drugs are a good way to relax and relieve stress, but they can also cause a host of health problems like memory loss, heart problems and even death.
One of the most visible effects of prescription medication abuse is a change in physical appearance. Abusing prescription medications can result in a loss of hair, wrinkles, and even baldness.
Another observable change is a shift in eating habits. People who take sedatives and stimulants are more likely to overeat or binge eat. The quality and quantity of their meals is also affected. Some drugs have a major effect on sleep, affecting things like the time it takes you to fall asleep and the amount of restorative sleep you get. The biggest hazard is the possibility of an overdose. The best way to avoid these effects is to take your prescription medications only when needed and in the prescribed dosages.
Social Changes
The social changes caused by prescription medication abuse are more than just the usual petty fights and gossip. In fact, some of the most innovative approaches to combating this problem involve reimagining the way people view their health and their community.
One of the best ways to accomplish this is to introduce a new concept of community-based care and support into the equation. This can be accomplished through a variety of means including peer-based support groups, peer mentoring programs, and self-help initiatives.
The social impact of prescription medication misuse is a societal one, with a significant impact on the economy as well. A recent study estimated that the cost of prescription drugs in the United States is somewhere around $271.5 billion annually (Office of the President, 2017). The good news is that the frugally-minded among us can take the lead in combating this scourge, by learning to recognize its many signs and symptoms and making informed decisions about how to cope with it.
Psychological Changes
When abused, prescription drugs can cause severe psychological and physical effects. Some of these effects can be short-term, and others may be more serious.
There are three main classes of prescription drugs: opiates, stimulants and depressants. Abuse of all three can lead to addiction, which is a life threatening condition that responds to treatment but cannot be cured.
Mood changes, agitation and irritability are common signs of prescription medication abuse. Over time, these changes become closer together, as users develop a tolerance to the drug.
The most common medications abused include opioid painkillers, anti-anxiety medicines and sedatives.
Individuals often start abusing prescription medication to cope with anxiety, a conditioned response to life stress and trauma. When not treated, anxiety can relapse and lead to prescription drug abuse.
