elevated heart and respiration rate, tremors, hallucinations, confusion, seizures, and if left untreated, possibly death. They appear 12 to 20 hours after the last dose.
Withdrawal from amphetamines can result in depression, drowsiness and lack of alertness, increased appetite, and strong cravings for the drug.
How is addiction treated?
Because addiction involves both psychological and physical dependence, treatment often requires a combination of behavioral modification therapy and medication. Behavioral modification focuses on helping people function without drugs and teaches them how to combat cravings and avoid situations where they might be inclined to fall back into abuse.
Doctors may prescribe medications in order to relieve withdrawal symptoms, counteract the effects of the abused drug, and help lessen cravings — particularly in cases of opioid addiction. Methadone has been used for over 30 years to manage opioid addiction, but it requires daily trips to a methadone clinic.
A better choice is an FDA-approved drug called buprenorphine, which is used to manage opioid addiction as part of a Medication for Addiction Treatment program (MAT). This drug can be prescribed in a doctor’s office and is used in conjunction with therapy and a peer support group. It appears to produce a lower level of dependence and is less likely to cause overdose problems. In general, MAT is highly effective and works to reduce the stigma of drug use by treating addiction as a chronic disease.
Why is prescription drug abuse on the rise?
There are several theories, including the rise in Web-based pharmacies that sell drugs without prescriptions or in-person consultations. It’s easy to get multiple prescriptions this way, particularly if you use different online pharmacies.
The use of opioid painkillers was also encouraged by Purdue Pharma, owned by the Sackler family; Purdue downplayed the risk of addiction to its product Oxycontin; both the company and the Sackler family have had to pay out billions in government settlements. Now addiction psychiatrists recommend not prescribing opioid painkillers more than 5 days in a row due to the risk of addiction.
Meanwhile, the DEA and the FDA have targeted e-pharmacies s as some of the major culprits in the rise of prescription drug abuse. The two agencies have also begun investigating and shutting down “e-pharmacies” and “pill mills” illegally selling prescription drugs over the Web to people without prescriptions. To support these efforts, the U.S. Senate passed a bill that amended the Controlled Substances Act to address online pharmacies.
Who’s more likely to abuse prescription drugs?
NIDA cites four groups that are most at risk for misusing drugs:
1. The elderly
Seniors are three times more likely to take prescription medications than other people and are less likely to follow the instructions on the bottle. According to data from the Veterans Affairs Hospital system, they also are prescribed higher doses of some medications — like benzodiazepines — for longer periods. All of these factors combine to make prescription drug abuse more likely.
2. Teens and young adults
Teens and young adults make up one of the fastest-rising groups of prescription drug abusers. In the 1990s, Ritalin use grew among high school students, and the recreational use of pain relievers such as Percodan (oxycodone with aspirin) and Vicodin (hydrocodone) increased among college students, according to NIDA. In the last available statistics, over 12 percent of teens aged 12 to 17 reported that they had used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. Over the last decade, the recreational use of Oxycontin and Vicodin increased among high school sophomores, while that of Ritalin appears to have declined.
3. Women
According to NIDA, women are more at risk for prescription drug abuse because they’re more likely to be prescribed an addictive drug, such as an opioid or anti-anxiety medication. Researchers have found that when they are given opioids in similar numbers, men and women were equally likely to become addicted.
4. Healthcare workers
Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers who have easy access to prescriptions on the job may be at risk for prescription drug abuse.
The truth is, anyone can develop a substance use disorder. Among the old and young, prescription abuse is on the rise in America. The best way to prevent addiction and death is to take prescription medications responsibly.