Legal, yet deadly drugs are found in most homes across America. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that this problem is at epidemic proportions. Like a deadly disease, addiction will take anyone, young or old, rich or poor, law abiding citizens or criminals. There is no bias here. The legal poison is pain-relieving medications such as OxyContin, Percoset and Vicodin. The National Institute on Drug Abuse claims that 3 to 5 percent of those who take pain medication ultimately become addicted.
The facts do become even more disturbing too. More people are using prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes than ever before. The Center for Disease Control states that in 2011 more people died from overdoses of legal drugs than illegal drugs. This may have a lot to do with what happens when people visit their doctor.
People see doctors for aches and pains and no longer are given the advice to take an aspirin. Instead many doctors are heavy handed and too quick to write prescriptions for high powered medication that really isn’t necessary. Before these prescriptions are passed out the patient should be referred to a pain specialist, if possible.
When these prescriptions are prescribed it is mandatory that people understand how addictive they are. Patients must be monitored and prescriptions should never be over prescribed. People should also understand that when these medications are taken when they really are not needed they will not work when they are needed.
Most people will start out with these high powered pain pills and they follow the doctor’s dosing instructions. Soon, tolerances are developed and then instead of taking one pill at a time people start taking two. Two leads to three and then when the medication is ceased the person starts to feel sick from withdrawal.
Some people are more vulnerable than others are when it comes to developing an addiction. Those that have a family history of addiction, those who experience trauma or neglect, especially as children, anyone with mental disorders, or those who started using drugs at a young age are at a higher risk.
When these drugs are abused or taken recreationally they cause an increase in dopamine levels in the brain. The brain wants more and more of this feeling. Once addiction has set in the brain goes into survival mode and the substance becomes a necessity. This is why addiction is considered to be a brain disease.
The cycle of addiction is viscous. Professional treatment is necessary for complete recovery. If you or someone that you care about has a problem with pills please know that help is available and that you are not alone.
