Prescription drug abuse is a fast-growing, nation-wide epidemic in the United States. Although millions of Americans receive medically prescribed drugs for their illnesses, which is considered legitimate usage, abusing prescription drugs means either a) someone is taking prescription medication that were not prescribed to them or b) someone is taking prescription drugs in a manner the drug was not intended for or is taking too much of the recommended doses. Common examples of such abusive behavior include people who take prescription medication for recreational purposes or people who are under heavy emotional distress and use drugs to relieve the pain.
Prescription drug abuse is a serious concern because it can easily and quickly lead to addiction or death. Every day in the United States, it is estimated that 2000 teenagers use a prescription drug for the first time without the approval of a doctor. In fact, roughly 7.4 percent of teens from the ages of 12 and 17 in America reported nonmedical use of prescription medications in the past year alone. Many believe that this new drug epidemic is affecting a large portion of the youth population (teens between the ages of 12 and 19) because prescription medications are not found in the streets, but at home-on kitchen counters, bathroom shelves, and in parents' bedrooms. Teens have easy access to these types of drugs in their homes, and many are beginning to worry that there is little or no supervision. As a result, in 2011, prescription and over-the-counter drugs ranked 4th place after alcohol, marijuana and tobacco, to be the most commonly abused drugs by seniors in high school.
Once a person is addicted to a prescription drug, and become physically dependent, it can be very difficult to treat. The chances of overdosing become higher because the user develops a strong desire to receive the same high as they did when they first used it; as a result, they become more tolerant. For example, it is common for narcotic pain relievers to no longer satisfy the user, and in response, the user consumes larger doses in order to receive an equal effect. Many addiction specialists highly recommend catching the abuse early-on, and not wait for physical dependence to grow too strong. Choosing addiction treatment is the best possible option in preventing death of an overdose.
Taking fast action to save your loved one's life is important in treating prescription drug addiction. Everyday becomes a matter of life-or-death for an addict. There are several things you can do to stop someone from abusing prescription drugs, such as conducting an intervention or seeking professional addiction treatment. Hiring an interventionist is also a good idea because they can help the addict admit that they have a problem and require treatment; interventionists are also a good source on receiving expert opinion on what rehab program to choose and what specific forms of treatment work best.
If you are attempting to reach out to a loved one about his or her prescription drug addiction, it is important that you are quick in solving the matter. Today, prescription drugs are considered to be the new "gateway drug," and may lead to the use of other dangerous drugs such as heroin and crack-cocaine. Remember, when someone shows signs of substance dependence or is demonstrating unusual behavior as a result, the time to act and intervene is crucial. Choosing to conduct an intervention or find an addiction treatment center can save your loved one's life.
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