Prescription drugs are one of the more accepted substances in society, but that also means a prescription drug addiction is one of the easiest addictions to cover up. Often, it starts innocently enough, with a legitimate doctor’s prescription for painkillers or some other highly addictive substance.
In some cases, patients self-medicate and increase their dosage or frequency of use, thus increasing the risk that an addiction will form. They may do this because they like the effect the prescription medicine has on their body, creating a “high” of sorts or perhaps exaggerating the effects of alcohol consumption. They might also feel like the prescribed amount is no longer sufficient to treat their ailments, which often involve physical pain or mental anguish. In such cases, patients should discuss their concerns with their physician or psychologist instead of self-medicating or visiting new doctors to get more prescriptions.
A prescription drug addiction can even get so severe that it leads to robbery, burglary, and prescription forgery – all crimes that carry stiff penalties. Symptoms of prescription drug addiction include paranoia, mood swings, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, dizziness, confusion, slurred speech, visiting multiple doctors for the same ailment, and quickly going through large sums of money.
If you or someone you know has a prescription drug addiction, seek help immediately from a licensed prescription drug addiction treatment center. Your quality of life will improve dramatically when you decide to kick the habit, but you may not be able to do that alone. A prescription drug addiction may actually make the original ailment even worse, so it is important to seek help quickly from professional counselors. They have experience in treating prescription drug addiction and may have even experienced the addiction first-hand. Having a support network of understanding, supportive, and optimistic people can make all the difference in your recovery journey.