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****THE HARD FACTS ABOUT PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADDICTION****
Posted: Monday, April 20, 2015 12:00 am | Updated: 12:03 am, Mon Apr 20, 2015 I Compiled from www.drugs.com
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Addiction starts with abuse. In 2011, 52 million people in the US over the age of 12 used prescription drugs non-medically at least once in their lifetime, 6.2 million in the past month. Abuse of prescription narcotic painkillers sit at the heart of the epidemic.

» The abuse of prescription drugs has risen to unprecedented levels. In fact, the number of people undergoing treatment for prescription painkiller drug abuse and addiction quadrupled from 2004 to 2010. In March 2014, the U.S. Attorney General stated that the growing number of deaths from prescription painkiller overdoses is an ‘urgent and growing public health crisis’.

» In 2012, young adults aged 18 to 25 used prescription drugs nonmedically at a rate of 5.3 percent — similar to rates in 2010-2011 rates, and lower than the 6.4 percent rate in 2009, according to SAMHSA. But opiate painkillers are not the only prescription drug subject to abuse and addiction.

» According to the National Institute of Health 2013 Monitoring the Future Survey, just over 28 percent of 12th graders in the survey had abused prescription medications in the previous 12 months. Six of the 11 drugs that were surveyed were prescription drugs. The top prescription drugs abused by teens included the ADHD stimulant Adderall (amphetamine mixed salts), Vicodin (acetaminophen/hydrocodone), and cold medicines. Unfortunately, ADHD medications and painkillers like hydrocodone are often easily accessible from the home medicine cabinet.

» Addiction is a chronic brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful effects to the individual and others. Drug dependence is a complex disease process and the drug abuser cannot voluntarily stop their use of illicit or prescription drugs. People who become addicted to drugs are not necessarily immoral or lacking in character; in fact, drug addiction occurs throughout the mainstream of society. Brain circuit changes may challenge an addicted person’s self-control and hamper his or her ability to resist intense impulses to take drugs.

» Any opioid-based painkiller can lead to addiction. Opioid derivatives — or narcotics — are commonly used in prescription painkillers. Morphine, oxymorphone (Opana ER), oxycodone (Oxycontin, Oxecta), hydrocodone (Zohydro ER), codeine, methadone, and fentanyl are examples of the potent opiate medications at the center of the U.S. addiction epidemic. Also concerning is that many of these medications (such as Lorcet, Tylenol with Codeine #3, Vicodin) may also contain acetaminophen, which in itself can be toxic to the liver at excessive doses.

» All opioids (narcotics) will produce various levels of central nervous system depression and side effects such as drowsiness and sedation. In an overdose, you might notice stupor, coma, slurred speech, clammy skin, pinpoint pupils, and low blood pressure. The most dangerous side effect of an opioid overdose is slowed or arrested breathing. This risk is multiplied when the narcotic is combined with alcohol or other CNS depressants. If you believe someone has overdosed on narcotics, call 911 immediately.

» Benzodiazepines such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), triazolam (Halcion), or lorazepam (Ativan) are a drug class at high risk for abuse and addiction. These drugs are prescribed medically to lower anxiety or for sleep. Clues of abuse include a slurred speech, poor concentration, lowered inhibitions, and impaired coordination. Like opiates, slowed breathing are risks with benzodiazepines, especially when combined with alcohol and other CNS depressants.







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