It is crucial to recognize the intricate relationship between mental health and substance use and to prioritize comprehensive care that addresses both aspects of well-being. It is not uncommon for mental health problems and substance abuse to coexist, as they often influence and exacerbate each other. For instance, underlying mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder can be worsened by drug use, intensifying the symptoms and making it even more challenging to seek the necessary help. Understanding prescription drug risks is crucial to ensure safe and effective medication use. While these substances can be incredibly effective under medically supervised care, the effects of prescription drug abuse can be uncomfortable and difficult to deal with, especially in cases of illicit, long-term, or heavy usage. Objective assessment of use reduction for illicit substances presents a greater difficulty given variability and uncertainty of the composition and purity of illicit drugs purchased.
Prescription Drug Addiction Treatment
- Common brand-name prescription stimulants include Adderall, Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Benzedrine.
- Staying on a prescription drug for longer than the mandated usage timeline will only expose you to dangerous risks.
- Understanding prescription drug risks is crucial to ensure safe and effective medication use.
- In general, prescription drug abuse refers to the use of prescription medication in an improper way.
Prescription drugs are indispensable in modern medicine, offering effective treatment options for various ailments and improving patients’ lives. These medications, available only with a prescription from a healthcare professional, are rigorously tested, diverse in type, and serve purposes ranging from disease management to symptom relief. Teens are especially susceptible to the side effects of depressants as prescription drug abuse affects them on an increasing level each year in the US. In teens, depressants can cause depression, confusion, exhaustion, and irritability. Part of this sensitivity to the drug in teens is due to naturally occurring hormonal imbalances or changes that are common to this age group.
Incontinence drugs (anticholinergics)
These are usually effective for treating acute or chronic pain a patient may experience after a surgery or injury. Sometimes, it is also useful for treating pain from a cough – examples are codeine cough syrup. However, incorrectly using prescription drugs can be significantly dangerous to your long-term behavioural, physical, and mental wellbeing.
Commonly Abused Prescription drugs and Their Long-Term Effects
These negative consequences like addiction and becoming physically dependent on drugs can be avoided with sobriety and the proper treatments. Like all stages of life, older adults are at risk for depression and anxiety. Rates of completed suicide are most prevalent among older white men who drink heavily after the loss of their spouse.135 In terms of ecological transitions, the loss of loved ones and erosion of independence are the hallmarks of older adulthood. Abusing prescription opioids can lead to severe physical and mental dependence, and ultimately, addiction. Opioids and other narcotic painkillers are highly addictive, and it doesn’t take very long for the body to form a dependency on the medication. Stopping or taking less of the drug when addicted will cause severe and distressing withdrawal symptoms.
But abstinence is a high bar comparable to requiring that an antidepressant produce complete remission of depression or that an analgesic completely eliminate pain. Recognizing this limitation, the FDA encourages developers of opioid2 and stimulant3 use disorder medications to discuss with FDA alternative approaches to measure changes in drug use patterns. If your son is addicted to prescription medications of any kind, we can prescription drug abuse help.
Short- and Long-Term Effects of Painkillers
There are a lot of benefits to get from complementary, holistic therapies and treatments. Even in chronic pain-related conditions, CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) and mindfulness are a prevalent and useful pain management tool. You are not continuing to take prescription drugs because you necessarily want to, you are taking them because you feel you HAVE to. For example, it is now well-known that tobacco smoke can cause many cancers, methamphetamine can cause severe dental problems, known as meth mouth, and that opioids can lead to overdose and death. In addition, some drugs, such as inhalants, may damage or destroy nerve cells, either in the brain or the peripheral nervous system (the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord).
Over time, they can lead to dependency and withdrawal symptoms that are difficult to manage. We at Delamere recognise that not everyone becomes dependent on prescription drugs through abusing them. A high proportion of patients we treat are taking long term prescriptions of addictive prescribed drugs. Alternative holistic and complimentary treatments are not explored – Patients may well benefit from holistic and complementary treatments and therapies. Even in chronic pain related conditions, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness have been proven to be an effective tool in pain management.
- While it may make you feel exceptional, drugs can also reduce your inhibitions.
- By offering understanding, encouragement, and resources, you can help them navigate the challenges they face and remind them that they are not alone in their battle.
- Emotionally you will start to experience overriding feelings of hopelessness, shame, depression and dissatisfaction.
- If you want to stop taking a regularly prescribed medication, regardless of whether you are abusing it or not, always seek medical advice first.
- The groups are based on their chemistry and the specific mental health condition or problem they help address.
- Controlled drugs are prescription drugs that have the greatest potential for abuse.
However, due to prescription drug abuse, one long-term side effect is that you will miss out on is their benefit. Typically, the condition that brings about the prescription is just being symptomatically treated. This is in stark contrast to the real goal of treating the cause of the condition. This is mostly true with prescription drugs used for treating mental what is alcoholism health conditions. Addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease, so it ranks up there as one of the most consequential effects of prescription drug use.
Prescription Drugs Short-Term Effects
In most cases, when dealing with the long-term effects of prescription drug abuse, you may not be able to solve the original problem. Typically, these medications are safe when used according to their prescription. However, they can become disastrous when you start to consume them in excess or high doses. Consuming one large quantity of these drugs can result in death or respiratory failure. Also, the danger opioids pose become even more significant when combined with alcohol or other substances.
Click here to find out more about the misuse of prescription drugs.
But complete abstinence is sometimes not achievable, even in the long-term, and there is a need for new treatment approaches that recognize the clinical value of reduced use. CNS depressants slow down brain activity and can cause sleepiness and loss of coordination. Continued use can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms if use is stopped. However, effective treatment for SUD should address all of a person’s mental and physical health needs.