Amongst the many drug addictions that are found in today’s society, prescription drug abuse is becoming more common. The ease of availability and the variety of drugs that can be obtained makes prescription drug abuse a popular choice, especially amongst school kids.

Prescription drug abuse is the misuse of drugs that are commonly prescribed by doctors, usually for common ailments. Prescription drug addiction can result from developing a reliance on a certain drug that was initially taken for the right reasons. Other times, prescription drugs are obtained by faking an illness.

There are three main types of prescription drugs that are commonly abused: Stimulants, Opioids and Central Nervous System Depressants. Stimulants are generally prescribed to treat sleep and attention deficit disorders. Opioids are used in pain relief treatment and CNS Depressants are most often used to treat anxiety.

Some examples of Stimulants are Dexedrine, Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta. Stimulants generally produce an increase in respiration and heart rate, as well as alertness and energy. Due to the increase in the drug abuse of stimulant drugs, medical use has been drastically decreased, reserved for conditions such as Narcolepsy and ADHD. Opioids, such as Kadian, Avinza, Percocet, Percodan and OxyContin, are used for pain management, producing decreased heart rate and respiration. Valium, Xanax and Mebaral are examples of CNS Depressants. These drugs are usually used in the treatment of insomnia and anxiety.

Prescription drug addiction generally starts with legitimate treatment for one of the above mentioned disorders or ailments. The problem develops when the patient feels they cannot function properly without the drug, even once the disorder or ailment has totally disappeared. They continue to obtain prescriptions for these drugs, falling deeper into addictive behavior. However, prescription drug addiction often results from the faking of an illness, just to obtain the drug. This is a practice most often used by young people, keen on impressing their friends or falling under the strong influence of peer pressure. Another common behavior involved in prescription drug addiction is what is known as doctor-shopping. This is where the addict goes from one doctor to another, faking all kinds of ailments just to obtain a prescription for the drug they are addicted to. This is referred to as prescription fraud.

In 1999, an estimated 9 million Americans were classed as being addicted to prescribed drugs. The problem of prescription drug addiction has grown drastically since then, alongside over the counter drugs, as these are the most easily attainable and explainable abused drugs. Prescription drug rehabilitation can prove difficult as users tend to think that they are not abusing drugs by having a prescription for one. This is simply not true. Any drug rehabilitation program requires the user to first admit that they have a problem, and then commit themselves to playing an active part in the drug rehabilitation process. Determination, willpower and strength are the key, combined with a good detoxification and recovery program, to successful prescription drug rehabilitation as well as the full support of family and friends.