There are three classes of prescription drugs that are the most likely to be abused. They are are stimulants, opiates and sedatives. These drugs all work through the suppression or promotion of brain chemicals and their reactions. Prescription drug abuse tends to be harder to track than illicit drug abuse. Prescription drugs are easily and legally obtained. Similarly, the signs of prescription drug abuse are not always easily identified.
If you think a loved one might be abusing prescription drugs, you might start noticing unusual mood swings. You could possibly notice many doctor or pharmacy visits. As prescription drug abuse gets worse, you might notice drugs in your own medicine cabinet mysteriously going missing. Many patients start stealing money or prescription drugs from friends and family. Pay attention to unusual behavior surrounding prescription drug use.
What are Some Physical Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse?
The signs of prescription drug abuse vary depending on the type of drug is being taken. Sedative addiction might result in confusion, intoxication, unsteady movements, involuntary movements, poor judgment and memory loss. Abuse of stimulants can result in agitation, high body temperature with no apparent outside source, hostility, paranoia, sudden weight loss and irregular heartbeat. Patients abusing opiates might show signs of depression, decrease in blood pressure, confusion, digestive irregularities and difficulty breathing.
Opiate abuse can also result in serious withdrawal symptoms if the person stops using them or suddenly reduces their dosage. These can include severe chills, seizures, vomiting, sharp muscle pains, cardiac arrest and involuntary leg movements. It’s also very common for people abusing prescription drugs to mix them with other drugs or alcohol, which sets up the scenario for a fatal overdose.
Prescription Drug Abuse Recovery
Recovering from prescription drug abuse can be a long and arduous road, but it is possible and it’s important to seek treatment as soon as you realize there’s a problem. People sometimes think they can overcome an addiction on their own. Unfortunately, this tends to make the person feel worse about their inability to quit. Addiction is a disease that must be treated through professional means and the first step to treatment is often medical detox.
Serenity House Detox & Recovery in Florida offers the following to get you started on the path to prescription drug addiction recovery:
- personalized therapy
- evidence-based treatment
- highly trained staff
- medical stabilization
Serenity House has two locations in Jupiter and Fort Lauderdale, and offers leading-edge detox for painkiller abuse and other substances. Call 866-294-5306 and start your new life free from prescription painkiller addiction.
