Prescription Painkiller Addiction

Adults And Young People Alike Are Falling Prey To Prescription Painkiller Addiction But Contributing Factors To This Differ Quite A Bit
The Ability Of Prescription Painkillers To Dull Physical And Emotional Pain May Appeal To More Adults, While Younger People Tend To Use Them For Fun
Prescription painkiller abuse is on the rise and is quickly becoming an epidemic in this country. One of the chief appeals of these drugs is they lack the stigma of most illegal street drugs. A doctor prescribes them so they seem more legitimate.
Prescription painkiller abuse has grown in popularity among teens and adults for many reasons. Teens, one of the fastest growing populations of users, are drawn to these drugs for various reasons. They’re often easy to get. Bottles of painkillers, stimulants and other prescription drugs are often found in medicine cabinets, purses and in lockers at home and school. Most painkillers provide teens with the quick high they are looking for, offering them a sense of euphoria and helping to lower inhibitions.
Many teens feel that because these drugs are prescriptions, they are safer and less addictive than street drugs. They may also feel they aren’t doing anything illegal because these medications are medically prescribed. Prescription painkillers that are opiates may also be attractive to some because of the side effects they offer, such as providing a sense of calm.
Teens may be introduced to these drugs often by exposure or accessibility -someone they know is taking them. Perhaps they exhibit an addictive personality and easily fall prey to peer pressure. For some, they just want to self-medicate to rid themselves of depression, anxiety, feelings of low self-esteem, shyness, or loneliness or to deal with anger.
Adults who have abused other substances such as alcohol or cocaine are more likely to abuse prescriptions medications intentionally. However, many fall into their use accidentally. Many adults seek the assistance of prescription painkillers for legitimate pain conditions. They are prescribed these drugs by their doctors for pain and end up becoming opiate dependent.
Abuse Of Pain Meds Can Devastate Lives
Prescription painkiller dependence can happen quickly. The body quickly becomes accustomed to the drug and a tolerance develops, causing the person to have to take more to achieve the same effects. These drugs not only have the ability to soothe pain but can also produce sedating effects and bring about a feeling of euphoria and a sense of wellbeing.
These side effects can be appealing if they’re able to reduce the pressures of daily life, numb stress and take the edge off difficult situations. For some people, it only takes a few exposures to these medications before they escalate use.
The downside is that positive effects of these drugs don’t last long and can come with dire consequence. Many people end up chasing positive opiate side effects. Once a patient develops an addiction to prescription painkillers and the condition takes hold, it can destroy them both physically and mentally, quickly ripping apart their lives.