When you talk to people about Xanax, there seems to be a perception that there are no dangers associated with this medication. While that is true when it is taken per a doctor’s orders, Xanax abuse can lead to addiction relatively quickly. Xanax is used mainly as a tranquilizer to help people find relief from anxiety disorders. It is usually prescribed for long periods of time, which can lead directly to addiction. The irony is that once a person has recovered from their debilitating panic or anxiety through the use of Xanax, they now have to deal with the painful withdrawal symptoms as they fight their addiction to the medication.  

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Valium has been prescribed to treat anxiety disorders since the 1960s. Due to the initial problems suffered by those who are prescribed Valium, it can be very easy for someone to begin to abuse the drug. Valium is very easy for people to obtain because it is prescribed so often. It is given to people to calm their nerves for things as routine as a dentist’s appointment as well as treatment of severe anxiety. Most households probably have a half-empty bottle of Valium in a back drawer somewhere.  

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It has been shown that individuals who abuse alcohol are more likely to abuse prescription drugs as well.  Individuals under the age of 25 are especially susceptible. Researchers at the University of Michigan have shown that men and women who abuse alcohol are 18 times more likely to abuse prescription drugs.  This is of great concern because using alcohol while taking the most commonly abused prescription medications can be a deadly combination.  At least seven percent of those claiming to abuse alcohol and prescription drugs claim to have taken them at the same time within the last year. 

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Every day, many Americans are admitted to emergency rooms in hospitals across the country due to complications with prescription drug abuse.  This could be the result of many factors to include taking too many drugs at once or combining them with alcohol – a potentially deadly cocktail.  An individual who abuses prescription drugs may also experience mood disorders.  Some common affects on mood include:  lack of mental clarity, erratic behavior, a frequent state of confusion, anxiousness, the inability to sleep or sleeping too much and hyperactivity or increased alertness.   

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Some of the most frequently abused prescription drugs include Vicodin, OxyContin, Xanax, Ritalin and Adderall.  For those abusing prescription drugs, some common behaviors can be indicative that a problem with addiction may be present.  Some obvious red flags include the following:  requesting frequent prescription refills, random medical appointments, frequently switching doctors, lying, previous or current illicit drug use, lack of pain relief with any prescription drug, and asking for prescription drugs from family members.  Other behaviors that may be signs of abuse include problems at work or decreased social activity and the refusal of random drug screenings.   

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With the increase in the abuse of prescription drugs the question of who is abusing prescription drugs becomes a relevant one.  Are abusers from the middle or upper class or are most of them college students looking to have a good time?  Perhaps they can be found on the street, panhandling for every dollar they get. The answer is prescription drug abusers can be found in all of these categories and more. They are doctors, fathers and mothers, teenagers, college students, prostitutes, truck drivers – basically they come from all walks of life.   

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Drug abuse among college students is becoming a problem. According to a 2004 survey of college students, it is estimated that 7.4 percent have used the painkiller known as Vicodin without a prescription.  Prescription drug abuse is highest among men. Prescription drug abuse is also higher at schools located in the Northeast, among Whites and among fraternity and sorority members.   

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There is a negative effect on the quality of life for those abusing prescription drugs. However, for pregnant women in this situation the concern is for the mother as well as the unborn child.  It has been determined that around five percent of pregnant women have used illicit drugs at some time during their pregnancy.  And the sad fact is this estimate is considered to be on the low end.  The affects on the mother and unborn child include a higher risk for pre-eclampsia, low birth weight, delivery complications, not enough weight gain by the mother, postpartum depression, maternal suicide and a host of issues after the infant’s birth. 

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The media headlines come and go reference prescription drug abuse by celebrities such as Anna Nicole Smith and Michael Jackson but many still struggle with abuse.  If you think you may suffer from prescription drug abuse it’s important to realize that the end result can be the same as some of the celebrities – death.  Prescription drug abuse can lead to many physical problems to include drowsiness, constipation, low heart rate, anxiety and paranoia to name a few.  According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 9 million people abused prescription drugs in 1999. 

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The abuse of prescription drugs has become an increasing problem in the United States since the 1990’s.  The illegal use of prescription opioids, which include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin), propoxyphene (Darvon), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), meperidine (Demerol), and diphenoxylate (Lomotil), has increased from 600,000 in 1990 to more than 5.2 million abusers in 2006.  Who is a prescription drug abuser?  A prescription drug abuser is anyone who takes prescription medication that is not prescribed for them or takes it for reasons or in doses other than as prescribed. 

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