Depression and drug abuse are a double-edged sword: depression can lead to drug abuse, and drug abuse can lead to depression. Many people in the United States today are clinically depressed and have not been diagnosed. There is a tendency to try to self-medicate undiagnosed depression through drugs and alcohol. Adolescents in particular will turn to medication as a way to ease their discomfort.  

Read More

The popular painkiller Oxycontin has become one of the most abused prescription medications in the United States. In some areas it has even passed heroin in popularity. Some of the reasons for its popularity include the quick high that you get when you crush it into powder and ingest or snort it. Initially created as a time release pain medication, crushing the tablets negates the time release mechanism and delivers the powerful drug directly to your system all at once. 

Read More

 

Read More

According to a recent report from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 20% of Americans have used prescription medicine for non-health related needs. Most of the people who tend to abuse medications are elderly, though there is evidence of a growing trend toward recreational use of prescription medicines among teenagers as well. The most commonly abused medicines are those prescribed for pain relief or emotional stability. Vicodin, Xanax, and other strong mood-altering medications can cause health problems if used improperly, and they are also highly addictive.  

Read More

ADHD medications, such as Dexedrine, are generally stimulants that can give the user a feeling of extra energy or hypersensitivity. Many people abuse these medications so that they can stay up longer or feel more alert and sensitive to any situation. Dexedrine has also become pretty popular as a way to lose weight because it increases the body’s metabolism, which burns calories quickly.  

Read More

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.  

Read More

 

Read More

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. 

Read More

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.   

Read More

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.   

Read More

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.   

Read More