Prescription drug abuse is on the rise and many more people are finding themselves with an addiction to those prescripton drugs. Think about how you feel when you’re in pain – not just a little bit of pain – a lot of pain. What is the first thing you think about? If it’s me, I think about relieving that pain. In fact, that’s one of the first and foremost thoughts in my mind – what can I do to get rid of this horrible pain?
So you go to a doctor and tell him or her about your pain, and your doctor prescribes a pain killer to help you. Aaaahhh, you feel better. You think you’ve found a bit of a miracle just by swallowing a little pill. And for a little while, it is a miracle for you.
Then you start to feel a little bit better, but you don’t stop taking the pills. Why? Because they make you feel good. They take the edge off, they help you cope, and they are almost your best friends. Without even really knowing it, you have become dependent on those pills to help you get through the day.
More and more people are finding themselves becoming addicted to prescription drugs. This is because the new prescription drugs we have on the market are so much more powerful than any others we’ve had, people begin to like and get used to the effect these drugs have on them and their mindset.
Prescription drug abuse is on the rise and before they really become aware, addiction has set in. It’s a serious problem that can lead to other types of drug abuse and needs to be addressed early in the stages of addiction.
The first step that needs to be taken is to acknowledge that there might be a problem with your prescription drug use. Many people begin to “doctor hop” to get their prescriptions filled. I know of one woman who actually had a day planner that listed her various doctor appointments along with what prescription medications they would prescribe for her.
Prescription drug abuse is just as serious as heroin drug addiction or alcoholism. The recovery period is just a little bit longer because you started taking the pills to combat pain in the first place.
Addiction can happen in an instant, believe it or not! When you can face the problem head on, you can make yourself armed with the tools you need to fight it. That includes getting as much information as you can about the health effects these drugs have on your body and what to expect when you stop using those drugs.
Prescription drug abuse and addiction is a very treatable condition. The information to help you is out there. All you have to do is look for it. Talk to people, look in the phone book, check the Internet. Your family deserves it, your friends deserve, but most of all – you deserve it!