Prescription Drugs
Which Prescription Drugs are Most Commonly Abused
Prescription opioid drugs are now a epidemic across the United States of America. A few other prescription drug that are being abused are ,depressants for anxiety and sleep disorders, and stimulants for ADHD and narcolepsy. Below is a list of prescription drugs that could lead to abuse.
Opiods
- Fentanyl (Duragesic®)
- Diphenoxylate (Lomotil®)
- Hydrocodone (Vicodin®)
- Hydromorphone (Dilaudid®)
- Meperidine (Demerol®)
- Oxycodone (OxyContin®)
- Oxymorphone (Opana®)
- Propoxyphene (Darvon®)
Depressants
- Alprazolam (Xanax®)
- Diazepam (Valium®)
- Pentobarbital sodium (Nembutal®)
Stimulants
- Amphetamines (Adderall®)
- Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine®)
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin® and Concerta®)
Which treatments are available for prescription drug use disorders
Years of research have revealed that substance use disorders are brain disorders that can be treated adequately. Treatment must take into consideration the type of drug used and the needs of the person. Effective treatment may need to include several components, such as counseling, detoxification, and medications. Many courses of treatment may be necessary for the person to make a full recovery.
The two main kinds of drug addiction treatment are medication treatment and behavioral treatment. Behavioral therapies help individuals end drug use by breaking unhealthy patterns of thinking and behavior by teaching strategies to handle cravings and avoid cues and circumstances that could lead to relapse. Behavioral therapies work with individual, family, or group counseling, and can improve patients’ personal relationships and their ability to function at work and in society.
Addiction to prescription opioids may be treated with medications, including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. These drugs are able to counter the effects of opioids on the brain or reduce cravings, and withdrawal symptoms. Medications for treatment of addiction are given in combination with psychosocial support or behavioral therapies, known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
What steps should you take if you are addicted to depressants?
An individual addicted to central nervous system (CNS) depressants such as sedatives, tranquilizers, and hypnotics should not try to stop taking them on their own. The withdrawal symptoms can be harsh and—in the case of certain medications—potentially life-threatening. So far research on treating addiction to CNS depressants is limited.
Nevertheless, patients who are addicted to these medications should undergo medically supervised detoxification, so that the drug use is tapered off gradually. Inpatient or outpatient counseling can help patients throughout this process.