Doctors prescribe some special medications like painkillers, tranquilizers, stimulants and sedatives to treat ailments like sleep disorders, nerve disorders and severe pain. Some people knowingly or unknowingly misuse them and get addicted. This is called prescription drug abuse. There are three types of medications that can be misused- Opiates, Central Nerves System Depressants and Stimulants.
According to National Institute of Drug Abuse, an estimated 48 million people (20%) who are aged 12 and above of US people have used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes or reasons. It is a serious and growing problem for the society. The elder people are among the most likely to prescription drug abuse or misuse, as they are prescribed more medications. And on the other side most of the younger people are abusing prescription drugs knowingly.
Types of Abused Prescription Drugs
There are chiefly three types of drugs that can be misused often that are prescribed by doctors –
Opioids: Opioids are prescribed to treat pain. Opioids are very much useful in decreasing the intensity of pain during and after surgery. Morphine, codeine, oxycodone (oxyContin), propoxyphene (darvon), hydrocodone (vicodin), hydromorphone (dilaudid) and meperidine are some of the opioids. A large single dose intake of opioid could cause severe respiratory depression that can lead to death.
Central Nerves System (CNS) Depressants: These are used to slow down normal brain function by altering the communication among the brain cells to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. CNS Depressants are classified into two types- Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines. Barbiturates are used to treat over-anxiety, tension and sleeping disorders. Benzodiazepines are used to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions and panic attacks.
Stimulants: Stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy, which also results in the increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. Historically, stimulants were used to treat asthma and other respiratory problems, obesity, neurological disorders, and a variety of other ailments. Now they are being used to treat narcolepsy, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and depression that has failed to respond to other treatments.
Many people use prescribed drugs responsibly. But a considerable number of people are misusing them unintentionally. One should be aware of the medications they are using and should not use them beyond prescription to avoid serious health problems.
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