A Look at What Prescription Drugs are Most Addictive and Why
Prescription drugs, contrary to popular belief, can be just as addictive as illicit substances. Unfortunately, the medical applications of a medication does not mean they are safe by default. Prescription drug addiction is on the rise, and anyone can can fall victim to this disease.
A question everybody needs to ask to avoid serious issues is: “What are the most addictive prescription drugs?” The most addictive prescription drugs fall into three different categories: stimulants, opioids, and tranquilizers.
South Shores Detox offers comprehensive treatment options for prescription drug addictions as well as any other drugs you may be struggling with. Whether you need mental health care, substance abuse care, or a combination of the two, South Shores Detox has treatment options right for you.
Throughout this post you will learn about the most addictive prescription drugs, how they are abused, and the differences between them. You will also learn how important a medical detox is when using addictive medications. Keep reading if you want to learn more about the most addictive prescription medications and how South Shores Detox can help with getting off of them.
The Different Types of Addictive Prescription Drugs
Stimulant Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Medications
Stimulants are often prescribed to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adderall, Vyvanse, and Ritalin are all examples of amphetamine stimulants commonly prescribed to help manage these conditions. All of these medications are very similar in chemical structure to methamphetamine and create the same effect.
Prescription stimulants create a sense of euphoria and energy. This effect makes them very desirable to people with substance abuse issues. Amphetamines can be highly addictive and because of this, they are some of the most regulated prescriptions available today.
Tranquilizers Like Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates
Benzodiazepines and barbiturates are two other prescription drugs that are highly addictive. Both have been classically prescribed for anxiety, panic disorders, anesthesia, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
They are both incredibly dangerous tranquilizers that when used in abundance cause severe withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawals from these two drugs, along with alcohol, are the only withdrawals that can be fatal.
On top of being physically dependent, they also can create a severe psychological addiction as well. Creating a sense of not having anxiety can be incredibly addictive, especially for those who suffer from constant worry.
Famously, Marilyn Monroe died from an overdose of phenobarbital, a barbiturate. Rapper Lil Peep died from an overdose of Xanax, a benzodiazepine that was cut with fentanyl.
Benzodiazepines like Valium, Xanax, and Klonopin have replaced barbiturates for the most part, but they are very similar drugs in chemical makeup.
Benzodiazepine and Barbiturate Withdrawal Symptoms Can Be Deadly
Medical detox for substance abuse is crucial if you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines or barbiturates as they can be deadly.
South Shores Detox offers a supervised medical detox to facilitate a safe transition to a better way of life.
The Most Addictive Prescription Drugs: Opioids
Opioids are considered to be the most addictive prescription drugs. This is because they create an intense addictive euphoria and painless feeling, and also have painful withdrawal symptoms.
Prescription drugs like Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet, Morphine, and Fentanyl are all prescription opioids. Heroin and powder Fentanyl are the two most commonly abused street opioids. Fentanyl is used in emergency rooms for anesthesia and severe pain relief.
According to the National Institute of Health website, “2 million people have an opioid use disorder involving prescription opioids” and “almost 600,000 have an opioid use disorder associated with heroin.”
This shows how much more prescription drug addiction accounts for opioid use compared to illicit substance misuse. Opioid overdose is the primary concern when someone abuses opioid painkillers. Taking too many will inevitably lead to death because of respiratory depression.
A medical detox, like the one offered at South Shores Detox, is an important part of a person’s recovery because stopping abruptly causes debilitating withdrawal symptoms.
These symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, aches everywhere in your body, sneezing, and runny eyes and nose. It is one of the most miserable feelings you could imagine.
The Opioid Epidemic in America
The opioid epidemic is a term frequently thrown around in the media and is an accurate appraisal of what happened in the mid to late 2000s and continues to a certain extent today.
Purdue Pharmaceuticals began pushing a new prescription medication called OxyContin. It was a high-dose, time-release formulation of the drug oxycodone. Although science had long ago determined that all opioid painkillers are addictive drugs, Purdue advertised OxyContin as being non-addictive.
They offered huge incentives for doctors to prescribe it for minor pain when it had historically only been prescribed in severe situations like surgery or cancer.
OxyContin’s time-release formulation could also be tampered with very easily, and people began snorting, injecting, and even smoking the pills. The pills were everywhere in the mid-2000s. It seemed as though everyone had a prescription.
From OxyContin to Heroin Overnight
After facing heavy scrutiny, Purdue added a tamper-resistant substance to the pill’s formulation and they could not be injected, snorted, or smoked anymore. This combined with a crackdown on the availability of the medication from doctors led to many people losing their ability to get these addictive drugs.
When all these newly created addicted individuals couldn’t get their medication, they all began turning to heroin. Heroin was cheaper, stronger, and easier to abuse. This whole situation has devastated countless lives and proves that opioids are the most addictive prescription drugs.
A Stark Reality, But There is a Solution
Prescription drug addiction is a terrible reality of the world we live in. However, these medications have legitimate uses. Someone suffering from panic attacks benefits greatly from Xanax, and if you are in a catastrophic accident you will likely benefit from morphine or some other opioid.
Those who develop an addiction to these medications can recover. Recovery is possible if you seek professional help. South Shores Detox has many programs available to help you recover.
South Shores Detox Offers Proven Support for Lasting Recovery
Coming to detox can be the first leg in your journey to taking control of your life and recovering from an addiction to prescription medications.
Our inpatient medical detox can give you the medical supervision you need to get these poisons out of your body. This is only the beginning though. Their program will teach you coping skills that can change the way you view these medications.
A new life free from the shackles of prescription drug addiction awaits you. Freeing yourself from an addiction to prescription medications can be treated and maintained. Call South Shores Detox today!