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What Is Pharmaceuticals Addiction?
Pharmaceutical drug addiction is described as the compulsive of use of pharmaceutical drugs. When the addiction affects the person's social, financial and work life, then the person must acknowledge that perhaps a problem exists. Not only will a pharmaceutical addiction affect a person's social, financial and work life, but their health may also deteriorate as a result.
People that are abusing pharmaceutical may become frantic if someone is threatening to discontinue the use of the drug. Pharmaceutical drug addiction typically begins from a legitimate prescription after an injury. The patient enjoys the way he or she feels after taking the drug, and they continue to take the drug long after the prescription is over.
Poly-pharmacy addiction occurs when the person takes the medication beyond the prescribed use and uses the medication with other pharmaceuticals to increase the effects. People that are suffering from poly-pharmacy addiction may have decrease memory, social responsibility and detached feelings. Their sense of perception may be clouded and their awareness weakens.
People that abuse pharmaceutical drugs change their brain chemistry. As a result, their bodies becomes less effective at producing natural chemicals such as dopamine. Pharmaceutical abuse is a dangerous practice.
Poly-pharmacy addicts justify their behavior with a number of statements, such as: "I have a prescription," "I feel depressed if I stop," "I like the way it makes me feel" or "I cannot function if I stop." There statements alone are not enough to prove that a person has a problem. However, the statements may be an indicator if someone is using the drug obsessively beyond the prescribed date.
Patients may also list more symptoms to get more of the medication. Patients may shop around to multiple doctors to get multiple prescriptions for the pharmaceutical drugs as well. They also may steal or hurt themselves to get more of the medication.
If the person is suspected of pharmaceutical addiction, the person may also experience anxiety, depression, insomnia, excessive sleeping or lack of interest in relationships. The patient may also experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using drugs. People with a history of drug use are more likely to abuse pharmaceutical drugs.
How Can Pharmaceuticals Addiction Be Treated?
When people begin to use drugs beyond the physician's recommended prescription or the drugs are combined with other pharmaceuticals, it may be time to seek help. Polypharmacy is an indication that the patient is abusing the pharmaceutical drug and that the patient may be addicted. If the cravings or addictions are compulsive then this could mean that the patient is addicted. There are programs that can help those that are addicted to pharmaceutical drugs.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the number of people seeking treatment for painkiller addiction increased 400 percent from 1998 to 2008. Expert treatment centers are scattered throughout the United States to help people that are suffering from pharmaceutical drug addictions and dependencies. A medically supervised intervention can help the person take charge of their drug addiction and increase their health.
According to experts at a drug rehabilitation clinic, pharmaceutical drugs create perpetual stress. Pharmaceutical drugs often have toxic and damaging results, and they may also be responsible for nutrient deficiencies. Pharmaceuticals can destroy nutrients and the benefits of the drug are negated. Detox programs will help people become less dependent on drugs and begin to lead a healthier life.
Pharmaceutical addicts may choose to go to group counseling such as Narcotics Anonymous or see a private drug counselor or psychotherapist. For detoxification, hospital-based programs may be required. Numerous programs are located in Malibu or in Betty Ford clinics. Lesser known clinics are effective as well.
A private psychotherapist may also help the patient through detoxification at home. Psychotherapists may identify trigger points and help patients avoid situations that encourage them to abuse the drugs. Mental awareness and training can help patients learn new ways to cope with stress.
In the detoxification process, physicians may administer methadone to ease the process. Depending upon the severity of the addiction, the hospital program may last for weeks, months or even a year. Most people cannot quit alone and therefore, need the help of a physician to monitor the process.
Once detoxification is complete, therapy will continue to teach people to cope with their addiction. If the person was abusing pharmaceuticals to mask another illness, that illness will be addressed simultaneously after detoxification. If you or someone you know has an addiction, there are many options available to help you. Consider a detoxification program and counseling to help with your addiction.
How Big of a Problem is Farmaceuticals Addiction?
In September of 2010, law enforcement officials acknowledged that crime was linked to the abuse of pharmaceutical prescription drugs and painkillers. The new addictions were linked to individuals that burglarized wealthy homes. Instead of police officers urging people to turn in their handguns to the police, the law enforcement officials began to urge people to turn in their pharmaceutical drugs. The crimes linked to prescription drugs were astounding, according to major sources such as the Washington Post and New York Times.
Law enforcement officials not only linked home invasions to prescription drugs, but also assaults, thefts, robberies and homicides. Addicts desperate to get there high from the drugs were actually breaking into wealthy homes to steal pharmaceuticals and other items. The criminals targeted the elderly, sick and any other person that stored drugs in the homes. Opiate painkillers in particular were linked to increased crime rates all over the nation.
Last year, Take-Back Day raised awareness about the increasing problem of pharmaceutical addiction. The initiative urged people battling an addiction to return their opiate painkillers, Vicodin, Percocet and Xanax over to the local authorities at Wal-Mart stations, zoos or sports complexes. Pearland, Texas, Wichita, Kansas and Peoria, Arizona all participated in the Prescription Drug Take-Back program.
The program is also a part of an initiative to dispose of the drugs in an environmentally friendly way, so that they do not seep into our water supply. The Environmental Protection agency is currently researching the effects of these pharmaceutical drugs and other drugs that are reaching the nation's water supply.
Many law enforcement officials stated that there was a decrease in gun crimes after the gun buyback program was implemented. Unfortunately, there is no reward for turning in prescription drugs. Experts are unsure how effective the program will be without a reward. Many addicts would rather keep their Oxcytocin, Percocet or other pills if there is no reward offered.
The data shows that addicted people are becoming more desperate and are willing to do near anything to get a hold of both prescription and illegal drugs. For instance, addicts are now visiting real estate open houses. They distract the realtor and then, steal the pharmaceuticals from the medicine cabinets.
In another instance, an elderly man in Massachusetts was bound and gagged while desperate addicts searched for his Oxcytocin supply. An elderly woman in Maine was robbed at gunpoint for her Oxcytocin. The problem is becoming widespread.
Deaths from drugs in 17 states, now exceed the number of deaths from motor vehicle accidents. People are dying from adverse drug reactions and interactions. Nearly 20,000 Americans in 2009 died from adverse drug reactions. Some experts believe the numbers may be higher. Opiates are the main culprit of many of the deaths.
Although Take-Back Day has raised an awareness of the growing pharmaceutical addiction problem, experts suggest that this does not address the actual problem. Physicians are overprescribing the drugs and addicts are not using the drugs according to the doctor's prescription. Between 2007 and 2009, the number of oxycodone prescriptions increased by 66 percent in New York. Most of the prescriptions were filled for middle class households in Staten Island and Chelsea.
Pharmaceutical sales people earn a hefty commission for selling the drugs to physicians. The more the drugs are prescribed by doctors and used by the patients, the richer the sales people become. The decision boils down to whether the pharmaceutical sales people salaries are more important than the addict's personal health and the safety of the people harmed when addicts steal to fuel their addiction.
Additionally, no one is paying attention to why these pharmaceuticals are highly addictive. If the scientists could determine why the pharmaceuticals promote addictive behavior, then potentially they could help addicts.