*This article is excerpted from "Overcoming Prescription Drug Addiction". For more information, go to
www.prescriptiondrugaddiction.comnnPrescription drug abuse is often difficult for friends and family to recognize. Contrary to popular belief, one need not abuse drugs daily to have a problem with addiction; the pattern of abuse may be occasional or habitual. The abuse is usually an intensely private affair between the abuser and a bottle of pills. And, the pill taker is not subject to the social stigma associated with the shadowy world of street-drug dealing. Still, the following are symptoms of addiction:nn• Showing relief from anxietyn• Changes in mood—from a sense of well-being to belligerencen• False feelings of self-confidencen• Increased sensitivity to sights and sounds, including hallucinationsn• Slurred speech, poor motor controln• Decline in hygiene and appearancen• Altered activity levels—such as sleeping for twelve to fourteen hours or frenzied activity lasting for hoursn• Lack of interest in activities previously enjoyedn• Unpleasant or painful symptoms when the substance is withdrawnn• Preoccupation with running out of pillsnn
Who’s At Risk for Addiction?nWho is at risk for addiction? Medical science has also determined that those with a family history of addictions have about a threefold greater risk of developing addictions. But, in addition to family history, there are other risk factors.nThe risk for addiction is greatest among women, seniors, and, as mentioned earlier, teenagers. Women are two to three times more likely than men to be prescribed drugs such as sedatives; they are also about two times more likely to become addicted. This stems in large part from the fact that women are more likely to seek medical attention for emotional problems. Seniors take more drugs than the rest of the population and have a reduced capability of breaking them down and eliminating them; this increases their odds of becoming addicted. And, the surge in teenage abuse of prescription drugs has led to dependency among many. Other groups at increased risk for addiction are medical professionals, alcoholics, and smokers.nnOther factors that put one at risk for addiction:n• Medical condition that requires pain medicationn• Extreme stress from family tragedy or deathn• Divorcen• Excessive alcohol consumptionn• Fatigue or overworkn• Povertyn• Depressionn• Dependencyn• Poor self-imagen• ObesitynnIs everyone who takes addictive drugs at risk for addiction? The answer is no. “Twenty years ago, it was widely believed that virtually anyone who took psychoactive drugs was a likely candidate for dependency, but that thinking has changed,” states Bonnie Wilford, Executive Director of the Alliance for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention. “Our change of thought has come about as a result of our increased knowledge about addiction. For example, perhaps seven out of ten people could take tranquilizers and not progress to addiction. But those who do become addicted likely have a preexisting addictive disorder, such as predisposition to alcoholism. The difficulty is, we don't always know which patients this will be.” nThe “Unwitting” AddictnnMany individuals who become dependent on prescription drugs are “unwitting” addicts. These are individuals who have no prior history of drug abuse or addiction. They started using a prescribed drug for a legitimate problem, physical or emotional. For example, it may have been a painkiller for a back injury or a sedative for anxiety. Then, at some point, these individuals started increasing the dosages on their own because the drug made them feel better—giving them relief from physical or emotional distress. The nature of the drug required that they continue escalating the dosages to get the desired effect. Gradually, the abuse became full-blown addiction.n