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Substance use - prescription drugs

Substance use disorder - prescription drugs; Substance abuse - prescription drugs; Drug abuse - prescription drugs; Drug use - prescription drugs; Narcotics - substance use; Opioid - substance use; Sedative - substance use; Hypnotic - substance use; Benzodiazepine - substance use; Stimulant - substance use; Barbiturate - substance use; Codeine - substance use; Oxycodone - substance use; Hydrocodone - substance use; Morphine - substance use; Fentanyl - substance use

When a medicine is not taken in the way it is meant to be used and a person is addicted to it, the problem is called prescription drug use disorder. People who have this disorder take the drugs because the chemicals in the medicines have psychoactive effects. Psychoactive means having an effect on the way the brain functions. In short, the drugs are used to get high.

Types of Drugs That are Misused

Common types of drugs that are misused include depressants, opioids, and stimulants.

DEPRESSANTS

These medicines are also known as tranquilizers and sedatives. They are prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep problems.

Types of drugs and their street names include:

When used to get high, they cause feelings of well-being, intense happiness, and excitement. As street drugs, depressants come in pills or capsules and are usually swallowed.

Harmful effects of depressants on the body include:

Long-time users may have life-threatening withdrawal symptoms if they try to stop the drug abruptly.

OPIOIDS

Opioids are powerful painkillers. They are prescribed to treat pain after surgery or a dental procedure. Sometimes they are used to treat severe cough or diarrhea.

Types of opioids and their street names include:

When used to get high, opioids cause a person to feel relaxed and intensely happy. As street drugs, they come as powder, pills or capsules, or syrup. They can be swallowed, injected, smoked, put into the rectum, or inhaled through the nose (snorted).

Harmful effects of opioids on the body include:

In high doses, opioid intoxication can result, which can cause breathing problems, coma, or death.

STIMULANTS

These are drugs that stimulate the brain and body. They make the messages between the brain and body move faster. As a result, the person is more alert and physically active. Stimulants such as amphetamines are prescribed to treat health problems such as obesity, narcolepsy, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Types of stimulants and their street names include:

When used to get high, stimulants cause a person to feel excited, very alert, and have increased energy. Some people use the drugs, especially amphetamines, to help them stay awake on the job or to study for a test. Others use them to boost their performance in sports.

As street drugs, they come as pills. They can be swallowed, injected, smoked, or inhaled through the nose (snorted).

Harmful effects of stimulants on the body include:

Prescription Drug Addiction

You usually do not get addicted to prescription medicines when you take them at the right dosage to treat your health condition.

Addiction means your body and mind are dependent on the drug. You are not able to control your use of it and you need it to get through daily life.

Drug use over a period of time can lead to tolerance. Tolerance means you need more and more of the drug to get the same feeling. And if you try to stop using, your mind and body may have reactions. These are called withdrawal symptoms, and may include:

Treatment Options

Treatment begins with recognizing there is a problem. Once you decide you want to do something about your drug use, the next step is to get help and support.

Treatment programs use behavior change techniques through counseling (talk therapy). The goal is to help you understand your behaviors and why you use drugs. Involving family and friends during counseling can help support you keep you from going back to using (relapsing). Treatment programs also teach you how to better deal with situations that led you to use or to relapse in the past.

With some drug addictions, such as opioids, medicines may also be used to help reduce the effects of opioids on the brain. Other medicines may be used to lessen cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

If you have severe withdrawal symptoms, you may need to stay at a live-in treatment program. There, your health and safety can be monitored as you recover.

Your Ongoing Recovery

As you recover, focus on the following to help prevent relapse:

Resources

Resources that may help you on your road to recovery include:

Your workplace employee assistance program (EAP) is also a good resource.

When to Call the Doctor

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you or someone you know is addicted to prescription drugs and needs help stopping. Also call if you are having withdrawal symptoms that concern you.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Opioid overdose. www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/index.html. Updated July 19, 2022. Accessed August 17, 2022.

Kowalchuk A, Reed BC. Substance use disorders. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 50.

National Institute on Drug Abuse website. Misuse of prescription drugs research report. www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/misuse-prescription-drugs/overview. Updated June 2020. Accessed August 17, 2022.

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Review Date: 4/30/2022  

Reviewed By: Fred K. Berger, MD, addiction and forensic psychiatrist, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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