RSS FeedLately, we have talked about how research has shown that increasing numbers of teens are abusing prescription drugs. While there are plenty of responsible teens out there, we know that adolescents have a reputation for engaging in reckless behavior. So imagine our surprise when we turned on a national morning show and learned that a sizable percentage of adult women admitted that they too had abused prescription drugs.
It was the definition of prescription drug abuse that threw some people for a loop. It seems that many people see absolutely nothing wrong with giving a friend a prescription that they are taking, but experts say that this kind of self-diagnosis is dangerous. You are probably not going to die if you take prescription drugs that have been prescribed for a friend or relative, but really there are no guarantees. And because most people pride themselves on being strong, it might never occur to them that taking a prescription that was intended for someone else could lead to addiction, but it is possible.
If you take a drug that is not prescribed for you, you really have no idea what effects this drug can have on your overall health. You may find that your body really wants more of that drug. And when you get a prescription drug from a friend, it is easy to get more of it. Friends want to help friends and so people who care about you will be happy to oblige. The problem with that is without knowing it your friend may be sending you down the road to addiction. Many a person who thought they were doing something to help themselves had no idea what they were getting into and later came to regret it.
We understand that someone who is addicted to prescription drugs may be reluctant to admit it because they feel as if drug addiction only happens to people taking illegal drugs. If you or a loved one feels that it is impossible to live without a certain prescription drug, this may be an addiction. Transitions Recovery Program’s approach to substance abuse treatment has proven extremely effective in drug treatment and alcohol treatment, and especially in long-term relapse prevention.
