Honor the power of your voice and begin your journey with us today!
Honor the power of your voice and begin your journey with us today!

Prescription Dependency

Prescription narcotics are medications with the potential to form dependency and addiction. Due to the high likelihood of abuse associated with these medications, they are restricted to prescription-only status. Unfortunately, despite government regulations, prescription dependency is an incredibly common problem many Americans face during their lifetimes. 

As a result, the formation of a prescription dependency is often in-part the fault of a prescribing physician. Providing the proper aftercare regimen and explaining the serious consequences of prescription narcotics is a vital, but often overlooked, step in prevention addiction.

Prescription Dependency

Am I at Risk of Prescription Dependency?

Initially, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the possibility of a person forming a dependency on their prescription medication.  There were people who dismissed the potential formation of a dependency on prescription drugs.

Initially, there was a lot of controversy surrounding the possibility of a person forming a dependency on their prescription medication.  There were people who dismissed the potential formation of a dependency on prescription drugs.

The original argument laid out by non-addiction specialists claimed that prescription narcotic stimulants set the stage for tolerance and cross-tolerance to other narcotic stimulants, drugs, and alcohol abuse. Essentially, this argument suggests that narcotic stimulants builds up a tolerance to stimulant drugs, therefore minimizing the risk of an individual forming an addiction to any other substances.

However, addictions specialists recognized the patterns of low self-esteem and overwhelming frustration often associated with untreated mental health disorders in childhood. They believed that the negative impacts of attention-deficit disorders would serve as fertile ground for the development of a substance use disorder. 

Eventually, it became clear that prescription stimulant use can lead to substance dependence later on in life.

As a result, the medical community now provides a litany of support for alternative non-narcotic medications, therapies, and other methods for the treatment of ADD, ADHD and narcolepsy.

Prescription Dependency to Narcotic Stimulants

Prescription narcotic stimulants are primarily prescribed for attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy in children, adolescents and adults.

When people take more prescribed narcotic-stimulants than directed, and do so frequently, they are capable of becoming physically and emotionally dependent on prescription narcotic stimulant medication.

Mental symptoms of prescription narcotic stimulant dependence include:

  • Hyper-talkative
  • Incomplete thoughts
  • Anxiety
  • Aggression
  • Violent outbursts
  • Paranoia
  • Mania
  • Psychosis

Behavioral symptoms of prescription narcotic stimulant dependence include:

  • Relationship problems
  • Financial problems
  • Irresponsible behaviors
  • Risky behaviors
  • Declining hygiene

Physical symptoms of prescription narcotic stimulant dependence include:

  • Insomnia
  • Poor appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Headaches
  • Dry mouth
  • Nausea
  • Upset stomach
  • Malnutrition
  • Restlessness
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • High blood pressure
  • High body temperature
  • Pounding heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness
  • Chest pain
  • Seizures

Prescription narcotic stimulant dependence can happen to anyone, but is most commonly found in teens and young adults. The misuse of prescription drugs can result in a wide range of physical, mental, and behavioral issues.

Not only can prescription drug abuse cause side effects, but it can be incredibly dangerous. This is because drug use can lead to serious conditions like psychosis, heart failure, and seizures that can result in death.

Prescription Dependency to Narcotic Sedatives and Anti-Anxiety Medicines

Prescription narcotic sedatives and anti-anxiety medicines are primarily prescribed for anxiety disorders, emotional pain management and insomnia. When people take more prescribed narcotic sedatives than directed, and do so frequently, they are capable of becoming physically and emotionally dependent on prescription narcotic sedative medication.

Mental symptoms of prescription narcotic sedative dependence include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Mood swings
  • Attention deficit
  • Agitation
  • Restlessness
  • Anger
  • Irritability
  • Easily frustrated
  • Poor judgment
  • Nightmares
  • Disorientation
  • Delusions
  • Disassociation
  • Psychosis

Physical symptoms of prescription narcotic sedative dependence include:

  • Memory problems
  • Headaches
  • Low blood pressure
  • Light-headedness
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Drowsiness
  • Slurred speech
  • Dry mouth
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Tremors
  • Muscle spasms
  • Seizures

Prescription narcotic sedatives can be incredibly dangerous. Anti-anxiety medicines such as benzodiazepines can lead to serious memory loss, psychosis, and life-threatening seizures. Benzos and other sedatives are extremely dangerous when taken in high doses or when taken with alcohol or drugs.

Prescription Dependency to Narcotic Pain Relievers

Prescription narcotic pain relievers are primarily prescribed for physical pain management. When people take more prescribed narcotic pain relievers than directed, and do so frequently, they are capable of becoming physically and emotionally dependent on prescription narcotic pain reliever medication.

Mental symptoms of prescription narcotic pain reliever dependence include:

  • Anxiety
  • Agitation
  • Attention deficit
  • Depression
  • Mood swings
  • Restlessness
  • Anger
  • Irritability

Physical symptoms of prescription narcotic pain reliever dependence include:

  • Teary eyes
  • Dilated pupils
  • Runny nose
  • Yawning
  • Sweating
  • Goosebumps
  • Insomnia
  • Muscle aches
  • Bone pain
  • Stomach cramps
  • Nausea and vomiting

Many people fear that they may become addicted to painkillers prescribed for medical conditions. In fact, people often become dependent on prescription painkillers prescribed after routine medical procedures and surgeries.

It is even harder to avoid the development of a prescription dependency if a person is living with chronic pain. If you or a loved one is struggling with a prescription dependency, know that there is no shame in reaching out for help.

Recovering From Prescription Dependency

In order to recover from prescription dependency, it is important to receive quality medical care in a substance abuse treatment facility.

Prescription dependence recovery entails stages that rebuild a healthy life, including:

  • Overcoming your conditioning, breaking the pattern of stimulus and response that leads to drug taking
  • Restoring your body, taking care of it, strengthening it, using and enjoying it in new ways
  • Finding alternative activities, interests, pleasures, and associations
  • Learning to handle anxiety and depression
  • Dealing with the changing relationships that are the result of both your prescription drug abuse and your efforts to quit
  • Creating new relationships that have a foundation of trust and respect, and can be used as a source of support
  • Establishing a routine filled with healthy habits, regular interactions with the same people, hobbies, and work or volunteering to create a sense of accountability and meaning

Ongoing cognitive behavioral therapy and counseling cover a plethora of both all-encompassing and person-specific topics, such as: The I, I, Me, Me of guilt.

What Are the Difficulties People Face During Recovery From Prescription Addiction?

Guilt is a large problem in recovery from prescription dependency. In part, it’s natural to feel guilty over all the things you have done to yourself and others. However, this differs enormously from acceptance of responsibility.

Guilt provides easy answers, an easy way to duck responsibilities, while tricking you into thinking you have accepted responsibility and made amends for your past actions.

Guilt prevents you from taking responsibility for your actions and for honestly apologizing to the people you have hurt. On the other hand, admitting responsibility and making amends helps not only repair the damage of your addiction, but it also frees you from feeling guilty.

Guilt requires no interaction with other people; it requires no action at all. Responsible action is the antithesis of guilt and the footwork of making amends. Making amends not only repairs damage, it cancels guilt and restores self-esteem.

How To Healing From the Impacts of Prescription Dependency

Actively making amends is necessary to full recovery and is a critical part of twelve-step programs. It is not usually expected in the early recovery period, but this is the time to begin recognizing guilt as nothing but another form of self-pity. Along with guilt goes grief. Grief about lost time, lost love, and irreparable acts.

These feelings may be especially acute immediately after you embark on your recovery, as your mind becomes clear again and you have time and the opportunity to think and to begin reexamining your life.

When you were abusing prescription drugs, you said and did a lot of things that you may be ashamed of or agonize over now, wishing you could go back and change the past. You will be helped to understand that your past actions were part of your disease and that your present recovery requires total concentration and effort—brooding over the past only detracts from your present recovery.

Reach Out

At Royal Life Centers, we have been treating addiction for over a decade and have the experience needed to guide you along the stages of recovery with ease. If you need help getting started or have any questions we can answer, give us a call at 877-RECOVERY. We are available to answer your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Because We Care.

Change your life with one call.
You can do it, We can help.