Addicts may:

Consistently lose their prescriptions purposely: Addicts will pretend to misplace their prescriptions and then ask their doctor to write them another one. This allows them to double up their prescriptions without raising any red flags.

Have a group of doctors that they routinely visit: Prescription drug addicts will often have more then one doctor so that they can obtain prescriptions for the same drug from all of them. This lowers suspicions and allows them to avoid asking for refills sooner then would be normally expected.

Don’t use their medications according to the instructions: Persons addicted to prescription medications will often take larger doses then they are supposed to or more often then they should. This is because the goal is to get high and not treat an actual ailment.

Take medication for ailments that they do not have: Addicts will often take prescription medication for illnesses that they don’t have. They may either fake symptoms or purchase prescriptions meds from dealers.

Be willing to forge prescriptions: A pretty convincing sign of addiction is that a person is willing to forge prescriptions and risk jail time in order to get drugs.

Not be able to function without the drug: Another obvious sign that a person is addicted to prescription medication is if they are unable to function and get through out the day without taking a particular drug.

Think excessively about the drug: Individuals with a serious problem will think excessively and obsessively about drugs. Their thoughts will be consumed with getting high and how they might be able to obtain the drug their drug of choice.

There are many types of prescription drugs which can be abused. However, the most common are opioid painkillers. OxyContin and Vicodin are examples of these. Valium, Ativan and Ritalin are also commonly abused though they aren’t opioid painkillers.

If you or someone that you love has a prescription medication addiction, it is important to get help. It can be difficult to stop taking drugs on one’s own. It nearly always requires some form of drug addition help. Give us a call at the number listed above. We can provide callers with the resources that they need to deal with drug addiction to prescription and street drugs. The goal is to help users get clean and reclaim their lives. The call is free and confidential. Let this be the first step in getting the drug addiction help that you or your loved one needs.

a. Prescription drug abuse and/or addiction is easier to hide: Because a doctor often prescribes the drugs that a person takes, family members and friends may not realize that an addict has a problem. At first glance, it may appear that they are taking medication to treat a condition. It is not until loved ones began witnessing erratic behavior, overuse of the medication or began to doubt that there is an underlying condition that an addict may be confronted about their abuse. Often times, this can take months or even years, giving the addiction a huge head start.

b. Prescription drugs can be incredibly addicting: Some people do not realize that prescription drugs can be just as addicting as what is generally viewed as street drugs i.e., heroine, cocaine, crack and meth. People may feel like they are only taking “lite” drugs when they start on prescription meds. This could not be further from the truth.

c. Users may not realize that they are an addict: If a person is getting medication from a doctor, they may not realize that they are an addict, at least not at first. Those that are buying these medications from dealers may know better. However, the idea of taking a prescription drug rather then a hard, street drug softens the blow a bit in people’s mind.

d. Prescription drug abuse can lead to death: Prescription drugs, like any illegal drug, can cause death. Just because prescriptions meds are administered by a doctor does not mean that there is not the potential for death if a person overdoses. People die from prescription drug doses every day. This can easily occur if the medications are overused and/or the condition that it is designed to treat is not present.

The dangers of drug prescription addiction are real and ever present. These types of medications can be as addicting as any street drug and can lead to death if abused. To avoid addiction and death, it is important that persons receive drug addiction help as soon as possible. The longer the abuse lasts, the more difficult it will be to get clean. The addiction only gets further entrenched and the user has less and less control.

If a person does not get help, they run the risk of losing themselves in the drug, ruining relationships with family members and friends, being fired and unable to support themselves and ultimately death. It is important that persons take prescription drugs as seriously as they would normal street drugs and get prescription drug addiction help as soon as possible if needed.