Millions of people experience injuries or medical issues every day that leave them dealing with physical pain and anguish. It is not uncommon to visit a doctor’s office or emergency room to properly deal with these injuries to allow the body to recover from whatever damage it has experienced.
However, far too often people are given extremely potent and addictive medications without being informed on the dangers of long-term use.
This is not to say that all medications are hazardous and should be avoided. But, the fact of the matter is that certain prescription medications have significant addictive properties and can lead to physical dependence and severe addiction if not managed and monitored appropriately.
Am I Addicted to Prescription Medications?
This can be a difficult question to answer, even if you’re the one living with prescription medication addiction. Being able to identify addictive patterns is imperative to facing your dangerous behaviors and finding the help you need to overcome addiction’s grip on your life.
Some of the more obvious signs associated with a prescription pill addiction can include:
- Stealing from friends and family to buy more drugs
- Forging signatures on prescriptions to maintain your addiction
- Exhibiting poor and impulsive judgment and decision making
- Experiencing extreme mood swings
- Drastic changes in sleeping patterns
Signs of Prescription Medication Addiction
Do you exhibit the actions and behaviors of someone who is living with a diagnosable prescription pill addiction? Understanding and identifying your own actions is an essential component to overcoming the dangers of the disease.
Those who have lived with this substance use disorder have identified some of the more common signs associated with an addiction to prescription medications. These may consist of:
- Suddenly Distancing Yourself from Friends and Family
More often than not, drugs can make a person care only about themselves and the addiction they are trying to feed. It is not uncommon for loved ones to be suddenly and completely neglected for no other reason than the constant need to get high and not want to have others see your addiction raging. - Becoming Defensive Towards Anyone Questioning Your Pill Use
When others touch on the topic, you may immediately defend yourself by justifying your use, pointing to the fact that it is a doctor’s prescription for a legal medication. The problem is that, deep down, you know the rationalizations you are making are false and only covering for your destructive behaviors. - The Inability to Complete Normal Daily Tasks
As your addiction grows, your drug use can easily become the primary focus of your daily life. You go from being reliable to late for everything and missing deadlines for no viable reason. You may begin underperforming, and the quality of your work may decline significantly. It is not uncommon to begin neglecting household responsibilities like cleaning or grocery shopping – which leads to other personal issues. If this behavior goes on too long, you may lose your job, go into debt and even find yourself without a home to live. - Displaying Poor Hygiene More Often
Not showering for days at a time, wearing dirty clothing and having poor oral care are typical signs of prescription medication addiction. The reason for this is that proper hygiene just isn’t at the top of your priority list when scoring more medication is your only focus. Additionally, when you remain high all day, you may not have the capacity to properly take care of yourself. - Being Secretive and Lying to Those in Your Life
Oftentimes, the individual struggling with addiction is the only one who thinks their addiction is a secret. In reality, those close to them often notice they are behaving erratically, using prescription drugs, neglecting personal responsibilities and even affiliating with other people struggling with substance abuse.
Drugs that Can Lead to Prescription Medication Addiction
To understand if you are struggling with a prescription medication addiction, it is important to know which drugs pose a significant risk.
These can include:
- Opioids – Opioids are commonly prescribed to treat and reduce pain. The active chemicals in these painkillers bond with receptors in the brain and throughout the body, causing changes in how the brain perceives pain. They are effective medications when taken as directed, but they are also so powerful they can easily cause physical and mental dependence.
- Depressants – Central nervous system (CNS) depressants are a group of medications that slow down the brain’s activity. Health care professionals prescribe them to treat panic, anxiety and sleep disorders and help people deal with acute stress reactions. CNS depressants include drugs that fall into the tranquilizer, sedative and hypnotic categories.
- Stimulants – Stimulants are a broad group of drugs, including any that raise activity in the nervous system. They amplify alertness and can give users a rush of energy, leading to their nickname, “uppers.” Health professionals usually prescribe stimulants to treat narcolepsy or ADHD.
Regardless of where you are in your addiction, there is no time like the present to ask for help. The sooner you face your substance use disorder, the sooner you can achieve recovery and return to a fulfilling life without prescription medication use.
Life-Changing Holistic Addiction Treatment at Ranch Creek Recovery
If you’re struggling with opioids and pain medication, now is the time to find real, life-changing support that will help you achieve sobriety and learn how to holistically manage pain or other life circumstances. At Ranch Creek Recovery, we address addiction recovery and relapse prevention head on through our non-12-step, individualized, holistic addiction treatment programs.
Our team of treatment experts will work one-on-one with you to create a custom treatment and recovery plan that will help you feel confident and ready to enter your new, sober life.
Have questions? We’re here to help in any way we can. Contact us today.
