Prescription for Addiction

The world as we know it is changing. Thousands upon thousands are fighting a disease that has no cure, only treatment. Damaging individuals' health and families around the globe, this disease has been known for centuries. The scars left by this disease can be seen in every city, in every state, in every country around the globe. The disease of addiction is one of the most common yet misunderstood diseases to date.

Many people around the world are fighting addictions to alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs. More recently, addictions to pharmaceutical drugs are becoming more prevalent. Medications meant to heal are taking more lives than ever. While the medications may have legitimate usages, they also have a high tendency to be abused. According to drugabuse.gov, over 2.4 million people abuse prescription drugs daily. Of that 2.4 million people, almost a third are individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 and over 1.2 million were female. This shocking trend hits even harder with the 18-25 age group as it is the most actively using group.

The top four misused pharmaceuticals are all of the opiate family. Generally, opioids cause constipation, vomiting, shortness of breath, dry mouth, blurred vision, and several other side effects up to and including death. As chemicals, the abused medications can have an adverse effect on individuals in the form of allergic reactions, overdoses, or damage caused by long term use.

One of the top four abused prescription drugs is morphine. Known as M, Miss, Emma, Monkey and other names, Morphine is a highly addictive substance when not regulated properly. Morphine is also almost identical to heroin in its chemical makeup. Normally, morphine is used for the successful treatment of pain. When used regularly or abused, addicts find that more and more of the drug is required for the same effect, causing their addiction to become even stronger.

Another is Oxycodone. Oxycodone is commonly known as Oxy, O.C. OxyCotton, and Hillbilly Heroin. Oxy is found most commonly in pill form and shares similar side effects as Morphine and other opiates. In this same list is Methadone, known as Fizzies or Methadose, and Hydrocodone, known as tabs, candy, Watsons and many other names. These opiates are widely used and abused by millions daily.

The signs are common throughout different addictions and a pharmaceutical addiction is no different. General signs of addiction include an array of identifying traits. Many addicts state they are unable to control how much they use, leaving them constantly yearning for that "high." This leads them to spend a large amount of money, time and effort to continually "feed the habit." Eventually many have no regard for the legality of the actions they commit to achieve their addictive high. As the addiction grows, so does the yearning for more of the addictive substance.

Addicts also tend to use no matter the damage caused to their bodies or families. Some damage includes the weakening of the immune system, damage to internal organs, cardiovascular damage, seizures, brain damage, and more.

If you know someone fighting addiction, please visit http://www.valleyhope.org and contact us today to see how we can help.

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