Medicines that we use to cure diseases can sometimes become a cause of drug addiction. Pill addiction or prescription drug abuse is what these addictions are called. It has been with us ever since doctors have started prescribing medicines by writing it on a piece of paper and has now become more widespread.

The beginning of refill or repeat prescription enables patients to avail a renewed prescription easily. This further allows people to visit a nearby chemist store and purchase their preferred drug simply by filling their details such as their name, contact address and the drug they want to buy. Repeat prescriptions are generally signed as routine these days. Doctors simply sign the prescription without considering the need for it.

If a patient asks for more repeat prescriptions, it is the duty of a consulting doctor to personally review treatment once again. Doctors these days are do not seem to care about these issues. That is why the numbers of prescription drug abuse cases are increasing at a rapid pace. Painkiller medicines are now being widely used by people to overcome body pains and it has now become the main cause of drug addiction.

These drugs are known to possess certain properties that make people addicted to these medicines if continued for considerable time period. People who are addicted to prescription drug abuse display quite a number of symptoms such as increased tolerance to drugs, where an individual needs to increase the dosage in order to feel the same effects.

Effects of drug abuse are horrific as people who are addicted to prescription drug abuse goes through extreme pain. Heavy dose of drugs enables the human body to get more used to a particular drug since the body has learned to adapt to the presence of a specific drug. Symptoms like mood swing, aggression and depression are some of the effects of drug abuse.

Prescription drug abuse is capable of disrupting the normal functioning of a human body and it sometimes can lead to death if the required attention is not given. Overdose of medicines like Paracetamol based painkillers are highly injurious to health and are capable of causing severe damage to liver, an essential digestive organ.

One of the symptoms of drug addiction is that when a person affected simply cannot stop taking them. Nowadays, many online drug stores have started selling medicines including those with addictive properties. The drug stores normally sell drugs to patients without any prescriptions. All a person need to do is to make the payment online through online money transfers and the drug is delivered right at the doorstep.

Prescription drug abuse is increasing as people are getting addicted to certain type of drugs. Pharmacists and doctors must be aware of the potential problems that are associated with prolong use of certain medicine. Doctors must try to reduce the intake of these medicines instead of stopping it all of a sudden. This addiction has now become a serious issue and medical professionals must act now to curb its progress.

Substance addiction can come in many forms and widely differing materials. Aside from being addicted to illegal drugs and household chemicals, there is now an inexpensive alternative: cough syrup, as well as over the counter drugs, both of which can be acquired quite legally. The sad thing about it is that the teens addicted to these drugs are abusing a substance that was originally created to heal sickness and alleviate pain.

Cough syrup contains codeine, commonly used for analgesic purposes. It can be extracted from opium or synthesized from morphine, both of which are addictive drugs in themselves. Prescription-grade cough syrup contains larger concentrations of this chemical.

A common effect is an altered state of mind and sedation of the user, causing numbness. Users can easily go overboard as well, with overdose symptoms in common with other opiates. Some medicines also contain antihistamines that can cause another sedative effect.

Promethazine is also combined with codeine to combat cough, but this is also a chemical that, on its own, could also cause strong reactions in the user. It is a sedative drug, and as normally goes with these types of chemicals, causes inhibited function in terms of vision, and being slowed and having slurred speech as well. Users describe this feeling as being “zazzed”, when everything around you goes slowly.

Codeine in cough syrup is usually taken in a form called Purple Drank. The moniker comes from its color, which usually ranges from purple to pink depending on the cough syrup used and the ratio of mixing it with other drinks such as sodas.

This practice first gained influence in the southern states, and hip-hop artists popularized its use with the masses by including it in their songs. Effects include increased auditory sensations and visual stimuli, and leads to a feeling of being disconnected and strange, erratic behavior.

Among the foremost dangers in addictions of this type is how easy someone can get the materials, considering that it’s legally purchased from drugstores. Another scary factor is how cheaply it can be gotten, and considering the prices for illegal drugs, this would seem like a no-brainer for most teens on tight budgets wanting to get high.

A few dollars is all it takes to get high. The chemical of choice for most of the youth is Dextromorphan, also known as DXM, a substance found in many cough syrup formulations as well. This is what is commonly referred to as “Skittles” in underground lingo, and may even cause heart palpitations if it is abused. Medicine in tablet form contains much larger quantities of DXM; therefore a similar effect of consuming large amounts of syrup could be duplicated by just a few tablets.

Even cough syrup based drinks are easy to obtain, because all it takes is some prescription cough syrup, a can of soda, a Styrofoam cup, and you’re ready to get high. This is a very simple process in comparison to other types of drugs. Scary when you think of the implications. This is used as a recreational drink, and the effect will depend on the amount of the cough syrup, the ratio of mixing, and what else you put in it, commonly other pain-relieving tablets.

Sleeping aids can also be addictive in large enough doses, and could also have long-term effects on the user. Narcolepsy is common, and causes episodes of micro-sleep. This is particularly dangerous when driving, then falling asleep at the wheel. Diet pills being taken in larger than prescribed doses to shed weight faster is also dangerous, because the effects on the body are increased to a dangerous level.

Drug and alcohol addiction are classified as mental issues, true addictions that are beyond a person’s ability to control. Many times a social drink can quickly turn into several drinks a night. Someone who once used to indulge in glass of wine to relax at the end of a long day may find themselves turning toward alcohol to cope with stressful situations. Similarly, someone who uses a prescription medicine as directed by a doctor, may abuse that same medicine in order to decrease psychological pain felt by other situations or events in their life. Research shows that nearly half of those who suffer with drug or alcohol addiction have an underlying mental issue and use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate.

People who suffer with depression will often turn toward drugs or alcohol in order to numb the mental anguish. Anxiety sufferers gladly welcome the relaxing effect of a prescription pill or alcoholic beverage. But these only exacerbate the problem. The depression and anxiety are still present, and become worse with the addition of these substances. Too often people who have seriously debilitating mental challenges turn towards these substances rather than turning to their friends and family because of the social stigma associated with mental illness.

Those who abuse substances often do not recognize the symptoms of the abuse themselves. Family members, friends and coworkers are usually the first ones to bring awareness to the person’s attention. When a person abuses drugs or alcohol, they will often try to cover up their use with lies. Many times they spend money that is intended for other things in order to satisfy their habit. People who abuse can engage in aggressive and violent behavior, causing turmoil and disruption to a family structure. They may lose interest in activities they used to enjoy, and often miss work or become less productive.

Aside from the emotional toll that drug or alcohol abuse can have on people, the physical damage can be enormous. Increased heart rate, decreased liver and kidney function, and impaired cognitive ability are common among people with substance abuse problems. Additionally, people who abuse often engage in extremely reckless behaviors, such as driving under the influence, and put themselves and others at risk of physical injury or even death.

If you recognize any of these signs in yourself or in someone you love, seek help right away. There are licensed professionals available to help address the addictive behavior and get to the root of any psychological issues that may be influencing these reckless impulses. With the right treatment, someone who is in the grips of drug and alcohol abuse can learn how to control their behaviors and begin to live a clean, sober and productive life.