Monday, March 15, 2010

Common Myths About Prescription Drug Abuse

People have many myths regarding prescription drug abuse. But they are not aware of the facts regarding prescription drug abuse. Few myths and facts regarding prescription drug abuse are:

Myth:
The abuse of prescription drugs is just a limited part of the nation’s drug problem.

Fact: At present, prescription drug abuse exceeds the use of all illegal drugs combined, with the exclusion of marijuana.

Myth: There is no specific thing as converting to an addict innocently.
Fact: Many people become unintentional addicts. These are generally individuals who have no previous history of drug abuse, and first started using a prescribed drug for certain medical problem. Then at some stage they started raising the dosages on their own as the drug make them feel well. Slowly the abuse results in developed addiction.

Myth: Taking a narcotic for long time results in addiction.
Fact: A person can become physically dependent on a drug like pain medication, over time. If the drugs were discontinued, the body will suffer from withdrawal symptoms. But, this type of dependence is not called addiction. A patient who suffers from physiological dependence can terminate the drug, generally by being reducing it slowly under medical supervision and without including a drug treatment program.

Myth: You can quit drugs cold turkey (complete and sudden withdrawal from an addictive substance)if you really want to.
Fact: The side effects of withdrawal of particular prescribed medications will be dangerous, resulting in seizures and even death. So, it is harmless to reduce the use of drugs under medical supervision.

Myth: Once you have overcome addiction to a drug, you can cautiously take other addictive medications.
Fact: Unfortunately, relapse generally happens when recovering drug addicts consider they are not risk for addiction to other addictive substances. But, people who get addicted to drugs have a brain chemistry which inspires them to dependency. This makes them at risk for relapse.


Related Links:
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