Which Prescription Drugs Commonly Cause Addiction?

Prescription drug addiction treatment is a necessary program for those who have been abusing certain medications. Unfortunately, you can become addicted to many types of prescribed medications, especially if you were taking them in a way that was not sanctioned by your doctor.

Medication Abuse and Addiction

There are prescription drugs that can cause serious side effects if used improperly but only a few that can actually cause addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse lists the medications that are most commonly abused and likely to cause this disorder.

•    Opioids: Prescription opioids such as fentanyl, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and others are often abused for their ability to create an intense high when taken in large doses. Unfortunately, this act can quickly lead to addiction.

•    Sedatives: There are three different types of prescription sedatives (barbiturates, benzodiazepines, ad sleep aids), and all of these can become addictive when abused in large doses.

•    Stimulants: Prescription stimulants like amphetamines are often used to treat ADHD, but some individuals abuse them as performance drugs in order to stay awake and alert. In addition, these medications can also cause an intense high like those listed above.

•    Anabolic steroids: Individuals often abuse anabolic steroids to add muscle mass when it isn’t necessary. Unlike the other drugs listed above, these do not cause a high when abused, and yet, they can still become addictive (NIDA).

Why Does Addiction Occur?

These drugs are abused for different reasons, but they all have one thing in common: they cause changes to the way the brain works so that the individual who uses them frequently and in copious amounts will become addicted.

Because these medications are all commonly used without prescriptions or in doses not recommended by doctors, it is important to be able to recognize them and the problems they cause.

Avoiding Addiction and Abuse

It is important to always take your medications exactly as prescribed in order to avoid the need for prescription drug addiction treatment and other side effects this use could create. Especially if you are taking any of the medications listed above, make sure to always obey your doctor’s prescription and to ask questions about your treatment so that you can stay safe.