Signs and Symptoms of Prescription Drug Use
For decades, the illicit trafficking of drugs like cocaine, heroin, opium and marijuana were the main ways people got the drugs they were addicted to. Now, in many countries around the world, people are abusing and becoming addicted to prescription drugs instead.
In several European countries, there are increasing numbers of people asking for help with addiction to prescription drugs they have been abusing. Prescription pain medication, mostly opoids, top the list but there are several other kinds of prescription drugs being abused in European countries.
Among young Europeans, tranquillisers and sedatives and more frequently abused in Lithuania, Monaco and Poland. In all three countries, about 14% of students reported abusing these drugs in 2011. More girls than boys abuse these prescription drugs. In six European countries (Croatia, Cyprus, France, Monaco, Montenegro and Poland), there is an increasing trend toward polydrug use – such as mixing cannabis, alcohol and tranquilizers. This trend is particularly dangerous as the interaction of drugs can increase their effect on the heart and breathing, more easily resulting in an overdose death.
Signs and Symptoms
As there are several classes of prescription drugs, the signs and symptoms of their use will vary. Painkillers will make a person sleepy and slow, will slow the breathing and heart rate. Pupils will be constricted. The abuser may complain of nausea or constipation. They may nod off.
A person abusing sedatives or tranquillisers is likely to be inappropriately relaxed and drowsy. His memory may be poor, speech may be slurred, pupils will be dilated.
Another class of prescription drug that may be abused is stimulants like Ritalin (methylphenidate) or Desoxyn (methamphetamine). Adderall is frequently abused in the US but is largely unavailable in Europe. A person abusing stimulants may have an irregular schedule, staying up late into the night and then crashing after many hours awake. He may be anxious, delusional and complain of chest pain or rapid heartbeat.
All of the drugs mentioned here are addictive. A young person may think he can get away with abusing prescription drugs because they are recommended by a doctor. But they are in most cases just as addictive as street drugs.
Finding Rehab after Addiction to Prescription Drugs
Many drug rehab facilities offer short-term programs or utilize drugs as a form of addiction treatment. With over forty-five years of experience, we have found at Narconon drug rehab centers around the world that most people need more time than a month to rebuild a life that was destroyed by addiction. And it is not necessary to use drugs in treatment if there is a tolerable way to get a person off drugs or if their recovery can be lasting without these substitute drugs.
Contact Narconon Europe today to find to learn more about this unique program.
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