Commonly Abused Prescription Drugs

 

Prescription drugs can either be a blessing or a curse, depending on how they are used -- or abused. For those suffering from chronic pain, prescription painkillers can be a lifesaver, freeing them from debilitating pain. For those that abuse prescription drugs (such as painkillers), the drugs can be a curse that leads them into the spiral of drug and substance abuse and addiction. Some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs that lead to addiction are as follows:

SOMA -- Carisoprodol

This prescription drug is categorized as a skeletal relaxer, that offers effects similar to muscle relaxers, but are much stronger. This drug is commonly abused because of its incredibly strong effects; being a skeletal relaxer, abusers of the drug often have trouble walking and keeping balance. When coupled with even the slightest bit of alcohol, this drug increases the risk of heart failure and breathing problems. A very dangerous drug, when being abused and misused.

Valium and Xanax

These two drugs are being categorized together for their similar effects and similar medical uses. Used as a muscle relaxer and anti-anxiety medicine, Xanax and Valium users often use these two medications interchangeably. Like SOMA, small amounts of alcohol mixed with the use of these drugs can be very dangerous, and strengthening the risk of an accidental overdose.

Vicodin, Oxycontin, and Percocet

These are no only the most commonly abused prescription painkillers, they are also the biggest gateway drugs that lead to opiate addiction and heroin use. Abusers of these opium-based painkillers often develop a chemical dependency to the opiates in the medicines quite quickly; once, the addiction is present, many addicts often switch to heroin to control their addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Not only is a developing heroin addiction one of the risks of these prescription drugs, but the pills themselves are dangerous, and there are thousands of accidental overdoses reported from these drugs every year -- some of them ending with death.

These are some of the most commonly abused prescription drugs in the United States right now, but they are only a few of the many that are being abused. If you are one of the thousands of Americans struggling with an addiction to, or abuse of painkillers, it is imperative to seek treatment for your addiction... Prescription drug abuse and addiction is devastating, but there is help for those who wish to get sober.

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