People with AUD may drink in large quantities, binge drink, or have difficulty controlling their drinking habits. A question about the use of prescription painkillers was added to the most recent (2005–۰۶) California Student Survey (CSS). The 11th biennial CSS described as disconcerting the high use rate of painkillers by California’s youths and called for a new focus on who is using those drugs, how they are obtained, and how prescription-drug use is related to other problems. Pain reliever incidence increased from 573,000 initiates in 1990 to 2.5 million initiates in 2000 and has remained stable through 2003.
Illicit Drug Abuse
This article explores the main types of substance abuse, ranging from alcohol and prescription drugs to illicit drugs and inhalants, offering insight into their effects and risks. Prescription drug abuse continues to exert a substantial public health cost, as highlighted by growing rates of overdose deaths and rapidly increasing need for substance use disorder treatment. Such interventions must be accompanied by assessment of their impact to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of efforts to stem the tide of this problem.
Summary and Future Directions
Additionally, alcohol abuse often contributes to social and financial issues, affecting relationships and overall quality of life. Communication among clinicians, researchers, policymakers, prescription drug abuse and other relevant stakeholders will require coordination of efforts to understand this problem and to better coordinate prevention and treatment. McCarty and colleagues (2014) highlight the efforts of the state of Oregon to address the prescription opioid epidemic through collaboration and communication among the relevant groups, and the utilization of a multi-faceted approach to the problem. Although it remains too early to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of such efforts, there are early success in the ability to implement targeted changes (e.g., changes in prescription monitoring systems).
Clinicians, Patients, and Pharmacists
- For example, results of a meta-analytic review of studies examining the risk for developing stimulant abuse suggested that medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may actually protect against the development of substance use disorders (Faraone & Wilens, 2007).
- For example, benzodiazepine dependence appears to be common—and underrecognized—among adults aged 65 and older (Simoni-Wastila & Yang, 2006; Voyer, Preville, Cohen, Berbiche, & Beland, 2010).
- For example, a large population-based study in Canada suggested that almost 5% of the population abused opioids in the previous year (Shield, Jones, Rehm, & Fischer, 2013).
- As with adults, Caucasians and Native Americans have higher rates of prescription drug abuse relative to other racial and ethnic groups (McCabe, Cranford, & West, 2008), and gender differences in the prevalence of prescription drug abuse are small (McCabe et al., 2008; SAMHSA, 2013b).
- Results suggested that the combination of these drugs may have concerning effects, particularly with respect to cardiac health.
Dependency often results in intense cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making recovery challenging. Another approach has involved classifying subtypes based on motives for use, such as recreational users, “self-medicators,” and combinations of motives (Kelly et al., 2014; McCabe, Boyd, & Teter, 2009; McCabe & Cranford, 2012). Such studies have suggested that self-medicating groups report fewer problem behaviors, such as non-intended routes of administration, and other substance use. Such subgroup analyses have been relatively consistent in their findings; greater understanding of the implications of these groups on prevention and treatment will be an important direction for future research. While some advocate for the benefits of cannabis, heavy and long-term use can lead to addiction and negatively impact mental health and cognitive abilities, especially among young users. Heavy drinking can lead to serious health conditions, Halfway house such as cirrhosis of the liver, cardiovascular disease, and neurological damage.
CNS depressants should be used in combination with other medications only under a physician’s close supervision. Typically, they should not be combined with any other medication or substance that causes CNS depression, including prescription pain medicines, some OTC cold and allergy medications, and alcohol. Using CNS depressants with these other substances particularly alcohol can slow both the heart and respiration and may lead to death. Whether you or someone you know is dealing with substance abuse, it’s crucial to seek support and treatment. With the right resources, recovery is possible, and individuals can regain control of their lives for a healthier future. Prolonged stimulant abuse can lead to cardiovascular issues, severe anxiety, and even psychosis.
Preventing or stopping nonmedical use of prescription drugs is an important part of patient care. However, certain patients can benefit from prescription stimulants, sedatives, or opioid pain relievers. Therefore, physicians should balance the legitimate medical needs of patients with the potential risk for misuse and related harms. Despite their many beneficial effects, barbiturates and benzodiazepines have the potential for abuse and should be used only as prescribed. During the first few days of taking a prescribed CNS depressant, a person usually feels sleepy and uncoordinated, but as the body becomes accustomed to the effects of the drug, these feelings begin to disappear.
Misuse of Prescription Drugs Research Report
Often barbiturate and benzodiazepine abuse occurs in conjunction with the abuse of another substance or drug, such as alcohol or cocaine. In these cases of polydrug abuse, the treatment approach must address the multiple addictions. Nicotine abuse generally involves the use of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes (vapes). Nicotine is highly addictive, and prolonged use can lead to significant health complications. Alcohol abuse, or alcohol use disorder (AUD), is the most common form of substance abuse worldwide.
Because much of the data collected in this area focuses on nonmedical use of prescription drugs, the definition of abuse used in this report does not correspond to the definition of abuse/dependence listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Although many prescription drugs can be abused, there are several classifications of medications that are commonly abused. In addition to illicit stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine, prescription stimulants (such as Adderall and Ritalin) are also commonly misused, especially among students and professionals. Misusing prescription drugs can result in severe health complications, including respiratory depression, heart problems, and overdose.
Dependency on these drugs can also impact daily functioning, relationships, and mental health. Rather, its primary objective is to relieve withdrawal symptoms while the patient adjusts to being drug-free. To be effective, detoxification must precede long-term treatment that either requires complete abstinence or incorporates a medication, such as methadone or buprenorphine, into the treatment program. Data from the 2003 NSDUH indicate that 4.0 percent of youth ages 12 to 17 reported nonmedical use of prescription medications in the past month. Among the youngest group surveyed, ages 12-13, a higher percentage reported using psychotherapeutics (1.8 percent) than marijuana (1.0 percent). These drugs, such as LSD, psilocybin (mushrooms), and PCP, are often abused for their mind-altering effects.
Types Of Substance Abuse: The Different Forms of Addiction
Ensuring that this population—and those with substance use disorders in general—are not denied adequate treatment for such conditions is critically important. Variability in definitions of prescription drug abuse and in the availability of specific types of prescription drugs limits comparison across countries. Although the U.S. appears to have the highest prevalence of prescription drug abuse internationally, significant rates of prescription opioid abuse has been reported in countries, such as Canada, New Zealand, and India, among others (Dengenhardt et al., 2008). For example, a large population-based study in Canada suggested that almost 5% of the population abused opioids in the previous year (Shield, Jones, Rehm, & Fischer, 2013). Research on the prediction of risk groups for the development of prescription drug abuse among medical users has been mostly cross-sectional. Prior history of other substance use disorders appears to predict prescription drug abuse, both among those receiving a prescription and in the general population (Faraone & Wilens, 2007; Sweeney, Sembower, Ertischek, Shiffman, & Schnoll, 2013).