After alcohol and marijuana, prescription and over-thecounter drugs are the most commonly abused substances
by Americans 14 and older
An estimated 52 million people have used prescription drugs
for non-medical reasons at least once in their lifetime
Every day, 105 people die as a result of drug overdose in the
United States - 60% of drug overdose deaths were related to
prescription medication in 2010
What is Prescription
Drug Abuse?
Prescription drug abuse is when medications which
have psychoactive properties are taken in ways or
amounts not intended by a doctor, or taken by
someone other than the person for whom they are
prescribed
Sedatives
Stimulants
Drowsiness
Slurred speech
Tachycardia
Slurred speech
Incoordination
Bradycardia
Mental confusion
Unsteady gait
Pupillary dilation
Impairment in
attention
Elevated/lowered
attention or
or memory
Impairment in
blood pressure
memory
Nausea
Stuper or coma
Perspiration/chills
Constipation
Nausea or vomiting
Depressed respiration
Weight loss
Psychomotor agitation
Muscular weakness
Respiratory Depression
Chest pain
Confusion/seizures
TREATMENT STRATEGIES
Successful treatment strategies may incorporate
several components, including detoxification,
counseling, and sometimes the use of medication
multiple courses of treatment may be needed for the
patient to make a full recovery
2 main categories of prescription medication addiction
treatment:
Behavioral
Pharmacological
Behavioral Treatment
Help clients stop drug use by teaching them
strategies to function without the drugs, to deal
with cravings, to avoid drugs and situations that
could lead to drug use, and to handle a relapse
should it occur
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on
modifying the clients thinking, expectations, and
behaviors while increasing skills for coping with
various life stressors, has been used successfully to
treat prescription medication addiction
Application of 12 Steps to
Prescription Medication Addiction
Treatment
Pills Anonymous World Service (http://www.pillsanonymous.org /)
Similar to AA and NA, with focus on prescription medication users
Only requirement is a desire to stop using pills
No dues/fees and not affiliated with any religious group, politics,
organization, or institution
Narcotics Anonymous World Services (http://www.na.org/)
No focus on any particular drug or alcohol only requirement for
membership is to be an addict
Currently have more than 61,000 meetings in 129 countries
No dues/fees and not affiliated with any outside organizations
(religious, government, law enforcement, medical or psychiatric
associations)
The Addiction Recovery Guide (resource to find programs):
http://www.addictionrecoveryguide.org/resources/recovery/
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental
disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Lawson, G., Lawson, A. W., & Rivers, P. C. (2001). Essentials of chemical dependency
counseling (3rd ed.). Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen Publishers.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2011). Prescription drug abuse. Retrieved April 30,
2014, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2012). Drug facts. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from
http://www.drugabuse.gov/sites/default/files/prescriptions_0.pdf
National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2014). Drugfacts: Nationwide trends. Retrieved April 30,
2014, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/nationwide-trends
Parks, N., & Knutson, J. (n.d.). Prescription drug abuse. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from
http://www.jeffsapp.com/jeffsapp.com/My_460_assgn_files/NolanRx.pdf