What Are Prescription Drugs?
In the U.S. there are more than 2,800 drugs
that have been approved by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) for the treatment of
illness and disease. Taken under a doctor's
care, these medications help millions of
people each year. However, there is a
growing trend of self-medicating and/or
abusing prescription medications.
The three classes of prescription
medications that are most commonly abused
are: Opioids, CNS Depressants, and
Stimulants.
Opioids — Pain Relievers
These include OxyContin, Codeine, Percodan,
Fentanyl, Vicodin (Hydrocodone), Morphine,
Percocet, Demoral.
How are Opioids Taken?
Opioids are taken orally as a tablet or
capsule or in liquid form; crushed and
snorted; or cooked and injected
intravenously (IV).
What are the Short Term Effects of Opioid
Abuse?
Users report feeling relaxed and indifferent
to physical and emotional pain. Some people
report feeling drowsy, or even nauseous. A
common side effect is constipation. Taking
too much of the drug (overdose) can slow
down breathing and can ultimately be fatal.
What are the Long Term Effects of Opioid
Abuse?
Painkillers are highly addictive. Physical
dependence or addiction can develop even
when using the drug as prescribed, since the
body builds up a tolerance and more of the
drug is needed to maintain the desired
effect. Withdrawal can be lengthy and
physically painful. Users who combine
opioids with alcohol, antihistamines,
barbiturates, or benzodiazepines are at high
risk of death from respiratory failure.
Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants
CNS depressants can be divided into two
groups, based on their chemistry and
pharmacology: Barbiturates, such as Mebaral
and Nembutal, and Benzodiazepines, such as
Valium, Librium, and Xanax. CNS Depressants
are used to treat anxiety, acute stress
reactions, panic attacks, and sleep
disorders.
How are CNS Depressants Taken?
Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates are taken
orally as a tablet; or crushed and snorted.
What are the Short Term Effects of CNS
Depressant Abuse?
CNS depressants slow normal brain function.
Users report reduced tension, anxiety, or
panic. Some users describe feeling calm or
drowsy. Over time these effects fade as the
body builds a tolerance. In higher doses,
some CNS depressants can become general
anesthetics.
What are the Long Term Effects of CNS
Depressant Abuse?
Misusing benzodiazepines can result in
addiction. Withdrawal can be lengthy and
painful, and may cause seizures and death.
For these reasons, withdrawal should be
supervised by a medical professional.
Serious problems can occur when
Benzodiazepines are used with alcohol, pain
medications, and some over-the-counter cold
and allergy medications. Such usage can
prove fatal.
Stimulants — Prescribed to treat ADHD,
narcolepsy, asthma, some forms of
depression, and obesity
These include Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall,
Focalin, and Dexedrine.
How are Stimulants Taken?
Stimulants are taken orally as a tablet;
crushed and snorted; or liquefied and
injected intravenously (IV). Some stimulant
abusers take the drug anally (known as
"plugging" or "shafting").
What are the Short Term Effects of Stimulant
Abuse?
Users feel alert, focused, and awake.
Appetite is reduced and sleeplessness can
occur. Stimulants increase blood pressure
and heart rate and can cause high body
temperatures.
What are the Long Term Effects of Stimulant
Abuse?
There is a high potential for addiction,
paranoia, and sleep deprivation (which can
cause psychotic episodes). There is also a
danger of long-term insomnia, digestive
problems, and erratic weight change.
Stimulants are most dangerous when used with
over-the-counter medications including cold
medications containing decongestants;
antidepressants, unless supervised by a
physician; and some asthma medications.
Antidepressants — Selective Serotonin
Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI's), MAO
Inhibitors, Tricyclics
These include Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Paxil,
Amitryptylline, Nardil
How are Antidepressants Taken?
Antidepressants are taken orally. These
drugs build up in the body over time, so one
dose does not have an immediate effect.
What are the Short Term Effects of
Antidepressant Abuse?
There are very few initial effects. Most
antidepressants take days or weeks to build
up in the system.
What are the Long Term Effects of
Antidepressant Abuse?
Taken under medical supervision, the dosages
of these drugs are customized for the person
taking them. Doctors will often change the
dosage or substitute other medications
according to the patient's response. Taking
non-prescribed antidepressants long enough
to feel the effects may cause brain
chemicals to become out of sync with one
another and can result in emotional
disturbances. Stopping antidepressants
should only be attempted under strict
medical supervision. Alcohol should not be
consumed when taking antidepressants. Other
drugs may interfere with antidepressants.
Long term effects may include addiction,
paranoia, anxiety, irregular heartbeat,
headaches, and hallucinations.
