Right now, there’s an addiction epidemic in the United States, and it’s not only illicit drugs that are a problem. Currently, more people are dying from prescription drug overdoses than heroin and cocaine combined. It’s important to understand the various most abused prescription drugs so you can get help if you need it. One of the primary issues with this addiction is that many people don’t realize they have an addiction.

Why the Most Abused Prescription Drugs are Overlooked

Addiction is a cunning mental illness in which people are in denial about the situation that they’re in. Addiction hijacks the brain, so the person will justify and rationalize their continuous excessive use. Even with drugs like heroin and cocaine, a small part of the person’s mind tells them that this is a dangerous situation. Since prescription medications are legal, people with an addiction to them often justify their use much more.

The reality is that many of these medications can help people, but they can also become highly addictive and dangerous. While the medications are for good intentions, some people begin to develop a dependency on them. The addiction is often psychological where you’re seeking the euphoric effect more than the drug’s actual purpose. These medications have a wide range of side effects that can be fatal when abused.

The Most Abused Prescription Drugs for Pain

We all know about the heroin epidemic in the United States, but roughly 80 percent of those on heroin started with pills. Prescription opioids that are meant to help people with pain are in the same drug class as heroin. What happens is that eventually you become dependent on the medication and develop a high tolerance. There comes a point when these medications are unobtainable or aren’t working anymore, so you need something stronger.

The most commonly abused prescription opioids include:

• Codeine
• Hydrocodone
• Demerol
• Dilaudid
• Fentanyl

The Most Abused Prescription Drugs for Mental Illness

Aside from opioids, the next most dangerous prescription medications are benzodiazepines, which are for anxiety. Medications like Xanax and Valium calm down anxiety, but they can become highly addictive as well. The abuse of these medications can not only lead to seizures and other health issues, but they can be fatal. The reason doctors prescribe these medications is because they’re fast-acting, but there are other options for anxiety.

If you or someone you’re beginning to realize that you’re developing a problem with prescription medications, we can help. Red Oak Recovery^® provides a clinical rehabilitation program for drug and alcohol addiction. Through our various addiction treatment programs, you’ll begin to see that you can start a new life. We help our clients learn how to live an incredible life without the use of these dangerous prescription medications.

Some of the services we offer here at Red Oak Recovery^® include:

• Men’s Rehab
• Women’s Rehab
• Holistic Healing

Find out more about how we can help you gain freedom from active addiction by calling us today at 866-457-7590.