Prescription Drug abuse can be very dangerous. There is a misconception that using prescription drugs is not as dangerous as street drugs, but that is simply not true. The health risks associated with prescription drug abuse can be both immediate and can cause long term harm. There is also a misconception that legal risks are not as great when abusing prescription drugs. The legal ramifications of abusing prescription drugs can be just as serious as when using street drugs.
The most commonly abused prescription drugs are stimulants, pain relievers, sleep medications and sedatives. Stimulants can cause high fevers, nervousness, seizures, hostility and increased heart and respiration rate. Long term use can put excessive strain on the heart which can lead to heart failure and even death. Abuse of pain killers can cause liver damage, decreased mental awareness, nausea, vomiting, confusion, decreased pain threshold and decreased concentration. The regular use or misuse of painkillers can be addictive and can lead to physical dependence. Sleep Medications can cause low blood pressure and increased risk of death when mixed with alcohol. Sedatives can cause loss of coordination, slowed reflexes, aggressive behavior hallucinations and respiratory depression. If these medications are stopped abruptly, it can cause convulsions and delirium.
The legal risks of abusing prescription drugs are also great. Illegal possession of a controlled substance is a serious offense. Whether that substance is marijuana, cocaine or a prescription narcotic, the crime that is charged is the same. Possession charges can vary by state, sometimes treated as a misdemeanor, some states treat these charges as felonies. Misdemeanors may impose a fine or a short jail sentence, while if convicted of a felony the jail sentence can be longer and the fine larger. All prescription drugs must be kept in the original prescription container; if they are not kept in the original container then you must be able to provide a prescription. Most states treat attempting to get a prescription drug fraudulently as a felony. This includes trying to get a prescription through false pretenses, or using a fraudulent prescription. Distributing prescription drugs is also illegal, this includes sharing your prescription drugs with a friend. Driving while under the influence of prescription drugs can result in a DWI.
Prescription Drugs seem safer to the general population because they are legal, but they are only legal to be used medically and under the advice and care of a doctor. These drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs such as Heroin. The misuse of prescription drugs is just as dangerous both physical and legally as using street drugs.