Drug addiction does not always involve illegal drugs such as heroin or cocaine. It can also involve prescription drugs. Prescription drug addiction is dangerous because of how easy it can be to access certain prescription drugs. Addiction levels have been increasing over the past few years, and in this article we would like to shed some light on the dangers of drug addiction. According to a report, misuse of opioids affects around 15 million people worldwide every year. Increased numbers of diseases and stressful lifestyles leads to a greater number of people becoming dependent on drugs to live through a tough life.
Opioids: What Is So Addicting?
Many people wonder how someone can become addicted to opioids. The answer lies in the fact that opioids relieve pain and induce a sense of euphoria. This causes the longing for higher doses of the drug every time. In terms of physiology, opioids affect the receptors in the brain that respond to pain and stress levels. Long term use induces changes in the brain that leads to an uncontrollable urge to have the drug.
Fentanyl is the most potent opioid used to relieve pain. More potent than morphine and heroin, fentanyl has a high rate of addiction and overdose, which leads to frequent hospitalizations and even death. Other than opioids, a commonly abused prescription drug is alprazolam. This drug is prescribed to help people sleep, and it can be very addicting.
Causes of Drug Abuse
In this era of rapid production, many prescription drugs are produced in abundance and they are available in many forms. Prescription drugs are also easy to transport and consume. The availability of prescription drugs in pharmacies worldwide leads to teens and young adults consuming these drugs even without prescriptions. The number of addicts and deaths due to substance abuse has hit new peaks over the past few years, and doctors should start to weigh the risks and benefits when prescribing medicine.