Prescription drugs are used to treat physical and mental health conditions for people of all ages. When they are taken as prescribed, these medications have helpful effects, but when they are abused, it can lead to addiction and other harmful consequences.
According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA), in the year 2020, approximately 16 million people in the United States abused prescription drugs. Prescription drug abuse occurs when a person begins to take their medication more frequently than prescribed or in higher doses to achieve euphoric effects. Not all prescription drug abuse will turn into an addiction. However, recognizing the signs of abuse early can prevent an addiction from forming.
Abusing prescription drugs can cause chemical changes in the brain, which will, in turn, cause the person to compulsively seek the drug above everything else. This is when abuse turns into an addiction. The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS) states that 12% of prescription drug abusers are addicted.
Although most addictions to prescription drugs will start with an actual prescription of the drug, they are sold illegally. Therefore, many people will seek out the illegal purchase of prescription drugs for their euphoric effects.