The Abuse of Prescription Drugs

People that want to stop Adderall cannot because of the feeling that it gives them, and the cravings their bodies get. When they stop, they can start to get jittery, and then take more Adderall than recommended, and get addicted quickly by doing this. Then they run out of their prescription, and need that same feeling. The patients then get cocaine, and sometimes meth because they both give the same effect on their minds and bodies as Adderall did. As they start to overdose on these drugs, signs of increasing body temperature, convulsions and hallucinations will be shown (Drug Fact Sheet).

It simply started out to be used for pain control, and then they felt like they needed more and more. They eventually became addicted to that prescription medication. Some people may start taking a drug to “feel numb” from abuse or emotional relationships with people that they have in their life. They may start taking a drug so they don’t have to deal with anymore of their problems in everyday life; it’s like a mental get away for them. Aside of why people are using drugs, the effects usually have more of an impact on ... ... middle of paper ... ... accident and got a prescription that they became addicted too.

When circadian rhythms get effected by the use of addictive substances or drugs they also increase the process of addiction. Circadian rhythms get effected because of the excessive drinking of alcohol and the excessive use of drugs. After its effected it is hard to get into the normal pattern of the circadian rhythm. Since it is hard to get the circadian rhythm back to normal even after a person has stopped using the abused substance it makes them vulnerable to relapse, which explains why many people who try to stop their addiction relapse. (Spanagel, Rosenwasser, Schumann, & Sarkar, 2005; Zhabenko, Wojnar, & Brower,

However, “if a person takes a drug often enough the brain changes so it can handle all of the changes” (Nagle 16). Just as you can get mentally addicted, the body as well can become addicted. This type of addiction is labeled “physical addiction.” Just like the brain, if you take an illicit drug long enough your body changes to accept the feeling as “normal.” “The body and brain come to accept certain levels of the substance as normal” (Nagle 23). The body will now require more and mo... ... middle of paper ... ... addiction, and simple treatments to help an addict recover and keep away from relapsing. The fact that anyone can fall into drug addiction and how dangerous addictions can be should scare everyone straight to stay away from drugs.

Drug abuse and addiction will often change your brain chemistry (Effects of Drug Abuse). The amount of time the drugs has been abused, will significantly impact the amount of damage done and the harder it will be to go back to “normal” after they have stopped taking the drugs (Drug Abuse Symptoms, Facts, and Statistics). Some drugs will make your moods change quickly. The user might get sad, angry, or scared for no reason or they

Withdrawal symptoms are side effects of not having enough of the drug in one’s body. Other withdrawal symptoms can include increased appetite, insomnia, constipation, or diarrhea. Some drugs can cause violence, trembling, seizures, hallucinations, and sweats. Withdrawal symptoms are what commonly prevent one from stopping drug use. The symptoms can sometimes be too hard to handle, so the user resorts to continuing drug use.

Drug withdrawals are the symptoms experienced upon decreased intake of a drug and can be brutal on the drug user. In order for a drug user to experience withdrawal symptoms they first develop physical dependency and or psychological dependency. Drug use changes an addict’s state of mind, and when a drug is continuously used they begin to feel it needed in order to feel ‘normal’. Withdrawal symptoms vary depending on the drug being used, for example opiate withdrawals include, anxiety, sweating, vomiting, and diarrhea, while alcohol withdrawal cause, irritability, fatigue, shaking, sweating, and nausea. After an addict’s withdrawal symptoms recede, they can be triggered again by reminding the addict of the drug.

Did you ever feel like you lost everything you had, and needed to escape? Well you might as well think about the consequences first, and not the pleasure. Drug addiction is influenced by many factors. Not only does the brain change when taking constant doses of a certain drug, but life as you know it changes to. Drugs are misleading; they cause you to think that your life is becoming better, when it is actually becoming worse.

“Although it is true that for most people the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary, over time the changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can effect a person’s control and ability to make sound decisions, and at the same time send intense impulses to take drugs (Shannon 246)”. Many people, who abuse drugs, will develop a chronic condition called addiction. Once addicted, it is challenging for the drug abuser to stop abusing drugs. The cost of drug and alcohol recovery services can be expensive, not only to the recovering addict and their families, but also to society paying for services through government agencies. Drug addicts relapsing from their disease or those who are not interested in recovery cost society by involvement in crime, neglect, abuse and even death.

It causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the addicted person as well as the people around that person. The abuse of drugs -- even prescription drugs -- leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain. For most people, the initial decision to take prescription drugs is voluntary. Over a period of time, however, changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse affect a person's self control and ability to make sound decisions. While this is going on, the person continues to experience intense impulses to take more drugs.